Tappet chest gaskets

Post by **iddy** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:00 pm

Do you really need a tappet chest gasket?
The reason I ask is that I've had a bit of a problem with the goo that builds up from lots of short journeys. I cleaned lots of the stuff from the inside of the rocker cover and the carb breather pipe, so decided to clean the breather pipe from the block.
I sent off for a gasket which arrived today, took the cover and pipe off to find no old gasket present.
Does this mean it's optional, not all engine need them or the previous owner couldn't be bothered?
It's a 1098 engine btw.

Thanks,
Idris.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:32 pm

YES - you need gasket - it must be there! Scrape round the edges of the cover - or has it been left on the block ? Early cars had a thin cork gasket - later cars had a thicker rubber gasket. i suppose a previous owner could have just coated it all with sealant - but best to use the gasket.

Post by **iddy** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:52 am

I brought the cover into work tonight and gave it a good clean - the recess where the gasket fits was filled with some sort of sealant and traces of old rubber.
Although I have a later model, does it matter that I have been sent cork gaskets?
Thanks,
Idris.

Post by **iddy** » Sat May 06, 2006 4:03 am

Just double checked, and ESM who I bought the gaskets from only sell the cork type. Bull Motif and Charles Ware sell both the cork and Rubber gaskets

Idris.

Post by **minor_hickup** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:41 am

no this isnt true, i bought neoprene gaskets from ESM about a month ago for my brothers moggy 1000

Post by **iddy** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:34 pm

Phoned ESM this morning to check - they can't get any new stock for at least a month or so, and have taken them off their website.

If any regular chat boarder needs the cork type gasket let me know (pm)and I'll pop one in the post (on the house).

Idris.

Post by **Cam** » Sat May 06, 2006 3:25 pm

I thought all cars from the factory had cork gaskets and the rubber ones were just fitted later on by owners who could not get the cork ones.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:13 pm

Later covers were a slightly different shape - and had rubber gaskets.

Post by **Cam** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:51 pm

Do you know when they changed over?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:29 pm

I 'think' when the 1098 engine came out ? Both my 1098s (and both my 998 Mini engines) have the rubber gaskets on the covers.

Post by **Dominic** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:35 am

I had corks on my 1965 1098. Of course, I have no idea if they were original.

Post by **Cam** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:23 am

That's what made me ask. I have only found cork ones fitted although I've fitted the neoprene ones in the past.