HAPPY 4th EVERYONE & A QUESTION ON A 1917A1

2207 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by heckinohio, Jul 8, 2006

KOG

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2006

I just receives my first 1917A1 FA. Question...what can I use to seal the rear portion of the barrel? There is a a string that is worn out and leaks in it now. The front of the barrel has two "O" rings. I want to get rid of the "O" rings and seal it in the traditional way. What can I use and where can I find the proper seals and what kind of lubrication should I use? All help will be greatly apprecited. Thanks...KOG

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L999here

· #2 · Jul 5, 2006

Congrats,Kog....

WTG.....Get ahold of Ohioblacksheep (name on this site)....he's the 1917 guru and will gladly help you out. Lou is one of the nicest guys and will answer most,if not all,your questions/concerns. He also makes the jackets to turn a 1919 into a real nice 1917 water-cooled "steam maker".

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ohioblacksheep

· #3 · Jul 5, 2006

Not a Guru !!!

L999,

Thanks for the comment, but I'm NOT a 1917 guru. For the most part I'm a FNG on the 1917's. I'm learning but I've got a long way to go.

KOG,

We were out makeing noise today on the 4th. What I'm useing for packing is some old graphite string with a good grease. Front and back. The grease I was useing was the white mold makers grease. Some guys have said good wheel bearing grease works well. I've noticed that the graphite string leaks a bit when you start, but as the heat and water hits it, it will swell a bit and seal up pretty good. The stuff I have seems to be older than I am and not really sure whats all in it. I've got a spool of graphite valve cord comeing from a local plumbing outfit. I'm waiting to see what it looks like, to have maybe a source of stuff to use and send out with my jackets.

I've tried some of the teflon cord and at first it looked OK, but after it heated up it shrunk a bit and started to leak. It might just of been the type that I had. Some guys have good luck with it.

I am trying to find something that is avalible and holds up well. Being keep busy makeing the jackets kind of limits my field testing

...Lou

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Mark Genovese

· #4 · Jul 5, 2006

I have four water cooled belt feds I've been shooting for two decades, years ago OOW sold the original asbestos string by the foot luckily I still have a bunch but I try not to use it. Over the years I've tried everything else and found the thick Teflon string valve packing works best for me. The art of packing barrels takes time and endless patiences.

Mark

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heckinohio

· #5 · Jul 8, 2006

Packing

I have and shoot several water cooleds ( 3 Maxims, Vickers, 1917, M-52 Colt, MG-15)). I use O rings exclusively. Easily replaced in the field if need be, no fitting required after you determine the correct ones, just stock up. As to the packing, you might consider heat trace/race car header insulation. It comes in 2" wide rolls (x many feet) at most speed shops. Unravel a thread (about .080 round) and pull off as much as you like, it is fiberglass cloth. Packs well, accepts almost any heavier gease, almost never leaks. One of the problems encountered w/packing is getting it too tight. I once made a single shot out of an '08 Maxim that way.

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