Intake nipple sealer question

[Buster]

I am installing an intake nipple in my 1931 VL cylinder. I have read many posts on this and other is forums about the procedures and possible sealers. I know almost nothing stands up to gas. Has anyone actually used "Alvins High Temp Metal Lab" as a thread sealer between nipple and cylinder threads? If so, what were results, especially long term? I have an area of weak threads and have tried JB Weld but still had air leak at threads during pressure test. Thanks.

[Shovelhead68]

When working on ammonia pipe threads I have used X Pando is says good to 1000 degrees it’s a powder mix with water . A very good product anyone ever tried it for this application?

[Buster]

I know someone who successfully uses X Pando to seal flathead exhaust pipe sat cylinder spigots, but dont know how it stands up to gas.

[T. Cotten]

Does anyone have evidence that the MOCO used any sealer, Folks?

Thanks in advance,

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

I am installing an intake nipple in my 1931 VL cylinder. I have read many posts on this and other is forums about the procedures and possible sealers. I know almost nothing stands up to gas. Has anyone actually used "Alvins High Temp Metal Lab" as a thread sealer between nipple and cylinder threads? If so, what were results, especially long term? I have an area of weak threads and have tried JB Weld but still had air leak at threads during pressure test. Thanks.

i just left a contact information request with Alvins to ask if their product holds up to direct exposure to gasoline. Will post when i receive a reply.

[Steve Swan]

I know someone who successfully uses X Pando to seal flathead exhaust pipe sat cylinder spigots, but dont know how it stands up to gas.

looking at their website, they say X-PANDO "handles" gasoline, fuel oils, oils. Would be nice to hear some first hand experience.

[Buster]

The Alvin's site says it is not affected by gas and withstands 1,000 degrees. I know someone that used it on a knucklehead nipple replacement 2 years ago and it is holding up. It's expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as the piston I burned a hole though on my 45" flathead this fall due to a nipple leak. Steve, it will be Interesting to see what the Alvin's rep says. I now have a can of it and will be doing the nipple in about a week.

[Steve Swan]

The Alvin's site says it is not affected by gas and withstands 1,000 degrees. I know someone that used it on a knucklehead nipple replacement 2 years ago and it is holding up. It's expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as the piston I burned a hole though on my 45" flathead this fall due to a nipple leak. Steve, it will be Interesting to see what the Alvin's rep says. I now have a can of it and will be doing the nipple in about a week.

Buster, thank you for sharing your experience with Alvins of which i have not heard of until reading these posts. Is Alvins more of a sealant than an adhesive? in other words, can Alvins be applied to two adjoining mating surfaces that, when necessary, can be taken apart? I am thinking an application of Alvins could be used on the seating surface area where the inlet valve housing mates up to the cylinder for a seal.

[Buster]

I dont know if it can be taken apart, that is a concern with me . It will be about a week before I can use it and I am going to put some on a separate nut and bolt and let it cure. I will see if it is an adhesive. I will report back, but it will be a week or so.

[dukekleman]

For what it's worth, I've used Loctite 565 high temperature thread sealant for a very long time now with great success. I always give it 24 hour cure time and follow the "Do it right" user guide put out by Loctite. It's rated at 10,000 psi after 24 hours cure time and is serviceable. I've had great success and won't use anything but.

[Buster]

I hate threads where you never find out what happened, so reporting back. Installed nipple with Alvins and had no leak at threads but leaked at one spot at rivet hole. Looking back, I wish I had left in and sealed outside of rivet with JB Weld. But I took it back out and no problem screwing out after using Alvins on threads. Got a new nipple and inserted with Gasoila E Seal. Sealed good at threads but leaked at rivet hole area. Cleaned Gasoila out of area around rivet hole and sealed leaking rivet hole area with JB Weld. I found the Gasoila but works between threads and has to be backed or contained by the threads since it is soft setting. The JB Weld worked great at the rivet area toward the outside area. No leak now. So Gasoila E Seal between threads and JB Weld at outer area. Need to run through several heat cycles and watch.

[T. Cotten]

Does anyone have evidence that the MOCO used any sealer, Folks?

Thanks in advance,....

What are the implications, Folks,...

If the MOCO didn't use a sealer?

Thanks again in advance,

....Cotten

[Steve Swan]

i just left a contact information request with Alvins to ask if their product holds up to direct exposure to gasoline. Will post when i receive a reply.

Have heard nary a word from Alvins...

[Steve Swan]

What are the implications, Folks,...

If the MOCO didn't use a sealer?

Thanks again in advance,

....Cotten

Tom, i can't stand to see your query unanswered... What are your thoughts about your question? my thoughts are two-fold... if a sealant can stay sealed and parts easily taken apart, idk why there would be a concern. we have access to use sealants the factory couldn't have imagined 50-100 years ago. i'm guessing if they had then the sealants we have now, they likely would have used them.

[T. Cotten]

I always chose the suspenders-and-a-belt approach with nipples of course, Steve!

But why didn't the MOCO?

The original assembly appears to have achieved a mechanical seal, upon hundreds and hundreds of thousands+ of machines, for about seven decades. If we are to consider goobers and band-aids because we cannot reproduce the assembly, then we aught to test all of the goobers immersed in today's fuels before an endorsement. P4gas can be alien spit. And it changes constantly.

If a mechanical seal is ideal, then the reported success of any added goober might just mean a mechanical seal was achieved in the first place.

....Cotten
PS: Just for aggravation, I have evidence that Indian used a sealer!