Chances on saving valve cover gasket?

[punchofdeath]

I would like to inspect my valve clearance and I would like to know what the chances of saving the gasket might be? I have no idea how long its been since the cover has been off.
I'm trying to save my money right now as I'm leaving for college in a few months. My Cub runs fine I'm just curious and if the gasket more than likely can't be saved then I won't worry about it.

Picture of one side of the cover. https://imgur.com/a/gm3DPWS

[w30bob]

Ah.....young grasshopper......you are about to meet Mr. Murphy firsthand, as in "Murphy's Law". That means if you have no spare gasket on hand and decide to try to remove your original gasket in one piece without breaking it.....it will break. But if you have spare gasket material or a pre-cut gasket replacement on hand the old gasket will come right off without breaking and could be re-used. You're pick.....but those are usually the choices. Would love to have met Mr. Murphy back in the day......just to give him a good kick in the head from all of us.

seriously, even if you can get that gasket off in one piece it will probably won't seal well if you put it back. Wait until you can buy a sheet of gasket material or a pre-formed gasket and reduce your stress to zero.

regards,
bob

[MiCarl]

I must agree with bob. The picture doesn't help, the question is what the gasket sticks to:

If it sticks to the cover you can re-use it without it leaking much.

If it sticks to the engine you can re-use it without it leaking much.

If it sticks to both (which it will if you don't have one on hand) it'll be completely destroyed.

[Gary S.]

This is funny,I just took mine off last night and wondered the same before I did it. I thought we had one somewhere but of course could not find it,might be all stretched out anyway from hanging. Got it off ok but have not tried it yet to see if it leaks. Good luck!

[Eugene]

If the gasket is not usable, tube of RTV from the auto parts store for around $5.00. Or for about the same price, a sheet of thick cork gasket material and cut the gasket.

[Gary Dotson]

Loosen the cover bolts a few turns and see if the cover is stuck tight or will it move a little. If it's stuck tight, leave it alone, if not, you can probably remove in one piece. If the gasket comes off intact (hopefully stuck to the cover) wipe it off and put a thin coat of RTV sealant on it before re-assembly.

[KETCHAM]

I have used cereal boxes for gaskets[cardboard]and RTV..how cheep is that????

[Ken (48 Cub)]

I just removed one the other day and the gasket came off intact with the cover...no sealant on the block side.

[Eugene]

I have used cereal boxes for gaskets[cardboard]and RTV..how cheep is that????

I keep a couple of tubes of RTV in the shop. Use RTv if there is no pressure on the seal. Works great. Sure beats running to town to order a gasket, then waiting a couple of days.

Normally I can have the part mating surfaces cleand up, RTV applied, before I can get to town and back.

[punchofdeath]

Mr. Murphy must have been busy today. I got the gasket off in one piece.

Does everything look in order here? I've never been here on a Cub before so I don't know what looks right and what looks wrong. https://imgur.com/a/xepg5WY

Also would I adjust the valves when the polished part I can see is all the way down? I assume that would indicate the valve is fully closed.

[w30bob]

Hi punch,

Glad to hear it.............you're halfway there. A little RTV works wonders, but you'll need to get both the gasket face and the block squeaky clean, as it won't stick to oil or grease. Get er done!

regards,
bob

[punchofdeath]

Hi punch,

Glad to hear it.............you're halfway there. A little RTV works wonders, but you'll need to get both the gasket face and the block squeaky clean, as it won't stick to oil or grease. Get er done!

regards,
bob

https://imgur.com/a/zJIstrq
That’s my four cylinders in order.

[Glen]

Hi,
Everything looks normal in your pics. The area is fairly clean too.

Yes, when adjusting the valve clearance, the valve lifters, below the valves, have to be all the way down.

The owner's manual says adjust the gap to .013".

[punchofdeath]

Ok. Tractor started like normal and ran fine but I can hear the buzz of the valve train since there is a gap there now rather than just continuous contact. Will this have any harm or is it just how it's supposed to be?

The pictures of my four cylinders are after I adjusted the valves. I got a little antsy and went ahead and done it off of what I read from the manual

[Glen]

Hi,
The valve mechanism makes a tapping sound at some engine speeds, that is how they are made. It doesn't hurt anything.

Modern cars have hydraulic valve lifters, then there is no tapping sound.