Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

I have a significant amount of oil coming from somewhere around the head.... Iron twinport head.

The rocker cover gaskets look intact, but old. I removed, cleaned and smeared with grease before putting the covers back on - gut there is still a lot of oil getting everything nicely rust proofed.

There is a fair degree of wiggle on the decompressor. But I have not yet done a talcum powder check to see if I can find where the oil is coming from.

So... planning on replacing the gaskets - are the 1.2mm flexioil ones on ebay any good ? - about £5 a pair delivered.
Is there a serviceable seal on the decompressor? Is "wiggle" normal or should it be tight and rotational only?

Any other "must look at"s?

Originally there was a spring pulling the valve lifter spindle into the body of the valve lifter and against a taper
on the side of the lifter body inside the rocker box. A little fine grinding with fine grinding paste might restore
things somewhat and help stem the flow. I've also had a fair amount of oil come out of the thread where
the valve lifter body screws into the rocker box and, being really cheerful, I've got a rocker box with a nice
big crack into the thread.

It's worth checking too that the unions in the oil feed to the rocker boxes aren't leaking.

hi i use WELLSEAL on my gaskets and no leeks