stator tube olive

[sp53]

I have a question about the olive that goes on the end of the stator tube. I have some that I thought are original and they are kinda cut in half. Anyway I ordered one form Moss with some other stub and it is the same thing you can get at HD for fifty cents. I am I tripping again.
Steve

 

[TR3driver]

Not sure I understand the question, Steve. The originals were definitely a different shape than the ones from HD, tapered only on one side (while the ones from HD taper on both sides). Mine are also split, but I'm not certain if they were that way originally or got broken in the process of removing them from the tube. Seems like I recall seeing one that was not split, but perhaps not.

It seems like the split gets squeezed shut where it counts (in the space between the tube and the spigot), but I smeared a little Hylomar into the split last time, JIC.

 

[Adrio]

I just finished rebuilding my steering box and both my in use and spare steering boxes has the split in the olive. I have no idea if they are all like that but both olives seem to have very clean and stright slits, so I tend to think it was made like that.

 

[MGTF1250Dave]

Aloha All,

They are designed with the split. The narrow cut allows it to seal when the compression nut is tightened, however the olive can also be removed from the stator tube when the nut is removed. This allows the control head/stator tube to be removed if necessary without destroying the olive. Without the split, it is most likely the olive would be compressed onto the stator tube and could only be removed by cutting it off. A micro saw, like an X-Acto makes a small kerf, so you can cut the hardware store offering and it may work.

 

[sp53]

Yes mine are split also and the one I got from Moss is split, other than that it looks the same as the HD one. I see your logic in why the split is there Dave. Thanks all and I think now I will keep the $3.00 one I got from Moss.
Steve