Re: Leaky Pig

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: FIFTYGUY@xxxxxxx 

Folks-

    Here's a follow up. Thanks for all who replied!

    1. Yes, it has a functional un-shipping-plugged screw-in vent. 
However,  the cap was on there pretty darn good (age). Attached to the 
inside of the cap is a chain, the other end of which is attached to the 
spring-loaded vent valve. Vent valve moves freely via chain.

    Removed top cover.

    2. Oil level is below vent level by a couple inches. Below level of 
low-voltage bushings. Just barely covers bottom of high-voltage bushings. 
Personally, I think it should be an inch or so higher, but at least it 
covers the bottoms of the high-voltage bushings.

    3. Oil is dripping off every internal surface of the thing, even the 
top bolts that hold the HV bushing flanges on, and the fasteners for the 
low-voltage connections. These are well above the level of the oil, and I 
did not slosh the oil when removing the top. I feel that the oil must have 
some sort of "creep" property, or simply enough vapor pressure for it to 
coat everything inside its vessel.

    4. I did not remove or disassemble a HV bushing. But I did notice that 
the center conductor does seem to be solid all the way from the top of the 
outside connection (threaded copper) to the bottom of the interior bushing 
connection. If a seal is faulty or missing along that conductor, then 
there's nothing preventing the oil from slowly working its way out.

    5. I think the exterior HV connection may be a little unusual. There's 
simply the threaded copper 3/8" "stud", with a nut and washer. However, 
pictures of other pigs show the "clamp" style connectors, similar to what's 
on the low-voltage terminals. My washers leave small holes to the sides 
exposed in the top of the HV bushings, from whence I'm assuming the oil is 
issuing.

    I'm going to plug the top interior of the HV bushings with RTV 
silicone. Although someone said they tried that without success (and I have 
low expectations without thoroughly degreasing the surfaces), I hope it 
will slow the escape of oil to something tolerable. At the moment, I've got 
a pool 3 feet by 1 foot soaking into the cement under the pig.
    Oil smells like Silly Putty. Is it silicone based?

-Phil LaBudde