Question about he oil return tube c clip

[kavadarci]

Hi,
I installed new aluminum return tubes and all is installed nicely and right but wondering if the c clip is in the right location\distance.

I kind of expected the c clip to be next to the ending of the other side so it doesn't come back at all.

Is this ok?

Thank you.

[Driven97]

Is it in the groove? Looks like the groove is at the joint if the two tubes, that's where it should go.

[kavadarci]

It is the grove but it looks like there is too much space between the c clip and the bigger tube, about 5mm space.

[Driven97]

Hmm, I used the steel ones not aluminum, so I'm not familiar in person, but that sure doesn't look right to me. Is there room to expand the tube more and another groove?

This photo shows multiple grooves, but not sure this is the same product you have:



On mine, the tube had to be fully expanded and the c-clip had basically zero play once in the groove to the larger tube.

[boyt911sc]

Kava,

Some of the aluminum collapsible oil return tubes are slightly shorter than the steel collapsible or the solid oil return tubes. I have attached some pictures for your reference. When you compressed the collapsible tubes with the circlp installed, you will find the total length differences in comparison with the standard solid oil return tubes.







Take note of the gaps in the aluminum tubes compared to the steel ones.

Tony

[kavadarci]

Tony.
Great info, so the aluminum tubes have bigger gap then steel, I wonder why because it almost feels like the tube might come out even with the c clip in there.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by kavadarci

Tony.
Great info, so the aluminum tubes have bigger gap then steel, I wonder why because it almost feels like the tube might come out even with the c clip in there.

Kava,

With the circlip installed and fully compressed, the aluminum collapsible oil return tubes would be shorter by several mm compared to the steel ones (solid or collapsible). While the aluminum ones look nice, they don’t fit well as the other types. But you will be fine with these aluminum tubes for the meantime.

Tony

[KTL]

The gap between the circlip and the edge of the outer tube is not a big deal. I've seen the steel tubes have a considerable gap and they don't leak. The fit of the tube with its large o-ring is a very tight fit into both the case and the camshaft housing. The tubes don't really change their length after they're installed.

In my limited experience, I don't think it's going to move. Because be it the fit in the case or cam housing, or the fit between the telescoping tubes, they're pretty snug. Even old tubes. I recently disassembled the engine from my '86 and the telescoping tubes installed by my friend Mark (RIP always buddy) in the early 2000s were still very tight.

Also an important consideration when installing them is the direction the tube is installed. You want to install them so the direction of oil flow (it flows from the cam housing to the engine case) is flowing away from the separation between the inner and outer tube. Probably not a big deal since the oil is just gravity flow and not under pressure. But it's still a smart thing to do

[Jdub]

As Kevin has stated (and pictured) you will have no issues as this is a static largely un-pressurized return system that works by gravity. Most return tubes start to leak due to aging of the rubber seals via heat cycling and the old enemy, oil. That leaves them less able to keep the oil on the inside and thus leaks.

[kavadarci]

Thank you.
I didbinstall with the flow towards the middle of the engine.
The force I had to use to push these lines in is insane.
They are nicely snug.

[Dave Kost]

Do they make a tool for the installation?

[Driven97]

O-ring installation grease is virtually a must for putting these things in. Don't think I could've done the job without it. I used Dow Corning 111, which if you search around you can get in a very small quantity for a dollar or two, I didn't search very well and paid $5 for a small tin from a scuba shop. A full tube is like $50. Motor oil makes the o-rings grab real hard.

For install I put a hose clamp on the smaller tube and used two screwdrivers against it like wedges. A little fiddly, but worked.

My 33 year old o-rings were so loose I could wiggle the original tubes by hand. Leaked like crazy when it got cold out.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, I have a small container of o-ring lube for my beer keg system that probably would've worked perfectly. Oh well.