Need with non-OEM Oil Return Tube O-Rings
 

Does anyone know where I can find inner O-Rings for the non-OEM expandable aluminum oil return tubes that are shown in the attached pictures? The tubes look very much like the Weltmeister ones sold by Performance Products (now Automotion.com). The tubes were probably replaced by the prior owner around 1995. The tubes are for my 1982 911SC. I would rather not have to replace the entire tubes for lack of O-rings.

The standard outer O-rings from Pelican Parts fit, but the inner O-rings do not. The picture shows the orange outer O-ring that was originally on the tube, and the green O-ring is the new one I purchased. The dimensions of the used inner O-rings are 1.4mm thick x 1.9mm wide. The measurements for the gap on the return tube are 22.4mm Inner Diameter and 25.2mm Outer Diameter.

Your advice and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Rick
Platinum 1982 911SC
230K original miles

http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=aggw9b

O-rings are tricky. Do you have actual manufacturers specs for them or are you measuring a set of used o-rings? They will me nowhere near the same size they atarted after years of use. What ever you do- DO NOT clean them with brakleen as they will expand badly. Ruined many a good ones. :banghead:

Wow - lots of O-rings
 

Thank you for the quick reply. The measurements of the ID (22.4mm/0.88") and OD (25.2mm/0.99") are from the actual oil return tube. I just measured the width of the slot, and it is 0.07" or 1.9mm.

The width of the original ring was 1.9mm, while its width has been compressed to 1.4mm/0.07".

I believe the ring has a round vs square cross-section. I'm trying to match it at McMaster-Carr.

Have a great day...
Rick:burnout:

Pelican also sells the o-rings.

Branch: 431
23021 S. Normandie Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501-5037
Phone: (866) 486-7865
Fax: (877) 464-7647

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...d&searchValue=

Branch Hours:
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pacific (Monday - Friday)

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...searchValue=ca
Grainger is another place that has retail locations that you can run in and run out really quick. Stupid easy.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/o-r...ecatalog/N-9c3

...and talk about a crap load:
http://www.oringswest.com/

Read the first line of the second paragraph of the OP's first post. :burnout:

If you have a local hydraulic supplier...they may have them. Just take the old one and see if they can match them.

But what hardness to pick?
 

The nice part about McMaster-Carr is the granularity of the selection. I've guessed from the return tube measurements that the o-ring should be 7/8"ID and 1"OD with 1/16" thickness. The next problem is which Durahardness should I pick? Would you recommend Shore A: 70 (medium soft or less than pencil eraser) or Shore A: 90 (medium hard or same as tire tread)?

The problem with Grainger would be getting the same level of granularity and having to hunt harder. I don't want to have to take the heat exchanger off again. I already broke one heat exchanger stud into the engine case that I am preparing to remove (wish me luck). Fortunately about 1" is still visible. I'm spraying it with Rust Looser for the week, and heating it up.

Rick

:surr: No idea the word "granularity" even existed. :surr:

The McMaster inventory has higher resolution than Grainger.

..and this infomation was gleened impirically ..

:roflmao: :surr:

Rick: Many aviation supply shops have collections of O-rings. You're in Redondo Beach, so you're close to Hawthorne Airport and Torrance Airport. You might consider taking the old O-rings and the return tubes over to a shop at one of these airports and see if you can find something that will work. Also, you might try some Porsche shops -- Dutch Treat in Lawndale, Callas Rennsport in Torrance and Otto's in Venice come to mind.

HTH.

I'd go with Green Viton bits on the ends, I do know that.

I have the same oil return tubes. A year ago I replaced the small o-rings. I went to my local hardware store with the old o-rings and tubes and found some that were the same size. You don't need anything special. Mine haven't leaked a drop since.