Is This Some Sort Of Aurora Piston Repair Hack?

[RayCornett]

While beginning an Aurora 88K piston replacement I removed the section/nib unit and saw this. I have yet to touch it. It looks waxy. Has anyone seen anything like this? I am hoping the retaining nut and such are there and this is not all that is holding the seals in place...
edit- It definitely seems to be wax after touching it. I also touched a razor blade to it lightly and it did nick the substance which is another reason I think it is wax. Once fully extended like this the piston knob keeps turning.

51413

[RayCornett]

Well,,,alrighty. I cut a sliver off of it across the top and it was hanging on by just a bit. As I pulled the piece off the bit it was hanging on stretched quite a ways. My guess...............rubber cement.....

[RayCornett]

It seems the seals are there but that perhaps they placed the rubber cement over the end for whatever reason. Once I get it removed i'll find out if the retaining nut is still there. I would hope it is because SOMEthing is holding the seals on. I think maybe they didn't have replacement seals/cork so they put the rubber cement on to perhaps act as a seal.51414

[RayCornett]

To answer my own question. Yep!
Turned out that whoever did this way back when didn't want to send it out to be repaired and took it upon themselves to do something that would act as a seal by using rubber cement. Luckily it was not that the screw and all were gone.51415

[Chrissy]

It certainly looks like an odd thing that someone has done, but you seem to be improving it at every step. :)

[RayCornett]

It certainly looks like an odd thing that someone has done, but you seem to be improving it at every step. :)

I cleaned off this entire part and it became evident that the slotted retainer nut IS still there. They seem to have hand carved a plunger-like cone retainer nut type thingie and put that and the rubber cement on top of it. I will be removing the cone shaped thingie and try to figure out why.

[RayCornett]

And, the nut seems perfectly fine! So, I am putting a coat of silicone grease around the edges and this back in and see how it goes.51417