Just noticed today leak from one tube advice needed ,would it be best to replace all tubes with spring loaded ones or just replace the seal on the leaking tube, any hidden pitfalls to watch out for? Thanks in advance.

unless you want to buy top of the range spring loaded/adjusterble push rod tubes, you find that most of them leak. However their good points are that you can fit them without taking the cylinder heads off. What have you got on it at present? is the seal or the push rod tube leaking?

Rob

I think I've got bog standard ones not sure what part is leaking

Paranoid about this, any crack ?

standard one's are pretty good and do not usually leak    Very rarely, you find the odd one that leaks along it's seem. Basically their bad points are that they rust away with time, if they look slightly rusty; give them a degrease with paint thinners  and paint some Hamerite on them. They only leak from the bottom side, which you can paint.

If you go new, stainless one's could be the way to go but the heads have to come off. The spring loaded/adjusterble one's can be fitted by taking the rocker shafts off and the push rods out, the old tubes can then be destroyed to get them out.

The best spring loaded tubes I've seen were on Dave Dreams engine, I bet they are £200 a set though, I'm sure at that price he can remember what make they were but he mainly went for them because of the colour

Rob

Thought I might have to take the cylinder heads off but looking at some info on tinterweb looks like if fitting adjustable tubes people cut out the old tubes with snips then remove them without taking off cylinder head. Anyone tried this ?

If you take off the rockers and pushrods (keep them in order) you can rip the old ones out using a big screwdriver as a bar, they buckle easily.

My gold Scat ones have been in place for 8 yrs without a leak.

I had some Scat ones yrs ago very good but the seals that came with it leaked slightly, i changed them for a better grade and had no problem after, it may be a case of that... just may be a bad seal ?

Just as a word of advice. If you do fit standard tubes or S/steel versions make sure the seam on the tube is at the top. If they ever(v.rarely) split along the seam then you wont drain your oil.

On my old engine I had Jaycee - fantastic quality and never leaked .... I bought them in the states so cheaper but you can get them over here as well.  On my new engine I have standard and they have not leaked .... so I am leaving them as they are - aint broke so not fixing.

From posts in the past the EMPI ones can be a bit leaky
SCAT seem really reliable
MST seem very good but expensive
Jaycee very good and look the dogs .... but expensive

I bought MST tubes. Internally spring loaded and triple o-rings. They came with the high temp seals. Been faukless.
Got them from Limebug, £110 at the moment.

Don't be afraid of changing them over. Do as has been said, everything out in order and crush the old ones in the middle and bend them out of position. Then assemble the new ones with the seals in place and position against the crankcase and squeeze together. It's a bit fiddly but if you pop your finger through the head side holes and push against the top of the tubes as you get them in position, it stops them unloading and damaging the seal. Then slowly position and allow them to expand in to the heads. Repeat 7 more times. Wipe down and worry not. Just make sure you clean out the seal seats and make sure they are dry before assembling. Then assemble everything as you took it apart, check your settings and off you go 

Going for scat gold thinking of upgrading the seals on them as well. Do they compress easy to fit or is there a trick of the trade to compress while putting into position? also is any sealant used on seals as an extra precaution

They are easy to fit, as i put them on so    just a smidgen of blue seal on the seal on the head, compress and open up. Let them dry off and wallah.. not had a leak in years 

WHS^^^

They're meant to be fitted dry but a little Blue Hylomar won't do any harm.

Put some csp ones on mine very please with the quality