Oil dripping from International LA

[Gerry Boose]

My wife and I just finished her International LA 1 1/2-3 H.P. We painted and installed new decals. Got a new gas tank, fuel line, rocker arms and push tubes from Hit and Miss Enterprise. Laura added a little striping and put the name "TUFF" on the front of the gas tank.
Now a question. There is a small round hole in the bottom about half way from the head to the freeze plug is. When she runs the engine a small amount of oil drips out this hole. Anybody tell us what this hole is for?

[Meco3hp]

Hello,
Do you have a picture?

Thanks!
Richard

[Sam Hamilton]

Maybe a casting defect or a crack? If so, clean it and seal it with JB Weld.

[Gerry Boose]

Originally Posted by Meco3hp

Hello,
Do you have a picture?

Thanks!
Richard

Here is a couple of pictures of the hole. It appears to be drilled as it is perfectly round and has no threads. Any ideas why it is there? Can it be plugged? I am not the best photogragher.:

[Bill Sherlock]

Gerry,

Almost looks like a bullet hole!! Think if it were mine, I would just tap the hole for a short bolt of similar diameter and seal the threads with some loctite on the bolt.

Bill

[MarylandSteam]

Is it threaded? I've seen engines that have a hole in the bottom for a compression release... maybe it's clogged up with junk, if so one day it might all blow out... The fact that it's oil coming out and not water makes me think this...

Could try sticking a piece of coat hanger in there and see if it feels like it's pushing against something soft or if any rust comes out.

I don't have one of these to look at but If i remember I'll check one at the westminster show tomorrow.

Matt
www.MarylandSteam.info
Maryland Steam Historical Society, Inc.

[MarylandSteam]

Come to think of it, I believe my 1 hp IHC mogul has the compression release in this exact spot, do you recall seeing a hole at the bottom front of the cylinder?

Matt
www.MarylandSteam.info
Maryland Steam Historical Society, Inc.

[MarylandSteam]

Just to clarify, did you see a hole at the bottom front inside of the cylinder...

Matt
www.MarylandSteam.info
Maryland Steam Historical Society, Inc.

[Randy L Peterson]

It must go up to the Thottle Shaft that goes through the engine... I will have to go look at one of my other engines and see if Mine has a hole... I replaced the throttle shaft on one of mine after I made a BOO BOO when I put the head on.. Linkage was in wrong location and when the governor opened the throttle it put the end of the throttle rod up and into the connecting rod... I will take a gander at my parts block in the morning and see if it has a hole in this location...
Randy L Peterson

[Ron Haskell]

Hi Gerry. The hole you see is an opening into the throttle shaft passage. If you have oil dripping from that hole you need an new throttle shaft oil seal, the book gives part number; 30939 DA. If you are really lucky you can replace it through the hand hole cover, but I think you will have to take the side plate off.

[Randy L Peterson]

I should have went to bed But I couldnt take it.. Went and looked at my Parts Engine.. Its a drain for oil that leaks into the throttle rod.. I guess so it dont leak into the carburator.. Evidently the Seal on the End (Crank Shaft Side) Is leaking a little... I used a Valve seal for a seal when I put mine back together...I am guessing a little drip now and then would be normal... Heres a picture of the bottom of my block...

[Bill Sherlock]

Gerry,

In view of subsequent posts, I retract my suggestion to tap and plug the hole. It's been a long time since I looked at the belly of an LA or LB engine and didn't realize they all appear to have this drain hole. Looks like fixing the cause for the oil leak would be the way to go.

Bill

[Gerry Boose]

No I did not. I can run a piece of wire up about 1 inch, a little farther on an angle. It did have some debree in it. The hole has no threads.

[MarylandSteam]

I saw 4 of these this weekend and 3 had a brass tube sticking down about 1 1/2" out of that hole and all of them had some oil under it... I asked one guy and he said it's a breather for the crank case...