I am replacing the seal on the pushrod cover to stop the oil leaking. Does anyone have suggestions for the installation so that I can be successful eliminating the leak there.

 

1. Lay the cover on a flat block and make sure the area around the bolt holes has not been distorted from over tightening and the edge is flat. Uose a block of wood with a hammer to flatten, don't hammer directly on the flange or you could stretch the metal and distort the flange.
2 Don't use a gasket! make sure the block and the cover flange is clean (use acetone or MEK to clean), put a 3/32 thick bead of silicone sealer evenly on the cover flange, smoothing with a wet finger, especially around the bolt holes. Allow to dry for 10 minutes until a skin starts to form.
3. apply a thin coat of the sealer to the block surface, wiping a little sealer into the bolt holes, and immediately bolt the cover in place using a criss-cross gradual tightening pattern. DO NOT over tighten! Only tighten until the sealer starts to bulge out around the edge of the cover. Use a wet finger to remove and smooth the excess sealer leaving a thin fillet all around the cover. Allow to sit undisturbed for 12 hrs. No more leaks!

 

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

My cover has 4 bolt studs in the center of the cover which nuts hold on via a rubber stud gasket and washer. The replacement gasket is a flat rubber which fits into a channel formed in the perimeter of the cover.

The first time I did this, I used too much gasket goop and when I tightened it down, I tightened to far and the gasket squeezed out of the channel in some spots and .....there was the leak. Now I have to do it the 2nd time.