Oliver 1850 PTO demise!

So I was just going to post this on the Oliver board below but I figured it could be a good lesson for anyone and it's very much tractor related. So has anyone ever used silicone/rtv to seal up a gasket surface before and never thought twice about what could happen? In the pictures I have posted shows what happens when someone used blue rtv to seal the pto unit to the rear end housing on my Oliver 1850. Now this was done way before I bought the tractor and not by me. The quick version of the tractors back story or what I know of it is: A old farmer owned it for a few years before he passed away, supposedly a nephew of his did all the work on the tractor and took care of it. The tractor sat outside for almost 8 years before we bought it two summers ago. It finally got its turn in the shop to get a good going over and prep it for spring field work. Anyway I knew there were issues with the pto because it constantly turned while tractor was running (a condition not uncommon to Oliver's) also I could not shift it into the neutral or off position. So we removed it from the tractor and tore it down to find out what was going on with it and possibly rebuild it. So some of the issues were visible right away and others didn't pop up until complete disassembly and cleaning.

So I will explain in order of pictures: #1 and #2 - inner bearing support is cracked due to thrust washer surface getting extremely hot due to lack of oil to main shaft and clutch pack. #3 an #4 broken shift collar that engages and disengage pto clutch. #5 and #6 burnt clutch discs and someone butchered up the inner part of that holds all the clutch discs together. And finally #7 and #8 the culprit Blue RTV silicone blob that filled the oil passage in the tractors main rear end case. This port, center hole in picture #8 feeds gear oil to the pro unit top shaft and clutch pack.

So there you have it: A major falirue of bearings, clutches, and cast iron parts due to just plain ignorance on someone's part. Its not that hard to get books and information on how to rebuild these things. Also not knowing when to use the proper sealant on certain applications. It's not that hard to ask questions!!! So now I am stuck with a mess and what will end up being a very expensive repair...

My phone would not upload all the pictures at one time. So here are the othe 4 pics.

Teflon tape makes a big mess in hyd systems too.

In my younger days I was my own worst enemy two times through sloppy use of silicone. It didn’t result in the kind of damage you have though. First time was a blocked heater hose barb in my 73 Plymouth satellite. Second mishap showed up about five years ago when my 630 Deere suddenly showed no oil pressure. After some head scratching I removed the line that goes to the oil gauge and found a piece of silicone stuck in there. I haven’t had the engine apart on that thing for 40 years but I have been the one and only mechanic who has done engine work on it. My sloppy work with silicone created this problem. I still use a little silicone on pitted radiator hose necks but very little. In fact A tube of silicone goes bad before I use it up.

I have never found a good use for Blue RTV.

Thanks for posting NYOlivers. It is not possible for anyone who frequents YT for over a year to use RTV silicone without concern for the consequences because this topic comes up at least once every other month. Whenever someone asks about what to use for a sealer someone is sure to tell them what can and does happen with just a little too much RTV Silicone.

No problem I just figured a little visual
always helps out. There are places to use
RTV and usually a small amount will
suffice.

I know what you mean usually when I go to
grab the tube its all dried out. Once I
seen someone attempt to make a thermostat
housing gasket with a tube of it. Then
couldn't figure out why there was no heat
the new thermostat couldn't open.

Yes it does...

I can tell silicone missuse stories until I am tired of telling them and you all are more than tired of hearing them. As for getting smarter by reading YT forums it seems that almost every leak question has RTV in at least one reply and retailers selll it as the leak cure and glob it on all in spite of label directions.

In 1974 I bought a blown up 1970 SS 396 Chevelle that had been recently rebuilt at a high school shop class and it remains the worst of RTV abuse I have ever run into. Too bad I didnt always have a camera in my pocket as I do now. Every joint on that engine had huge amounts of RTV on it, even the head gaskets. I guessed at the time 3 cauking gun tubes worth. Those of us with lots of years under our belts remember that back then RTV was VERY expensive. Globs under the valve covers extended to and inside of the valve springs which promptly chewed it up and sent it to tbe oil pan where it plugged the pick up screeen solid. The pick up hung on the wall of the shop for many years for a show and tell piece when ever somebody would say "I use plenty, it doesnt hurt anything"

The one use that gets me with the stuff is using it for a carb gasket.

Yep,I was gonna mention that.

I have used the blue for years and have never had a problem from using it. I don't see any real difference between the blue and the black. The black is packed in several gasket kit I have purchased in the past. My take is improper use is the problem not the product itself. I most likely used it on one of my Oliver 1850's when I replaced one of the carrier bearings. When the carrier bearing went out the big drive gear in you see in your picture cut a hole in the hydraulic oil pan. I am sure I would have used the blue on both gaskets that go between the casting, hydraulic oil pan and the top cover.

I always wonder if the people that have problems with the silicone gasket sealer apply mustard to their hot dogs in the same over abundance.

I'm with Dick L, I use it very sparingly, when needed, pitted surfaces etc. skin coat
"a little dab 'el do ya"