Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => Anorak's Corner => Topic started by: exvalvesetdabbler on November 15, 2025, 06:21:48 PM

Title: tappet cover finish
Post by: exvalvesetdabbler on November 15, 2025, 06:21:48 PM
[attach=1]

Been cleaning up the tappet covers. Many years ago they got painted as part of the rocket cover but  easily damaged with routine spannering and now looking a bit scruffy.

Cleaned these up with various grades of wet 'n' dry down to 2400 grit followed by a tickle on the  bench polisher.  Way too shiny.

Has anyone perfected the technique to get close to original finish ?

Regards
Dave
Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 15, 2025, 07:15:09 PM
I like Kens little plastic wheels in a Dremel, easier than wet & dry.

Once you get the hang of them they last for ages., very versatile.
I can't do links on my phone if you are not familiar with them.

If no one does a link I'll do one later from my laptop.

Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: DomP on November 15, 2025, 07:55:53 PM
https://amzn.eu/d/9lYCmtM

This reminds me, anyone heard from Roo lately?
Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: Rayzerman on November 18, 2025, 07:39:26 PM
Mine were all oxidized and a couple chewed up by a previous monkey..... there were two types available as repro's from Chinese vendors, one matte, one polished, and no coating.  Your choice, likely the unpolished was the original finished is my guess.  I used polished ones, gleaming like post #1.
Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: Bryanj on November 18, 2025, 08:18:09 PM
Unpolished was stepthroughs, polished was the fours
Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: exvalvesetdabbler on November 18, 2025, 09:09:37 PM
Ok thanks folks, just need to find a couple of  good ones on the working engine and continue polishing.  And yes they seem to get a bit  chewed up by ham fisted mechanics.

Looked at the Chinese ones, they look to be sand blasted or powder coat with quite a rough finish.

I  just use a 3/8 drive 6 point socket to get them off and just put a 6 point ratchet wrench on the Santa clause wish list.( Don't need anymore socks!). Is  there better way to undo them.  Have seen  them in the past where they are completely rounded off and someone has  tapped them loose with a chisel.

Regards
Dave
Title: Re: tappet cover finish
Post by: Bryanj on November 19, 2025, 12:27:26 PM
That is about the only way when hex is crodged(old cumbrian word for kn****erd)
Have had them before wher the head comes off leaving threaded bit in the hole