Rocker spindle plates

I've been taking a look at the rocker spindle plates and see on the left hand side oil has been escaping and running down into the sparkplug seat. I have fitted a pcv valve but must certainly change the gasketson the plates.
Somewhere I had seen plates out of Stainless steel which were more reliable in holding the spindle in place but I cannot remember where.
I would welcome your views and can the torque in the manual be relied upon.

A leak there is oil coming out under oil pressure from the pump, not crank case pressure, so a reed valve breather ain’t gonna help with that particular leak.

I fitted these, they do away with one plate and one gasket per spindle, a much better design IMHO:

http://jsmotorsport.com/product/one-piece-aluminum-rocker-spindle-covers/

When you are ordering those improved plates per FastEddie's tip, get the jsmotorsports reinforced silicone gaskets as well.

Slick

Thanks Fast Eddie and TexasSlick, just something like them I had been looking for only I'm not so keen on shipping from the US to the EU.
I did however turn something up! What do you think (right down at the bottom of the page)
http://www.hollandnortonworks.eu/en/exclusive-commando-parts

The Holland NW parts appear equivalent ... they might even be JS.

Perhaps you can make your own fiber glass reinforced silicone gaskets if you can find a source for bulk material in Europe. Otherwise, you might use 1/16" (1.5mm) synthetic cork, which I find to seal when most other materials leak.

Slick

Woody850 said:

Thanks Fast Eddie and TexasSlick, just something like them I had been looking for only I'm not so keen on shipping from the US to the EU.
I did however turn something up! What do you think (right down at the bottom of the page)
http://www.hollandnortonworks.eu/en/exclusive-commando-parts

Click to expand...

Yep, they’ll do nicely.

The depth the rocker spindle is set into the head is important. If it protrudes too much, the plates will bottom on the end of the spindle, there will not be enough crush between the plates, the gasket, and the head, and oil will leak out.

The "right" amount of protrusion depends on the thickness of your gaskets. One piece rocker spindle plates mean fewer plates and gaskets, and in theory, fewer leaks. But you still need to get the right amount of crush on the gasket.
And you want the maximum amount of engagement between the spindle plate locating dimples and the slot in the end of the spindle. It's a fiddly exercise, and the rocker spindle removal tool helps a lot.

The torque on the bolts holding the plates in the head is not the solution to the problem.
If the spindle sticks out too much, the bolts might drive the spindle into the head. This might solve the leaking problem.
But it is not a good idea, since they are only 1/4" bolts threaded into aluminum.

Stephen Hill