Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: mattsz on October 18, 2012, 11:51:27 pm

Title: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: mattsz on October 18, 2012, 11:51:27 pm
My tappet cover came with some kind of gunk bedded in the countersunk "EFI - 500" lettering.  I'd like to remove the cover and clean it out.  Can I do that without upsetting or spilling anything urgent?  If so, should the engine be warm, or cold?  Is there a gasket behind it I should be careful of?
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: Arizoni on October 19, 2012, 12:10:06 am
The G5 Illustrated Parts List doesn't show a gasket between the inspection cover and the cylinder but that is covering the oil return path from the rocker arms and valves so it must have some sort of sealant.

If I were doing this I would work on the engine when it's cold and probably use a very thin coating of a sealant like Permatex® Ultra Black® Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: mattsz on October 19, 2012, 02:31:29 am
Permatex® Ultra Black® Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker.

Wow, that's a mouthful!  Thanks, Arizoni.  Maybe I just won't worry about it - it doesn't leak now, and I can probably live with the gunk.  We'll see...
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: Arizoni on October 19, 2012, 06:07:39 am
If your talking about the markings being filled I suppose you could carefully paint them with DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid a few times and then wipe the paint off.
(Brake fluid dissolves paint).

I left mine as it was and painted the other cast marking indentations red.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: mattsz on October 19, 2012, 12:44:52 pm
Arizoni - you may recall a PM discussion between us about this.  I am thinking about highlighting my engine in a similar fashion.  My bike has the same plastic starter cover, but rather than the "Royal Enfield" text, my engine covers have the cast winged logo with "RE" letters that match the starter cover's.

My tappet cover is the same as yours, and yes, I was thinking about coloring it to match the rest, but the corners of the recessed lettering are crammed with white gunk - it looks like some kind of wax or polish that is a pain to clean out without a metal scraping tool.  I figured taking the cover right off would make it easier to clean, and easier to re-paint at my desk rather than crouched in my dark garage...
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: barenekd on October 19, 2012, 08:59:26 pm
Taking the cover off is no big deal. I'd use the red Permatex High Tack Gasket Sealant for the cover rather than the Black.
Getting the gunk out is pretty easily done with some Electrical Contact Cleaner and a small brush. No need to remove the cover.
Bare
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: b.sheets on December 13, 2012, 01:30:10 am
kind of piggy backing off of this thread.... My dad is a tool and dye maker so I'm thinking of mailing him my tappet cover and having him make a plain one without any wording on it. my (dumb) question is: Is there anything I should worry about when taking it off? Will any liquid come flying out? Is there a gasket behind it?

then putting it back on, is that the sealant mentioned in this thread that I need to use to put it back on or do I need to buy a gasket.
Thanks, I'd like to offer a few of these plain tappet covers to others considering it goes well, so answering my (dumb) questions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: Ducati Scotty on December 13, 2012, 03:02:45 am
Nothing will spill out, just take it off.

If there's no gasket use just a tiny bit of Permatex Black or a similar sealant.  Not too much, you don't want globs of it sliding down into the crankcase oil.

Scott
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: b.sheets on December 13, 2012, 03:59:03 am
Nothing will spill out, just take it off.

If there's no gasket use just a tiny bit of Permatex Black or a similar sealant.  Not too much, you don't want globs of it sliding down into the crankcase oil.

Scott

Thank you, as a person with common sense that's what I figured but as a person with not much motorcycle mechanic common sense I would much rather just ask the stupid question.

Anyone interested in a cover?
I'm getting my father to mock up one with the cooling fins on it and a blank polished one.
I'll post pictures after christmas of the finished product.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: JVS on December 13, 2012, 07:31:30 am
Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Blank one. Any chance you can post to Sydney, Australia?  ;D
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: gremlin on December 13, 2012, 01:46:40 pm
.............Anyone interested in a cover?...........

Yep !
flat & polished for me as well.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: b.sheets on December 13, 2012, 04:43:56 pm
My dad is coming down for christmas and we will mock it up. so just after the new year I will have about 10 or so(since a few people are interested) I was only planning on a 2-3 just to have laying around but I think I can get  him to 10 or so. I will definitely keep everyone updated, My dad is on board and said it wouldnt be an issue to get this project going.

and yea, I dont mind shipping to Australia.
as long as ya'll can wait til the new year for an update.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: motorat on December 13, 2012, 04:50:45 pm
i'll take one...
either flat not polished or fins.

thanks
for doing this.
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: b.sheets on December 13, 2012, 05:25:26 pm
awesome, once the mock up is done I will start up a new threat taking requests!
Title: Re: Tappet cover removal?
Post by: mattsz on December 13, 2012, 06:21:20 pm
FYI... on offer at Hitchcocks: "TAPPET COVER GASKET (NOT fitted as standard)", part # 90250A:

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-engine-gasketseals-efi