English French German Italian Spanish

Timing cover leak

Submitted by david_cooper on Fri, 04/08/2023
Forums
Singles

Helping a friend get his 16H back on the road.  We are nearly there but...there's a persistent oil leak from the bottom of the timing cover joint.  I've not seen the surfaces myself (mag drive sprockets must come off of course) but any recommendations for a 'good enough' way to seal it?

I suspect it should be removed and repaired with JB Weld or similar.  Any other ideas welcomed.

Picture show location.  There is a screw under the cover (never noticed it myself before) probably covers an oil drilling.  That's OK.  The thing thar looks like a hole is actually an oil drip ready right fall.  When the engine is running, oil comes out of the joint.

 

Attachments
20230803_151537.jpg

Submitted by ian_soady on Fri, 04/08/2023

Permalink

As the timing cover got changed around a bit. I've seen comments on a FB page to say that the screws should have fibre washers under them but mine haven't (1952 ES2) and I've never seen them. Mine doesn't leak, but I have a feeling that some earlier covers had the screws inside the joint face thus allowing this leak.

As for the screw in the bottom - never seen this. Maybe a previous owner fitted it to drain the timing chest? And I see copious amounts of red hermetite which is always a bad sign.

In answer to your other question, I've used JB weld successfully for this kind of mating face recovery.

Submitted by richard_payne on Fri, 04/08/2023

Permalink

That screw is a feature of the 1936-pattern / WD engines (probably others too). It blanks the drilling from the oil pump outlet to the crank feed which then intersects with a drilling from above from the oil tell-tale.

The crankcases look quite corroded (the timing cover less-so ) I wonder if the engine has corrosion damage to the face, caused when dismantled at some time ?

Submitted by david_cooper on Fri, 04/08/2023

Permalink

Thanks Ian and Richard.

Re sealing washers...Good thinking but that's not where the real problem lies.  Worth considering though...I just wish I could find fibre washers that fit any of our Imperial sizes.

Richard...I suspect you're right.  The red is a silicone product.  It worries me!  If I'd used it, I'd have only used it at the bottom.  I hope the cover comes off again...

I think I'll suggest he takes the cover off again and check with a steel rule.  And try JB Weld.  Flat it off with wet and dry on a sheet of glass...perhaps.  That will be easier on the cover than the crankcase.

When I saw my own picture, I thought the PO had drilled a hole for a tap to drain the wet sump!

Submitted by barry_carson1 on Fri, 04/08/2023

Permalink

hello ,

not 16h but i had the same on my 55 es2 engine the timing cover would not seal no matter how much sealer i put on it. on asking for help from the club. i then found it to be to many fibre washers on the oil pump pressure outlet holding the cover off to much.  the cover must have warped when i tighten the screws up and not sealed right. just thought i would mention it . it may be different setup on yours.

 

barry

That's a very good point, Barry. Perhaps worth a dry run with Plasticine to check the clearance there..I've never thought of doing it. The rubber on the twins would be much more tolerant, of course.

 


Norton Owners Club Website by 2Toucans