Oil leak

Hi there,
A lot of work to solve the oil leak between cylinder and crancases becouse on a Seeley MK2 you must take the engine out even to take the head of.
I take the engine out in the pass days, head off and tchek the four long bolts that hold the Maney cylinder from the top of the cylinder to the crancases (like on a 850)
I discover that the bolts where not very thigt.
I take the cylinder of and discover a detroyed paper gasket with sealand.
I know from experience that a paper gasket and some sealand are not working well.
I clean the cylinder base and the crancases and I put some sealand between, W/O gasket like recommanded by Steve Maney. I use four fluted bolts from Jim Schmidt and call it a day.
BTW: when I take the head of, I always take the ex. rockers out, thanks that I discover that one off the rocker shafts was to deep in the casting and was turning the wrong way
Tomorow I will put the head on and keep you posted.
Yves

yves norton seeley said:

Hi there,
A lot of work to solve the oil leak between cylinder and crancases becouse on a Seeley MK2 you must take the engine out even to take the head of.
I take the engine out in the pass days, head off and tchek the four long bolts that hold the Maney cylinder from the top of the cylinder to the crancases (like on a 850)
I discover that the bolts where not very thigt.
I take the cylinder of and discover a detroyed paper gasket with sealand.
I know from experience that a paper gasket and some sealand are not working well.
I clean the cylinder base and the crancases and I put some sealand between, W/O gasket like recommanded by Steve Maney. I use four fluted bolts from Jim Schmidt and call it a day.
BTW: when I take the head of, I always take the ex. rockers out, thanks that I discover that one off the rocker shafts was to deep in the casting and was turning the wrong way
Tomorow I will put the head on and keep you posted.
Yves

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Good luck with it Yves
What engine breather do you have?

baz said:

Good luck with it Yves
What engine breather do you have?

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Jim Schmits

yves norton seeley said:

Hi there,
A lot of work to solve the oil leak between cylinder and crancases becouse on a Seeley MK2 you must take the engine out even to take the head of.
I take the engine out in the pass days, head off and tchek the four long bolts that hold the Maney cylinder from the top of the cylinder to the crancases (like on a 850)
I discover that the bolts where not very thigt.
I take the cylinder of and discover a detroyed paper gasket with sealand.
I know from experience that a paper gasket and some sealand are not working well.
I clean the cylinder base and the crancases and I put some sealand between, W/O gasket like recommanded by Steve Maney. I use four fluted bolts from Jim Schmidt and call it a day.
BTW: when I take the head of, I always take the ex. rockers out, thanks that I discover that one off the rocker shafts was to deep in the casting and was turning the wrong way
Tomorow I will put the head on and keep you posted.
Yves

Click to expand...

Good to know you are feeling fit enough to keep working on the bike.

Do you know who last built the motor?

Hi Steve,
First built and also last one was done by Kenny Cumings. I changes a lot of mails with him the last days and he was very helpfull like always. As I see how the entire bike was built, I can not imagine any mistake from Kenny. The bike is amasing fast and and the road holding is top.
To me Kenny is one of the best bike builder in the world.
The only thing that I know: the paper base gasket was almost gone; thats probably the reason that the four trough bolts where not thigt anymore.
I did only more or less 1.000 kms with the Sunburst and never go over 6.000 RPM, oil presure OK, engine not over heating, to me everityng OK.
I think we will never know the real reason.
Like I say before, I put the cylinder W/O base gasket and did a clay test to find the clearance between pistons and squish band, result 0.6mm. No good.
Kenny says that he built the engine with 1mm clearance, so I must find a base gasket from 0.5mm to ritch 1.1mm. but not a paper one anymore.
I take a look in my collection of copper and steel base gasket, and very lucky I find a brand new cooper base gasket with a tickness of 0.5mm.
I put the gasket with Pliobond sealand and mount the cylinder back on the engine, after I was searching for a composite 750 head gasket, I find some 850 and 920 but no 750, I order two pieces by Frank Jordens, but the dont arrive so far. They will be there on monday I suppose.
Now about the Corona, I lost one season of riding with my crash, I feel that I will lost another season with the Corona. The belgiam governement dont allowd to ride a motorcycle anymore at the moment, and I will turn 70 at September.
My generation is the first one W/O war, but now we have another kind of worldwar and we are all in the same boat.
Keep you posted
Yves
Yves

Jim Schmidt also sells thin copper base gaskets which work much better than the paper ones.
I used have to tighten the base bolts on my 750 quite often when using paper gaskets but I never have to now I use a copper one. I use a smear of sealant on both sides of the copper gasket.

pommie john said:

Jim Schmidt also sells thin copper base gaskets which work much better than the paper ones.
I used have to tighten the base bolts on my 750 quite often when using paper gaskets but I never have to now I use a copper one. I use a smear of sealant on both sides of the copper gasket.

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If I remember well my cooper base gasket and the Pliobond are buy from Jim Schmit

Indeed, big respect to Jim Schmidt for this, he sells a myriad of copper head and base gaskets for different bores in different (very accurate) thicknesses. Invaluable for those wanting to set up squish or CR.

Yves, try calling Cleveland Gasket. They make a aluminum core/nitrile rubber 750 base gasket in 2 different thicknesses. Not cheap but reusable and will not blow out.

elefantrider said:

Yves, try calling Cleveland Gasket. They make a aluminum core/nitrile rubber 750 base gasket in 2 different thicknesses. Not cheap but reusable and will not blow out.

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Thanks,
Do you have the website?
Yves

yves norton seeley said:

.....
Now about the Corona, I lost one season of riding with my crash, I feel that I will lost another season with the Corona. The belgiam governement dont allowd to ride a motorcycle anymore at the moment, and I will turn 70 at September.
My generation is the first one W/O war, but now we have another kind of worldwar and we are all in the same boat.
Keep you posted
Yves
Yves

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I expected to lose a half season from my crash in September.....looks like however there won't be a racing season this year, I will turn 67 in December. I was thinking I might do half a season this and next and move on.....now I don't know what to think! Actually, I think look after those here with me and worry about anything else later!

I have a Suzuki T500 race bike in build on the bench, nothing moving fast, but will have to make progress with that before the Rickman goes up there. Positive issue is I have most of the parts I need for both already here.....

The French govt didn't directly tell me I could not ride my road bike, but it would have to be for shopping or the pharmacy! And I have to carry a fresh piece of paper signed/date time each time we leave the house. At least the garden is big enough that walking around it for several laps is far enough to call exercise!

Hi Steve,
I wish to be 67 at the moment.
Same situation in Belgium, you can use your bike for shopping, but will the cops believe it when you are on a Seeley to go to the butcher?
Yves

In 2018, I told God about my plans for the coming years, He had a good laugh.
It was before my crash and the Corona...
The last two days I put the cylinder head on and put the engine back in the frame, retorque the head after one overnight, mount the clutch and primaty belt, set the play on the rockers. I find a way to retorque the head with the engine in the frame, just take the head steady away.
I hope to ride the Seeley on saturday
Keep you posted
Yves

yves norton seeley said:

Hi Steve,
I wish to be 67 at the moment.
Same situation in Belgium, you can use your bike for shopping, but will the cops believe it when you are on a Seeley to go to the butcher?
Yves

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Hi Yves,
why not come to Germany? It's not far away for you. You are free to ride anywhere. Only thing is, there are no open Pubs, Restaurants and more than 2 People are not alloud to meet together. But at least you may ride your bike.
Best Regards and stay healthy
Klaus

Klaus Monning said:

Hi Yves,
why not come to Germany? It's not far away for you. You are free to ride anywhere. Only thing is, there are no open Pubs, Restaurants and more than 2 People are not alloud to meet together. But at least you may ride your bike.
Best Regards and stay healthy
Klaus

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Hi Klaus,
The problem is that we are not allowed to leave our village, even by car, but I know roads where I can ride here around and I hope W/O controls
Yves

Klaus Monning said:

why not come to Germany? It's not far away for you. You are free to ride anywhere. Only thing is, there are no open Pubs, Restaurants and more than 2 People are not allowed to meet together. But at least you may ride your bike.

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Hello Klaus,

Greetings from far up north. I am twisting my head how to visit Baden-Württemberg in May. How to get across the border? You have to prove an absolute necessity for travelling, usually job related. I don't think joyriding a Seeley or a Commando falls into that category unfortunately. As it now seems, the restrictions will not be lifted for the near future, quite the oppsite.

Cheers, Knut

yves norton seeley said:

Hi Steve,
I wish to be 67 at the moment.
Same situation in Belgium, you can use your bike for shopping, but will the cops believe it when you are on a Seeley to go to the butcher?
Yves

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Maybe you need to take a rucksack, but more likely if you say that you are going to the pharmacy to get urgent medication for your mental health they will understand!

Actually, when they stop you they will ask you 'Are you crazy?', remember to answer 'Yes!'

SteveA said:

Maybe you need to take a rucksack, but more likely if you say that you are going to the pharmacy to get urgent medication for your mental health they will understand!

Actually, when they stop you they will ask you 'Are you crazy?', remember to answer 'Yes!'

Click to expand...

and you are riding a Seeley to help with mental health!

Hi there,
After retorking the head, I feel not good about one of the 3 studs that are in the Fullauto head, I put a spanner on the 3 nuts from the studs, and indeed the left hand front stud was stripped out, I PM Ken from Fullauto, give him the # of the head and ask him if this head was helicoiled originaly, I say no.
I must take the head of and need to find a way to do it W/O taking the engine out, don't forget it is a Seeley MK II frame.
I take all the attachement between engine/gearbox and frame away, put the engine forward in the frame, till the engine and I was able to take the head of;
I put 3 helicoils in the head and put the head back on the engine. I did a 10 minutes ride, let the engine cool down and retorque the head, no problems anymore.
The only problem I still have is the E speedo, it's working but far away from the reality.
This is work for next week.
Keep you posted
Yves