Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, just about to rebuild my wife's Electra X (16500miles) that developed a very bad knocking at the last Manx GP resulting in a new crank, piston & mains from Mr.H.
When I split the crankcases there was no gasket between them just evidence of a grey silicone sealing compound and the cylinder bottom gasket was stuck on with a red compound. I've got a new crankcase gasket and despite the manual saying cover each side with grease I'm inclined to use Hylomar Blue on either side of it as I've done with many jap engine rebuilds before. I just wonder what other people do. I'm contemplating using the red version on the cylinder bottom gasket too, and may even use the blue on other gaskets too although when I replaced the spag clutch at 12000 miles I didn't use anything, just new gaskets. What do people think ? Thanks

Symon I never use anything but grease on gaskets, cylinder head excluded of course. Indeed on 2 of my bikes the case faces have been lapped and so no gasket is used at all. Hylomar and its ilk are not welcome in my garage.

thanks for the reply. I must admit I was impressed with the surfaces of the case's when I took them apart, maybe these have been lapped, I'm not sure. I'll use the gasket and grease on both faces. General purpose or something special ?

Symon,if there was no gasket fitted to crankcase halves,just a sealer from new,then that's the way to go.
Fitting a gasket will increase crankshaft end-float.
Just a thought!!
YORKIE

Hi SYMON -------- actually there WAS a gasket fitted, it's that grey silicon that you saw. I would re-check that your particular model actually had a "traditional" style gasket in the first place.( Has a previous owner been "at it" ?? )...If it did then I agree with "Mike-the-unbalanced" (Hello matey, see you at the next gathering !!) and rub grease into it before assy... You def. DON'T need both types together..... A great many machines these days use the liquid silicone type gasket from new, the mating faces being so much better designed, finished and aligned than before. The majority of Japanese engines are Horizontally split which requires a higher degree of machining accuracy ( to allow the correct amount of bearing clamp-down for one thing) which is why they used the early type of "liquid gasket" back in the 1960's/'70's. PS--- 1,738 miles ago I fitted my cyl. base gasket with just grease rubbed in and its NOT leaked etc. In fact some manuals say to use grease if you want to dismantle regularly !! ( Honestly---- been there, done that, professionally for MoD.).

Hi Symon, After all your hard work and expense put in to rebuilding the flying electra... May i respectfully suggest you dissuade your dear wife from entering next years Manx GP... Difficult i would imagine with such a brave and fiesty lady but you know it makes sense.... Maybe a cheap Ducati...................... regards gwilly

If anything, I use a small amout of Wellseal. Apply sparingly with a small paintbrush and let it "dry" before assembly.

Hylomar is fantastic stuff , blue is std , red is for extreem heat .
My Grandfather was on the original testing team for Rolls Royce for use in the Spitfire Merlin engines and I have tried all other types as a test . Shellac was a bugger to get off so the old mid 90's hand book for the bullet was a bit crazy to even suggest it ...go for blue . Just a thin smear is fine .

Never got my head around why they put Electras together with that grey silicone. Dumb as the proverbial

Having tried snot in various colours my preference these days is for grease or a thin layer of Wellseal applied with a fine artist paint brush