I'm finishing the rebuild on a Ruckstell and due to wear and a few other things I've done (12 tooth pinion), I have to shim the thrust washer with either a 0.010 or 0.015 shim, depending on whether I run a gasket or not between the clamshells. the gasket is .005 thick. I could use a gasket sealer and no gasket. that would be easier but I don't want this one to leak like my last one. What's the opinion here?
I used a paper gasket with RTV on three rear axles. No leaks.
I usually don't use a gasket, I use the copper type gasket maker in a tube and it works fine. If you do want to use a gasket the trick is to bolt it all together at the centerline with very thin washers -- or pennies -- holding it apart. Just install three bolts with the thin washers pinched between the halves to hold them apart a bit. Then dip the gasket in warm water and install it by pulling it into the space and installing the bolts as you go around the center line. That's easier than trying to keep it in place. I assemble them on a stand with one axle up and one down so this is pretty easy to do. All that said, I've had better luck with goop than gaskets.
Noel,
I just got my 12 tooth Ruckstel on the road - I like it a lot. The new pinion has a bit of a whine but it should wear in with use.
Be_Zero_Be
Thank you, gentlemen. I have the axle vertical and the right washer and shim are held on with grease. On trying to get the gasket in place, they fell off the pins and I have to start over. I'll try it one more time and if I'm unsuccessful, I'll use a thinner shim and no gasket. I'm SOOOOO close.
I have used both ways to seal the rear end half’s. I have never found a pumpkin gasket that fit from the package and as Stan said I had to soak them in warm water so that they would actually fit. Its hard to smear gasket sealer on wet gaskets. On others I just used good quality sealer with out the gasket on a very, very clean clean sealing surface. None of them have leaked so far.
I have never used a gasket and have never had a leak, at least as far as I remember. I use Ultra Black sealant. The drawback is if things don't line up, like when a steel washer slips off the pins, you have to clean off all the sealant and start over.
Hey Bob, I've got some bad news for you. In my experience, any reduction in RE noise will occur within the first 5 miles or so. ;^)
Noel, that's why you put it together like I said. Let me make it a little clearer. When you have the clearance right you should be able to slip a very thin washer in between the two halves on three of the bolts. I use Bellville washers which are those thin little lock washers with all the ridges on them. I think they are .020 thick. Put one in the back and one on each side of the pinion hole. That is plenty of room to pull the gasket in but not enough for the thrust washer and shim to fall off the pin. I take the back bolt out and start the gasket in there, put the bolt in when the hole in the gasket is lined up, pull the gasket around to the front, take the bolt and the thin washer out and drop the bolts in the holes. Then do the same with the other side. When you are done you have all the bolts in and the gasket is in place, the washer can't fall off the pins. It only takes a minute to put the gasket in this way. When I used to do them with it laying down flat it would take me forever and it still didn't fit.
I could show you how to do it in 30 seconds but it is kind of hard to explain.
Thanks, Stan. It's vertical right now in the shop. I'll give your way a try. Spent a weekend at a family reunion then working on the cabin in the hills.