dykins Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 (edited) I've bought a Triumphtune alloy rocker cover and gasket from Moss and intend to fix it on this weekend. Which gasket sealant is best? (- by "best" I mean prevents oil leaks!) I've been to my local Halfords and there's a choice of two or three, but their's seem to come as red, grey or white colours. I would prefer a black sealant to make it less visible next to the black cylinder head. Can anyone recommend one? Thanks Edited August 3, 2006 by dykins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Smith Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 (edited) I've bought a Triumphtune alloy rocker cover and gasket from Moss and intend to fix it on this weekend. Which gasket sealant is best? (- by "best" I mean prevents oil leaks!) Hi Dykins I now fit my rocker gaskets dry without any problems/leaks; prior to this I used a sealant with the same net result - so save your money! Mind you I recently saw a Triumphtune rocker cover fitted to a TR6 and it had about a 6mm overlap at the rear, so offer it up first, you may get a shock at the fit quality! Cheers Andrew Edited August 3, 2006 by Andrew Smith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
robgeev Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Spray carpet glue is excellent-the gasket does the sealing anyway, the difficult bit is locating the gasket onto the cover (hint-lay the gasket on cardboard and spray that, rather than the cover). Rob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robin Powell Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Hi I use Hylomar and the secret with the alloy covers which don't have a lip is to stick the cork gasket to the cover, place it on a flat surface overnight to fix it firmly and then you can bolt it down to the head without any further sealant. Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jean Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Cork gaskets are designed to be fitted without sealant. The gaskets sold these days are a mixture cork/rubber, you can see the brown/black pattern. They are known to compress very little compared to the old cork gaskets. The problem often lies in the size, the gaskets are more or less made for standard covers, light alloy covers lead to problems. Yes, the 6 Andrew mentioned was mine, I lost more than 1ltr of oil on the way to Malvern. I rectified the leak with Loctite 5920 copper sealant for flat surfaces The problem with my Triumph Tune cover is that the cover is too long and does not follow the curves of the cylinder head. In the mean time I bought a different cover, but now I'm trying to find a proper gasket, not the thin one To keep the gasket in place before fitting the cover do as advised above, hope you have success with the Triumph Tune. Jean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted August 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 (edited) Guys Thanks for your comments. Having read Andrew and Jean's posts, I almost wish I hadn't bought the bl**dy thing now!! Regards Peter Edited August 4, 2006 by dykins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Can anyone explain the attraction (apart from appearance) of alloy covers? Although I've been tempted in the past, I've usually just polished up the chrome and wondered what I'm missing. I guess they may be quieter, but I think I'd rather hear if there is any valve clatter needing attention (and retain the oil where it belongs). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jean Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Brian, the valve cover on my 6 is the standard painted one, so not very attractive, except for originality freaks. The Triumph Tune cover gives a sturdy look to the engine, I have it for 20 years, left it off for the last 5 years following continuous oil leaks and tried it again with a special wide silicone gasket, but noticed that it only works with extra sealing. It's now leakproof, but will probably be a mess to take it off. Now I bought a mat black one, will give it a try as soon as I have found a reliable gasket I fully agree the chrome covers look better as long as they don't show rust patches Jean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Now I bought a mat black one, will give it a try as soon as I have found a reliable gasket I fully agree the chrome covers look better as long as they don't show rust patches I have heard that the Racetorations and Revington alloy covers are a better fit. Even so, it's probably cheaper to have the original rechromed - although given the number of people going alloy, there ought to be a few originals available in decent condition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
unclepete Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Had my Moss Ally rocker cover milled out with a 5mm groove to fit a neoprene (?) cord gasket. You put the gasket into the groove with a little silicon sealant and cut and glue the ends together. You can now take the cover off and on as many times as you like without gaskets or sealant or worries about oil leaks! Unc ps I have heard that some of our members have the facilities and machines to do this work at a reasonable price. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 Had my Moss Ally rocker cover milled out with a 5mm groove to fit a neoprene (?) cord gasket.You put the gasket into the groove with a little silicon sealant and cut and glue the ends together. You can now take the cover off and on as many times as you like without gaskets or sealant or worries about oil leaks! Unc ps I have heard that some of our members have the facilities and machines to do this work at a reasonable price. Seems like an excellent solution, but makes me wonder why Moss's suppliers don't do this in the first place. I'm sure customers would be a lot happier paying a little extra for something that works first time, rather than wasting time and money trying to fix it. Would the machining prevent the fitting of a standard gasket if a customer wanted to retain it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marvmul Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 My TR3 alloy rocker cover, don't know anymore who it came from, came with a groove of 1/8" with an overlap of 1/4" at one point. An 'O-ring' came with it. No sealing problems so far, no sealant necessaring. A machine shop can make such a groove afterwards I suppose, and if the shop can't provide it, a length of O-ring , from a O-ring kit to make your own O-rings (cut and glue), can be used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 My TR3A Triumphtune alloy rocker cover from Moss had numerous 'blow' holes in the casting between the ribs at the top. It leaked like a basket! I had it replaced. Check yours for 'blow' holes. I always fit my gaskets dry. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark1965TR4aBRG Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 I have a TRGB black ally rocker cover with a dry gasket and no leaks. I certainly wouldn't use sealant. I prefer the aesthetics of the ally cover over the chrome one - no other reason! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chilliman Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Peter, For what it's worth I always use the old school method of sticking the gasket to the alloy cover with a sealant (after you've checked the fit as someone above very rightly says) and then a smear of oil between the gasket face and the head - I've never had any leaks this way on any of my engines and it means you can remove & replace the cover at any time easily without damaging or distorting the gasket. Cheers John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted April 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 (edited) Thanks Mark & John, but if you look at the date of my original question - it was posted in August 2006!!! Regards Peter Edited April 12, 2012 by dykins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark1965TR4aBRG Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Oh yes. Any leaks yet then?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dykins Posted April 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 The rocker cover is about the only bl@@dy place my car doesn't leak oil from Regards Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PaulAnderson Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 Or buy a moulded silicone gasket from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TR2-TR3-TR4-Silicone-Rubber-Valve-Cover-Gasket-/220296012263?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item334aaa61e7 or Revington TR Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted April 13, 2012 Report Share Posted April 13, 2012 When I met the American, Jim Wagner (producer of the silicon gaskets) at Malvern a few years ago, he told me that they were not designed for alloy rocker covers because those covers do not have a retaining lip. However, I believe he may have modified the design of the gasket - check with the supplier prior to purchase. As it happens, at the time I met Jim, I had been running with one of his gaskets under an alloy cover for some years! However, my crankcase and rocker cover are separately vented to atmosphere so as to get rid of water vapour and to prevent build-up of internal pressure, so there is virtually nothing trying to push the gasket from beneath the cover - and it was pressurisation which was worrying Jim. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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