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WellSeal Can't Be Shipped To USA

Fellow NOC Members,

I can't buy WellSeal form anyone I can find in the US. I did find and ordered a 100ml tube of WellSeal from two different UK vendors. Both accepted my order payed for with PayPal however both refunded my full purchase price explaining that "their carrier could not ship the WellSeal to the US.

Something in WellSeal must be off limits for shipping to the US ?

I am NOT asking for anyone to send a tube of WellSeal to me in violation of any laws however I welcome all suggestions as to how I might buy WellSeal and legally have it shipped to me in the US.

Perhaps a non UK supplier that can ship to the US ?

WellSeal as most are aware is the recommended head gasket sealant for OEM head gaskets on Commandos. I am continuing to fight a "3rd fin oil hemmorage" on my '74 850 Mk 2a Commando and want to implement the best recommendations the NOC members have offered -- WellSeal is recommended. Have just has the head vacuum epoxy impregnated by Imprex to hopefully seal pores in the low quality castings produced in '74.

Ron Wellman

Midland MI, USA

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I never cease to be amazed by some of these things. If it would help, I'd be happy to buy a tube and send it on to you. I do not believe I would be contravening any laws by doing so (although may of course be contravening a carrier's own policies).

Royal Mail won't allow a load of things including flammable liquids, paints and aerosols but doesn't mention gasket jointing material so although ignorance is no defence I would argue that it's not explicitly prohibited.

I would of course post it with no return address and it would have to be at your risk!

<edit>

Actually I've just looked at my tube and it is explicitly banned but only in quantities greater than 5 litres....</edit>

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I've used Yamabond (and Hylomar) and much prefer Wellseal.

On my 850 Commando I used a solid copper head gasket, very well annealed, and a thin coat of Wellseal applied with a small paintbrush around the pushrod tunnels. Never leaked.

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If your head is leaking from the third fin, fixing it with welseal is treating the symptom not the cause. The head might be not flat, front studs may have broken through into the pushrod tunnel. A composite gasket with flame ring should suffice in this situation without any sealant IMHO. If you have a reed valve fitted to reduce crankcase pressure that may prevent leakage also (provided its working)

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Previously ian_soady wrote:

Mind you a quick google turns up these people: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3304 who seem to be in your neck of the woods.....

Ian, thank you so much for finding WellSeal at Pegasus Racing. I didn't get them as a hit when I Googled WellSeal. Also thanks for the offer to send a tube but not necessary.

I just ordered a tube from them which they can send to me via UPS ground.

Yes I too am amazed at how overly and unnecessarily cautious the world has become.

Ron

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Previously ian_goodhall wrote:

People in the US seem to use Yamabond where we use Wellseal.

Ian

Thanks Ian, Ian Soady did find a US vendor for WellSeal and I have ordered a 100ml tube which they can ship to me.

Also see Ian Soady's comment on his preference for WellSeal.

Ron

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Previously david_evans wrote:

If your head is leaking from the third fin, fixing it with welseal is treating the symptom not the cause. The head might be not flat, front studs may have broken through into the pushrod tunnel. A composite gasket with flame ring should suffice in this situation without any sealant IMHO. If you have a reed valve fitted to reduce crankcase pressure that may prevent leakage also (provided its working)

David,

I have ad my head made flat at a local competent auto machine shop so I don't think that's an issue.

I have not checked to see if the front studs have broken through to the pushrod tunnels -- I will -- thanks for that "heads up".

Regarding a reed valve. I fitted a Jeep PCV valve as another club member suggested and also bought and fitted a more secure brass check valve. The higher quality brass check valve was truly more "one way" than the loose PCV valve.

Forgive my asking but please confirm that the correct orientation for these valves is such that the crankcase pressure generated on the pistons down stroke is allowed to pass through the valve. That in turn means that as the pistons rise a partial vacuum is theoretically created in the crankcase.

Ron

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David has reminded me about the studs breaking into the pushrod tunnels - my 850 had this problem on one side. I just used loctite on the studs.

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Previously Ron Wellman wrote:

....

Forgive my asking but please confirm that the correct orientation for these valves is such that the crankcase pressure generated on the pistons down stroke is allowed to pass through the valve. That in turn means that as the pistons rise a partial vacuum is theoretically created in the crankcase.

Ron

Correct, the idea is that any positive pressure vents out so you then only have roughly equal to ambiant ornegative.

You may find that any valve that has any real mass, such as using a ball bearing under spring pressure, will not be able to respond at high revs (what high is I could not say).

If you have a look at Roadholder 302 Jan 2013 pages 22 onwards you will find some information that may be useful.

https://www.nortonownersclub.org/html/archive/rh/302/index.html#22

Regards

Tony

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Previously Tony Ripley wrote:

Previously Ron Wellman wrote:

....

Forgive my asking but please confirm that the correct orientation for these valves is such that the crankcase pressure generated on the pistons down stroke is allowed to pass through the valve. That in turn means that as the pistons rise a partial vacuum is theoretically created in the crankcase.

Ron

Correct, the idea is that any positive pressure vents out so you then only have roughly equal to ambiant of negative.

You may find that any valve that has any real mass, such as using a ball bearing under spring pressure, will not be able to respond at high revs (what high is I could not say).

Permalink

Previously Ron Wellman wrote:

Previously Tony Ripley wrote:

Previously Ron Wellman wrote:

....

Forgive my asking but please confirm that the correct orientation for these valves is such that the crankcase pressure generated on the pistons down stroke is allowed to pass through the valve. That in turn means that as the pistons rise a partial vacuum is theoretically created in the crankcase.

Ron

Correct, the idea is that any positive pressure vents out so you then only have roughly equal to ambiant of negative.

You may find that any valve that has any real mass, such as using a ball bearing under spring pressure, will not be able to respond at high revs (what high is I could not say).

 


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