Tappet Covers

[markie]

Hello
Ive got leaking tappet covers, ive tightened them but they still leak. I have some replacement gaskets, can they be fitted without removing the manifold, or is it easier to remove it.

Yours Mark

[Willie]

Lo, Yes, is is easy to replace the tappet cover gaskets with
the manifold in position. Check that the covers have not
been bent inwards by overtightening of the fixing bolts.
It is easy to persuade them back to shape. You must re-fit
the washers under the bolts to avoid leaks. If they have
only recently started to leak you should check your breather
pipes for blockages in case this is causing excess crankcase
pressure.
Willie

[newagetraveller]

They should be tightened to a torque of 2lbft which is not very much at all.
Gasket sealant usually stops them leaking.

[rob_dewing]

Gasket sealant doesn't always seem to do the job in which case a tip I heard of a while ago is to bond the gaskets in place with epoxy adhesive! The logic being that the tappet covers are a bit ornamental anyway, most other OHV engines did without them. If you do ever have to get in there anyway the gasket will break up if you prise it apart and can then be scraped off.

I've never got desperate enough to try this one as most of the oil seems to come from the rocker cover anyway.

You can also get leaks around the tappet cover bolts which a few turns of PTFE tape will take care of.