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[Tim NZ]

IF there is any inclination for the head gasket to 'chirp', especially at lower rpm when initially accelerating, try applying a wee smidgen of retard to the ignition until revs are over 2000.


Always fill up with 'Super' and avoid Ethanol blends

[Marko]

A "Heads Up" - pardon the pun, and thanks for the advice offered. New thicker gaskets were fitted over the weekend, engine started and warmed up, all nuts gone over before refitting petrol tank etc. There is a small irritating oil weep to the rear and bottom of the barrels (by the rocker feeds) - common sense dictates that the only proper way to fix this is by splitting the crankcases - something I will probably do in the summer when i'm in a much better frame of mind. In the meantime I made a temporary "fix" in the form of a silicon impregnated fibre patch. Time wil tell if this "bandaid" gets me through to the summer! I hate oil leaks... Anyway, just need some nice weather for another test run p.s Tim NZ the only time I like the "CHIRP" sound is if it comes from the morning song of birds - not from the radio playing a daft song from the 70s (chirpy chirpy tweet song) which drives me positively potty AND definitely not from any bike.. regards Mark

[Mark M]

Marko, if you decide to split the cases at some point do come back here for suggestions as there are several useful modifications you can do while you are in there, not least replacing the 2 rocker oil feed pipes with a 1 into 4 unit which is specially made by Hitchcocks and not listed in the Parts Book! Anyway, enjoy it and let us know how it goes!

REgards, Mark

[Bullet Whisperer]

Marko, it might be worth taking a look at this video, just in case - I thought this one was leaking from the crankcase joint to begin with. Regards, Paul ... https://youtu.be/L9SUDjJBCtA

[Dennis C]

Hi Marko, I had the same leak on my Super Meteor for a few years before finally getting it sorted a couple of months ago following Mark M's advice a pain in the a**e stripping it but all seems ok now, I tried patching but it never worked the oil is under pressure. Incidentally I was sent the same incorrect timing cover gasket as you got, someone messed up?. All the best Dennis.

[stinkwheel]

" If you have both heads off, attempt to compare/measure combustion chamber depths; it is not unexpected to have to fit additional base gasket under one cylinder to accommodate a skimmed head. "



Back when I messed about with 2-strokes, it was routine to measure "squish" on multi cylinder bikes and shim base/head gaskets to suit. You did it by taking a length of soft plumbers solder, bending it into an L-shape, sticking it in through the sparkplug hole of the assembled engine and turning the engine over compression. You could then accurately measure the thickness of the now squashed solder with a vernier and compare the two sides.



While I've never done it, I can't think of a good reason you couldn't do the same on a 4-stroke providing you are careful where the solder is positioned so it's in the same bit of piston on both sides and not fouling a valve.

[Marko]

If anything, I can say that by joining the REOC and this forum I've ended up in good company. Paul I've watched most of your videos - I'm desperately hoping that my oil weep turns out to be like the one on the Interceptor you fixed, however knowing my luck.. Deep down I know that i'll have to split the crankcases if I want things to be right - what really has frustrated me is that the bike was described as "restored". Ho hum. Ah Dennis the fun I had with timing cover gaskets - what a palluva that was... along with an incorrectly fitted oil filter assy, mismatched monoblocs, naff bore/pistons, a clutch that was neither here nor there & brakes that didn't brake. All those issues have been resolved. I'll get there... fwiw the bike has a very good potential: same, possibly more, "grunt" as my ex T140, a hell of a lot more smoother... When I do decide to strip the engine you can count on me asking advice in the meantime lets hope nothing else rears its ugly head
best regards
Mark