Alternatves to OEM Rocker Arm Seals?

[euro911sc]

I'm shopping today got one of those e-discounts from my last purchase on Pelican

Wanted to get 24 rocker arm seals... $108 WHOA $4.50 ea.

...seems pretty out of line for this kind of part so are there any alternatives (obviously, not using any is one) If I know the size of this special part I could source said ring as a standard size viton o-ring from half a dozen places... and tell Wayne where to buy them cheaper so we all benefit

Best regards,

Michael

[Mo_Gearhead]

Agree... just yesterday had to tighten an exhaust rocker shaft that had 'walked out' and was thinking, why not mike the dimensions and try and find an o-ring that would suffice?

I did not remove it to do so, but perhaps someone that has one out can and then report back.

[911quest]

Not 100% sure but I don't think they are traditional o-rings they are more like washers they are flat not round like a normal o-ring.I might be wrong??

[Mo_Gearhead]

Agree that the slot is 'square shouldered' and the mating surface is probably flat (never seen the OEM part).

Guess we are debating whether an O-ring would be better than nothing?

[GAJ]

I get this info searching on google the part number

Base Number: 911 099 103 52
Brand: Wrightwood Racing
Stock Number: 911 099 103 52
Description: Rocker Shaft O-Ring
Price: $1.40

[euro911sc]

Originally Posted by GAJ

I get this info searching on google the part number

Base Number: 911 099 103 52
Brand: Wrightwood Racing
Stock Number: 911 099 103 52
Description: Rocker Shaft O-Ring
Price: $1.40

Interesting!

I'm pretty sure that I could find an o-ring like it, but if its not the standard donut profile then that would be tough. guess I could order 1 and see, but at $1.40 finding a replacement is a waste of time. Wonder why Pelican and Wrightwood $s are so different?? Probably Pelican are 'real' Porsche parts...

Thanks!

-Michael

PS: don't anyone get offended here by me trying to find a better price then our gracious host... I did spend $230+ with Pelican today

[KTL]

I think the one problem with using an o-ring is it's thickness. Typically an o-ring is thicker than it's groove and protrudes from it when installed in the groove. In the case of the rocker shaft groove, it is quite deep and I think an o-ring would not seal as tightly as the RSR seal since the o-ring would tend to be pushed down into the groove and not bottom-out since the groove is quite deep?

Maybe using a thick o-ring that fits tight in the width dimension of the rocker shaft groove would help battle the lack of bottoming-out? I don't think there's a big risk in trying this. Remember, the shafts are originally installed without the RSR seal. So it's not like we're trying a sealing method that is less effective than what is used from the factory.

[dtw]

Yeah - I posted about this here before but got yelled at for posting a link to the competition. Suffice to say these are available elsewhere for a fraction of the $4.50 each price.

[dion914-6]

I paid $1.50 the last time around....

Dion

[quint22cp]

Try [Name of competitor removed]

[dduclaux]

Just my experience with the Pelican Parts seals -- when they were $1.50 and now at $4.95 -- I ordered them for a rebuild about three years ago when they cost $1.50 and they fit in the grooves just fine with just the slightest protrusion to effectively seal the orifice.

About two months ago, I ordered 24 AT $4.95 A PIECE!!! and only about 50% of them fit with the same tolerances as before and when I fitted the shafts into the cam towers, several of the seals were shaved leaving bit of black rubber hanging around.

Do you guys believe that the seals will still work despite the obvious quality contriol problems on a part that is relatively VERY EXPENSIVE?

[lindemans]

Nasty dilemma.
Indeed rediculously expensive for a rubber seal; maybe Wayne can comment on the price increase ?

So, who is willing to take the chance of saving USD 60 and anxiously hope for no oil leaks after 40 hours of tough labor.... That is the other side of it dudes...

[MBEngineering]

HI Michael
you could have a look at this as a alternative, but the price could be through the roof for you.

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/engines/air_cooled/rockershaft

rergards mike

[HawgRyder]

McMaster-Carr has Orings in the square cross section design.
If the depth of the land is too deep, you can install a "backer ring" to fill the bottom.
I have a pkg of these on the bench at this moment, waiting for the rest of the rebuild to proceed to that point.
I have fitted on of the rings to the shaft and find it will stick out just a little, but can be compressed to fit into the bore.
Bob

[sww914]

I just installed these a couple of weeks ago. They are not O rings, they're much more like rubber washers. They're about 3-4 mm wide and less than 1/2 mm thick. I have no idea what the ID or the OD were, I didn't measure them.
They're commonly called RSR O rings but they're really seals.

[David]

I won't comment on pricing issues, but these are pretty special items that I think you'd be hard pressed to find a substitute for.