Advice needed - new guy with MEP004A

[Mullaney]

In a bit of a conundrum about the engine valve cover. 90% of the paint has flaked off of it and the bare metal is rusting, I'm afraid to pull the valve cover because sure as sunshine, the gasket is going to fall apart into 20+ pieces the minute I pull it apart. I can buy an entire engine gasket set for ~ $450 but that would be a bit retarded for a valve cover gasket. I also think that's a bit too much and too big a gasket to attempt by hand. There is a company in town that can cut gaskets on a CNC machine if you bring them a pattern... Sounds expensive. Guess I'll have to call them and ask.

.
That is a heck of an idea! CNC cut gasket material should be an easy job to do. We have a 5x10ft cutter that we cut signs with. Plastic, rubber, aluminum, paper, pressure sensitive vinyl... All kinds of "non steel" materials. Just a simple DXF file to feed it to the cutter.

The tough part would be drawing the shape. OR tracing it (or the valve cover) and then scanning it with a blueprint scanner, then auto tracing it into AutoCAD. Just to be nosy, I would love to hear what the "company in town" can do for you and maybe what that might cost. Scanning and Converting is something we do regularly too.

 

[Back-in-Black]

.
That is a heck of an idea! CNC cut gasket material should be an easy job to do. We have a 5x10ft cutter that we cut signs with. Plastic, rubber, aluminum, paper, pressure sensitive vinyl... All kinds of "non steel" materials. Just a simple DXF file to feed it to the cutter.

The tough part would be drawing the shape. OR tracing it (or the valve cover) and then scanning it with a blueprint scanner, then auto tracing it into AutoCAD. Just to be nosy, I would love to hear what the "company in town" can do for you and maybe what that might cost. Scanning and Converting is something we do regularly too.

I can probably supply the dxf file on the valve cover. Just sent one to a guy to make some wheel braces for my little tractor. Front, right wheel cracked completely apart the other day.

Anyway, this guy has a CNC plasma cutter and he's going to cut out 2, 3/8" thick plates based on my dxf.

 

[Mullaney]

I can probably supply the dxf file on the valve cover. Just sent one to a guy to make some wheel braces for my little tractor. Front, right wheel cracked completely apart the other day.

Anyway, this guy has a CNC plasma cutter and he's going to cut out 2, 3/8" thick plates based on my dxf.

View attachment 855812

.
Neat!

I would be happy to cut the valve cover gasket. Guess I need to figure out what kind of material is needs to be. Guessing a local NAPA or some place like that will sell what we need in a roll. I will beam you a PM with my email so I can look at the file to start looking for material.

 

[Back-in-Black]

You can also buy gasket material from amazon.

It will take some time to get you a dxf. First, gotta get it off the motor, cleaned up and then spend some time drawing it up.

 

[Mullaney]

You can also buy gasket material from amazon.

It will take some time to get you a dxf. First, gotta get it off the motor, cleaned up and then spend some time drawing it up.

.
No stress, no pressure. I will see about finding some material and get it on the way. That way I can make a few test cuts and be ready when you are.

Would be neat if we could find some sort of neoprene so it is easy to remove the cover later if you ever need to down the road...

 

[Back-in-Black]

.
No stress, no pressure. I will see about finding some material and get it on the way. That way I can make a few test cuts and be ready when you are.

Would be neat if we could find some sort of neoprene so it is easy to remove the cover later if you ever need to down the road...

Just sent you an email with scans of some gaskets. Also, I used this to cut new thermostat and lower radiator gaskets and it worked great. I reassembled it all with dry gaskets only (no sealant or other gunk) and no leaks.

link:

Amazon.com

 

[Guyfang]

I always used TM covers. Always worked fine.

 

[Back-in-Black]

I always used TM covers. Always worked fine.

Well, shows your respect for printed material!!! LOL

 

[Back-in-Black]

Toda was beautiful, 70F -ish and very little wind with low humidity so I decided since I really should paint the relay table before bolting a bunch of stuff to it I'd try out my Rustoleum thinned with acetone sprayed thru a gun. Never tried to do this before but it seems to wok just fine. Painted a few other parts while I was at it.






And now you know what color the noise abatement case will be! Matches the eves on my house.

 

[Mullaney]

Toda was beautiful, 70F -ish and very little wind with low humidity so I decided since I really should paint the relay table before bolting a bunch of stuff to it I'd try out my Rustoleum thinned with acetone sprayed thru a gun. Never tried to do this before but it seems to wok just fine. Painted a few other parts while I was at it.


View attachment 855850

View attachment 855851

And now you know what color the noise abatement case will be! Matches the eves on my house.

View attachment 855852

View attachment 855853

View attachment 855854

.
Looks Nice!!

 

[Guyfang]

Glad you put the grommets/plastic rings back in the holes. One of the most spectacular gen set burn ups, I ever saw, was because the grommets were missing.

 

[Back-in-Black]

Glad you put the grommets/plastic rings back in the holes. One of the most spectacular gen set burn ups, I ever saw, was because the grommets were missing.

Yeah, I could definitely see that happening.

 

[Back-in-Black]

Well, I got the valve cover off. Glad I decided (Mullaney was really the deciding factor) to remove it. Damn thing has more rust on the inside than the outside.

Amazing things can happen at any time. The gasket (rubberized cork) was actually in great shape and I was able to get it off in one piece and do a CAD drawing for Mullaney - which I just emailed off to him.

Mullaney, let me know when you are ready and I will get you some money for the gasket!

 

[Mullaney]

Well, I got the valve cover off. Glad I decided (Mullaney was really the deciding factor) to remove it. Damn thing has more rust on the inside than the outside.

Amazing things can happen at any time. The gasket (rubberized cork) was actually in great shape and I was able to get it off in one piece and do a CAD drawing for Mullaney - which I just emailed off to him.

Mullaney, let me know when you are ready and I will get you some money for the gasket!

View attachment 855879

View attachment 855880

.
I am on it. Ordered some material and it should arrive on Monday or Tuesday - assuming everything goes according to Amazon.

 

[Back-in-Black]

Almost forgot to post this but after days scouring the web for a lower radiator hose for this beast I finally gave up and went with the one the guy at the NAPA store came up with. It's not an exact match and it's a bit expensive because it has one of those internal spiral wires that keep it from collapsing, but it's damn close and I see no reason it won't work. Of course the final verdict will have to wait till I get the motor and such back on the skid.

Anyway, it's a NAPA part # 9301

 

[Back-in-Black]

Visible progress:








Might not work any better but it certainly looks better than this!

 

[Back-in-Black]

Got a little more done yesterday before the weather went to crap:

 

[Back-in-Black]

Done wiring the main alt outputs and field wires. Painted the other sides of the pieces I painted the other day. Still waiting on weather for a sandblasting party.

 

[Back-in-Black]

After letting the water pump soak is my friend's electrolysis tank for several day to remove rust, we reassembled the pump today. Also let the valve cover sit in the tank for a day or so. It looks much better now.

 

[Back-in-Black]

finished cleaning up and painting water pump and valve cover.