Revive Your Vintage Engines with Reliable Sealing from Vintage Parts Revival
At Vintage Parts Revival, we provide essential components to restore and maintain the integrity of antique machinery with precision and durability. Our 3/4" Crush Seals are new production items designed specifically for sealing engine headstuds to cylinder heads, preventing leaks of coolant, oil, or compression in classic internal combustion engines. Engine stud compression seals are used to seal around an engine stud at the surface of the head, between the stud nut, head, and the stud itself. These seals are made of an alloy mainly consisting of soft lead, so that as the head nut is torqued, the seal deforms under the nut and creates a seal against the head, threads, and nut.
Engine stud compression seals were originally manufactured as an aftermarket replacement part to substitute for John Deere Model A and D engine stud seals, originally represented by part numbers 264R (3/4" for Model D) or K2080R (5/8" for Model A). Vintage Parts Revival also has 1/2" seals available. While a well-seated, correctly installed head gasket reduces the importance of the head stud seals in this application, these seals become critical if the engine stud is not tapped into a casting well but rather extends through into a water or oil passage. They aid in producing uniform drag against the head surface, creating a flat, distributed force load from the head nut as it is torqued; they also center the head stud and prevent oil from leaking under the head nut into the through passage of the head, where oil is not intended to go.
Vintage Parts Revival is pleased to announce engine stud compression seals currently available in three sizes. These sizes are determined based on the stud that the seal is meant to seal against. We currently offer seals for 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4" engine studs. These seals are slightly larger and thicker than original John Deere seals, reducing the need for stacking seals in a 3/4" application as recommended in the Model D service manual. Due to the increased thickness and dimensions, the compression seals offer more versatility in antique engine and automotive applications. The only additional recommendation is that if the seal is visible externally, the unused mushroom portion extending from the compression nut can be cut away with a utility knife or equivalent tool. Since these engine seals are mostly made of lead—which has been considered hazardous if misused in recent times—it is your responsibility to handle and use them responsibly. They should not be used in applications interacting with drinking water or in any way that could lead to skin contact for absorption or ingestion. Antique lead seals work very well and are more difficult to obtain due to the reduction in lead usage. When purchasing, you must handle and use them responsibly in accordance with any local requirements to which you may be subject.
The following is a table for the dimensions* of the seals. They are one time use and deform to provide the seal.
Stud Size Thickness Inside Diameter Outside Diameter
3/4" 0.075" 0.750" 1.260"
*Prior to deformation
