21 replies to this topic

[dood]

Hi, I recently took off my rocker cover on my 1275 Mini, tidied it up to make it look nice, replaced the cork gasket with a new fresh one, as well as new rubbers on top under the spacer/washer. The main reason I took it off was it was leaking, from the driver side face, but after refitting with a new gasket, and Hylomar Blue jointing compound and taking it out for a 10 minute spin, it still leaks, and I would say it actually seems to be leaking more than it was before 

 

Any help, tips or ideas etc to give me a hand and repair my leak? as I think I'll have to re-do it

 

I know mini's will leak oil but I want this one dealt with as its quite a bit of oil, and its not the only leak, I bet you know where the other one is too.

 

Thanks very much for your help, much appreciated.

Edited by dood, 05 May 2014 - 09:51 AM.

[jpw1275]

Did you make sure that both surfaces where surgically cleaned before you put the new gasket on.

[dood]

Did you make sure that both surfaces where surgically cleaned before you put the new gasket on.

 

I did clean the surfaces, they were much much cleaner than they were when it came off...

but surgically?

I removed all remnants of the old gasket (which was proper Rock Solid!), it was clean and shiny on both surfaces, and the gasket was brand spankin new...

Edited by dood, 05 May 2014 - 10:03 AM.

[jpw1275]

Did you make sure that both surfaces where surgically cleaned before you put the new gasket on.

 
I did clean the surfaces, they were much much cleaner than they were when it came off...
but surgically?

Yea I found the slightest bit of anything found on either surface stopped it sealing properly, also I found smearing oil on either surface helped aswell

Cheers james

[dood]

 

 

Yea I found the slightest bit of anything found on either surface stopped it sealing properly, also I found smearing oil on either surface helped aswell

Cheers james

Oil as in engine oil? and do you mean all faces as in both sides of gasket, and before or after hylomar?

[jpw1275]

Yes , sorry engine oil..... I've never used anything other than engine oil on either side of the gasket

Cheers james

[Ethel]

What did you tighten it with? Many people don't realise how low the torque required is. Also, if it's a steel cover it could have been distorted by over tightening.

[dood]

What did you tighten it with? Many people don't realise how low the torque required is. Also, if it's a steel cover it could have been distorted by over tightening.

I used a spanner, I didn't tighten it to the point I couldn't turn it anymore, there was some left give left in it, but I noticed my rubber seals were a bit squashed and it looked good and tight, and I didn't want to over tighten it so made a conscious effort not to, I feel a bit cheated! Unless its been over tightened by a previous owner?

 

But I just took it off tonight as it was bugging me, and the gasket has warped so its a funny shape with a couple of bends in it etc, so it must have shifted a bit when fitting it down

I had thought that might of happened, so I stuck it with hylomar to the cover and let it sit a few minutes first so it wouldn't move too easily and it still moved while fitting to the engine!

A bit annoyed as I felt i'd done everything right, maybe I need to try being even more careful than I was, if possible...

 

Bought a new gasket (2 this time just in case...) hoping it gets here pronto as wee Ron can't go anywhere with no lid on!

 

the good new is my rocker cover looks excellent now that its freshly painted and shiny

and also at least its not a major mechanical, as I've no time for one of those at the moment!

Edited by dood, 05 May 2014 - 08:36 PM.

[Ethel]

When I say it doesn't need much torque it really is barely more than finger tight - 3.5 ft/lb

[Gremlin]

What did you tighten it with? Many people don't realise how low the torque required is. Also, if it's a steel cover it could have been distorted by over tightening.

I used a spanner, I didn't tighten it to the point I couldn't turn it anymore

I hope you never do that! As Ethel says, they just need to be nipped, if the gasket has distorted it sounds as if it was slightly overtightened

[dood]

Tightened by fingers is enough ?!

wow! i'm proper shocked about that one, and feeling rather stupid in your company!

 

I had absolutely no idea about that, but thanks very much people for letting me know, I'm positive that will be a great help for many years to come

[cradley-heathen]

the cork gaskets usually are distorted when you buy them, if your not carefull when you fit it they spring back to the kinda "dog bone" shape they are when you buy them sometimes.

 

i have used gasket sealer on the face that is against the rocker cover and masking taped it in place for half an hour while it dried a little, then remove the masking tape and fitted the cover.

[Gremlin]

No, he didn't say finger tight will be enough, he said barely more is needed, which is exactly right, too many people over tighten them and crush the gaskets

[cradley-heathen]

Tightened by fingers is enough ?!

wow! i'm proper shocked about that one, and feeling rather stupid in your company!

 

I had absolutely no idea about that, but thanks very much people for letting me know, I'm positive that will be a great help for many years to come

finger tight is plenty, dont forget you can get "t-bars" to replace the factory nuts.

[ANON]

the real tip is the first thing you do when you start the job is to put the gasket on your head like a headband