Trans leak advice

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LittleTimmy52
Posts: 88
Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:41 pm
First Name: Lucas
Last Name: Milatti
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Model T Touring
Location: Saint cloud FL
Board Member Since: 2025

Trans leak advice

Post by LittleTimmy52 » Thu Sep 18, 2025 10:53 am

A while ago I did my transmission bands, I made 2 mistakes, I didn't put anything on the felt strip as I understand you need to put some shellac or something on them which I didn't know then. The second was I did not use any gasket maker as I thought for some reason it wont leak after it gets tightened a few times and compresses, which it did but the leak is still present just not as bad. The leak is around the area the Bendix cover is, where the hogs head sits on the gasket. There is no way on gods green earth I am pulling the hogs head off until those cotton linings kick the bucket because I have a late hogs head but early block and its a pain.


With this being said, is there a band aid fix I can do without the hogs head having to be removed? I will do it right later when them bands go.

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Mark Gregush
Posts: 5418
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Trans leak advice

Post by Mark Gregush » Thu Sep 18, 2025 12:07 pm

Well there is a way, sounds a bit funky but it would be worth a try. Plug the drain holes in the valve chamber make sure all the trans cover is in place and tight. Now hook your shop vac up to the oil fill hole and seal around it. Using a more liquid type of sealer such as Indian Head gasket shellac work the sealer into the felt using the suction from the vacuum. Might use a syringe with a tube on it to reach in between the block and cover. This might also work with something like Rightstuff.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Dan McEachern
Posts: 1432
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: too many. '14 touring, 2 depot hacks, 2 speedsters
Location: ALAMEDA,CA,USA

Re: Trans leak advice

Post by Dan McEachern » Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:21 pm

Others have done the same thing using RTV and it seems to work- probably not necessary to plug the valve chamber drain holes- just put some duct tape around the throttle rod to seal up the hole on both sides . A shop vac is not going to even know those small holes are there in the big picture.

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Humblej
Posts: 2003
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Humble
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, 1924 runabout
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: Trans leak advice

Post by Humblej » Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:48 pm

A band-aid fix? herein lies your problem.
A late hogshead and early block...your leaks may be the least of your troubles.

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