Tesa tape oil bath seal

Hi Stuart

I bought some in the UK. Can't comment on how succesful it is as the bike isn't finished yet but based on what I have read on here it looks very promising.

I'll have a look for the invoicewhen I'm out in the workshop over the weekend and see where I got it from.

Previously stuart_munroe wrote:

The leak from the oil bath is a flood rather than a trickle and I have searched the message archives and there is a great thread on a the above tape which I want to give a try. Does anyone know if it's available in the UK? If necessary will get a roll from Aus but would rather get it locally.

Stuart, ive tried all the tape/sealants/rtv/nothing works proper. i used to fill the primery case with oil when its run dry you can still do a few hundred miles after that or use chain spray.but the rollers require oil.if you only do a few miles each ride out a wet chain will last for a while.if you do a few hundred miles often. fit a belt drive.the standard clutch slipped on my dommie.i now have a bob newby clutch and belt.no slip no oil problems.i can use the same clutch for the dommie and my single.jusy use a differant front pully and belt. if you don,t do lots of miles the expense is not worth it.but for me its a hassle free mod

I first fitted the primary drive cover on using the polyethelene TESA brand tape back in March this year and filled with the recommended1/2 pint of SAE20 oil. I removed the cover last week toadjust the clutch and the oil was still there, enough forthe lower run of the chain to be wet.

Admittedly there was only a few hundred miles covered in this time, but the seal held the oil, no oil drops on the shed floor,no problems.

Paul

Really, you should get your chaincase nicely straight and put together properly and if you do it will hold oil, honest! There are many old threads on the forum detailing exactly how to go about it. Gordon.

I bought mine from Tapes Direct. Haven't used it yet but from what I have read on here and elsewhere the main things to be sure of are that the chaincase is in good, straight shape, everything is clean before you put it together and finally don't over tighten that center nut as that will distort the case. Just put it on far enough to be able to get the footrest on.

Good luck

Andy

Just a tip for assemblingusing this tape, smear the corresponding mating face of the outer cover with grease, and it will all slide together easily.

Hard to believe that some still won't embrace the use of modern materials which are readilyavailable to make life a little more stress free when working on these oldBrit clunkers

Paul

I tried using this tape on my dommi, and it still haemorrhaged oil all over the garage floor. Why? Because, as with the original rubber band, the outer case has to mate properly with the inner. If it is bent, as most are, it will leak. Because my outer case is nicely painted, I am reluctant to start standing on mine with blocks of wood underneath. Disadvantages with the tape I found, apart from this, were that it does not spring back like rubber, but rather retains its compressed shape, making a good seal harder a second time round. Not too much of a problem as it comes in long rolls so you can just renew it. But - the adhesive is permanent, so you run the risk of mullering your nice paintwork when scraping or using chemicals to remove it. I have gone back to the rubber band and strategically placed RTV.

Gordon's is the best answer. A properly fitted chaincase should not leak. The one on my Dominator doesn't, and it is nearly 60 years old.

I think we all know these cases shouldn't leak!...but in real life, some do, due to damage caused over 60 years by a multitude of owners. Unfortunately we are not all blessed with unmolested parts on our 60 yearold bikes.

Stuart apparently has one such case and was enquiring about the suitability of an alternative method to hold the oil in. If his case is past the point of satisfactory repair/straightening, as suggested,what is he to do? Throw the thing away OR try another proven easymethod of sealing it.

Previously Paul Knapp wrote:

I think we all know these cases shouldn't leak!...but in real life, some do, due to damage caused over 60 years by a multitude of owners. Unfortunately we are not all blessed with unmolested parts on our 60 yearold bikes.

Stuart apparently has one such case and was enquiring about the suitability of an alternative method to hold the oil in. If his case is past the point of satisfactory repair/straightening, as suggested,what is he to do? Throw the thing away OR try another proven easymethod of sealing it.

What works for me is a liberal application of a high modulus silicon. Leave it 24hrs to go off before putting in the oil and running the engine and its stays oil tight. My chaincases are far from perfect but this plus the standard rubber band does the trick.

Stuart, this has been posted before and may be of help.

Hello Martin

I've seen mention above that straightening the cover has been discussed elsewhere on the forum...can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks, Grant In Toronto

1951 ES2