FINISHED WITH ENGINE

Tappets have been adjusted, 0.15 mm for exhaust and 0.10mm for inlet, the socket on the alternator nut allowed me to turn the engine over so that each piston was at TDC on the firing stroke, thus ensuring that the pushrods were at their lowest position before the feeler gauge was introduced between the tappet and the valve stem.

The remains of the, well and truly stuck on, gasket was removed from the underside of the rocker covers. New gaskets were in place  and the covers were bolted back on, after another quick polish.

Whilst I was unscrewing the second of the two screws on top of the left hand carb, in preparation to reconnecting the throttle cable, I failed to hold down the top and like a jack in the box, as the last thread of the screw released the top and spring sprung out. The spring I  found on the floor on the other side of the garage, but the top totally dissapeared. I assumed it must have gone even further than the spring, but despite fruitlessly turning the garage inside out I gave up looking for it and set about connecting the other carb, ensuring that I held the top down. All went well and as I adjusting the cable, there was the other top, not more than four inches away tucked down between the two cylinders, what a relief.

The throttle cable was soon connected to that carb and then the whole lot was liberally sprayed with the ACF-50 anti corrosion spray, just going to leave it now for the spray to creep into all the nooks and cranies before wiping off the excess. I have to say that I am very pleased with the finished appearance of the engine. Smug Git

One last thing, I have resolved my problem with getting a plug socket passed the chassis side rail and onto the spark plugs, a new 3/8 drive one just slips in and an adjustable wrench on the hex end of the socket allowed me to tighten the plugs.