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Timing cover leak

Submitted by david_cooper on Fri, 04/08/2023
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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.

 

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Submitted by ian_soady on Fri, 04/08/2023

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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

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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

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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

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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.

 



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