Silicon rocker cover gaskets - Never again

[Cobber]

Unfortunately back in the day, Triumph like many other car manufacturers chose to use cheap and nasty pressed tin valve covers, these can easily become distorted over the years due to over tightening the fasteners.
And once they get outta shape they'll leak for forever more.

[UKPhilTR7]

I think that may of just worked in my favour. This morning I went down to the garage, loosened the bolts and bits and then moved the cover as much as I could. Only a slight move. I also got a little hammer and tapped the corner ever so slightly. When I tightened the bolts up again I used one hand to tighten and the other push the cover in slightly. I did run the car for a bit and there was no leak. Too early to say if it is fixed, but I will keep an eye on it and update this post. Hopefully, this has helped the leak.

[FI Spyder]

Overtightened valve cover will distort, also happens to sump cover/pan.

[sonscar]

I agree with the sump pan,but I thought the design of the camcover bolts was such that they could not be overtightened by the four on the top but agree you need to be careful with the front ones.Steve.

[UKPhilTR7]

The good mews is that the leak on the corner seems to be fixed, with the help of the rubber mallet. The bad news is that there seems to be a little leak coming from the half moon that I replaced at the back.

Not to worry though, I will take it off and just put some gasket maker on the half moon. Think it is coming from the half moon and the cam bit.

[UKPhilTR7]

Well, I put the new half moons on and tapped the cam cover to make it fit. Now there are leaks and I have decided to take of the silicon one and go back to the old trusty cork ones. It is not worth the trouble.

[John_C]

If you're coming to the Bullet Run or the club's national weekend July Phil I'd like to see your silicone gasket to see if we can establish what the problem is. My experience has been the complete opposite of yours and whereas the cork gaskets have never been entirely satisfactory the silicone version was an immediate fit and forget and should remain on the car indefinitely regardless of how many times to rocker cover comes off. If we can help Joe Alexander understand what the differences are it could help TR7 owners everywhere in future.

So, can you bring your rejected gasket along to either event?

[dmtrmp6]

Phil,
Sorry to hear your bad experience.

I have had silicone gasket on the 7 for the past 3 1/2 years, have had the cover off about 4 or 5 times over that period chasing a noise which turned out to be a worn tappet/cam bucket. Despite these several removals my engine remains dry around the rocker cover and head. Way better than previous cork gasket, which always leaked around the rear exhaust side and over both half moons.

When I fitted the silicone gasket, I also replaced the half moons and installed them into the head with a very thin wipe of silicone. I also put a thin wipe of non hardening gasket goo (hylomar) over the half moons because they did not sit perfectly flush and the silicone gasket is quite soft. the rocker cover is not screwed down overly tight, just enough to begin compressing/snug down the silicone gasket. Perhaps this was the trick?

The above has worked very well whilst still allowing for the rocker cover to be removed/replaced. I would not go back to a cork gasket. Perhaps you need to consider a replacement cover?
Rgds, Daryl M.

[UKPhilTR7]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies and the comments. I have been off for a bit due to work commitments. My TR7 will be shipped back to the UK soon, but for the moment I am just doing jobs on her to keep her running. I will soon take the cover off and check that it is not bent. I think that the way forward may be to buy a new one. I will be putting silicon in the half moons to try and help with the leak.

[Cobber]

My TR7 will be shipped back to the UK soon

Are you going back to Pomgolia?
What's up.......you miss the crook weather?

[UKPhilTR7]

Lol miss the weather hey. They are having a bit of a nice spell at the moment from what I hear. family commitments are harder to ignore now that my mum is on her own. I feel that her only son should be there to help her, when she needs it. Been here nearly 6 years though and plan to come back, just taking my TR on a little trip

[John_C]

It really doesn't seem like six years ago. I was thinking you'd only been out there about 18 months!

[FI Spyder]

6 years! Seems like last year. But that's what happens when you get old. Times flies.

[Spectatohead]

Wow! It really doesn't seem to have been that long. I was a relative newbie here then. I do remember some talk about changing your name to AussiePhilTR7 or some such.

My two cents on the silicon gaskets, I have them on my V8. They are totally leak free and I've had the valve covers off twice and reused them. Still no leaks. The V8 does have cast covers and not stamped like the four, so they are less likely to bend.

[UKPhilTR7]

Hi guys,

Yep time does fly and before you know it, you look back and think wow I have not done much on the car recently. Oh yes, I remember there was talk about changing my name from UKPhilTR7 to AusPhilTR7 lol. Good job I didn't lol. Another big move helps keep us on our toes.

I will be taking the rocker off this week and checking to see if it is out of shape. Will put it on a glass table and look for any areas that are not flush. I will be adding a little bit of sealant to the half moons and then trying it again. Hopefully, if the rocker is out of shape, I can get another one for her.