Dread to ask…

[simon.williams]

Is there any good reason that someone would have filled the cover next to fan belt with putty or filler? Scraped it all off and can’t see any holes but assume there must be some reason…

[valencia]

Mine was like that as well, I only discovered it after many years ownership and I was puzzled. So, here's my guess- it was a rather simple and cheap factory way of silencing he timing chain ! Anyway, when I re-built the engine I removed the filler and never replaced it, it sounds quiet enough to me.
Whilst we are on the subject of odd things you might find in your Triumph here's a few more from my car. The positive cable to the cigarette lighter was detached and taped up, who would do that? It seems odd even for a non-smoker, and I am a non-smoker so I was never really bothered until satnavs were invented and I needed the 12v outlet.
There was for many years a piece of shim placed over the locking bolt of the steering lock preventing it from engaging, maybe a previous owner didn't trust new fangled things like steering locks and didn't want it to lock up whilst driving?
I also decided after seeing an article about replacing pedal bushes that I would do mine too as I reckoned that they felt a little sloppy. So I got the whole assembly out of the footwell (very awkward job) and I expected to see the remains of the old worn bushes in situ-but there was nothing at all, no evidence of any bushes ever having been fitted in the first place.
Funny things happening on the production line or previous owner mods ? A bit of both I think.

[johnnydog]

All my Triumphs have the 'wasp nest' on the face of the timing cover - from my 1967 Mk1 through to my 1976 2500S. I've always understood it was probably a sound deadening measure for the timing chain, but it's not uncommon for them to become detached and fall off. I have a nos timing chain cover which has the 'wasp nest' on it. I have reattached them in the past as they must serve a purpose, although others have stated not having it makes no obvious difference relative to any noise from the timing chain.

[simon.williams]

Thats is the strangest thing. Very relieved its not a big crack.

[johnnydog]

Here's a picture of the timing cover on my 1970 Mk2 2000...

[wild bill]

This is ,as John states, insulation,which also fell off my front cover and was firmly re-attached. It could be for noise as John has suggested, but I wondered if it was also to stop oil emulsification inside the casing due to the big fan being dead in front and blowing hard over it.If anyone here has worked on an HA/B/C Viva they will know of the emulsification issues in the rocker cover.Just a thought If it was me,I'd stick it back on!

[simon.williams]

I would stick some more on if I knew what is was…what an odd « factory fitting »!

[Forkie]

And i always thought my ' spludge ' type dollop on my cover was a P.O. attempt at tossing pancakes in the garage !!!!! I obviously forgot to ask about that one !!!!!

[johnfrancis898]

I to had a splodge of this on my rocker cover at some point. Most of it had come off. Having a look at it I thought it was a******* based but we won’t go there!!

[Forkie]

Mmmm at least my rocker cover is 'spludge ' free i did wonder back along if the ' spludge' on the front cover was to help compensate for the lack of 2 extra cylinders, adding weight to the nose as the rust eats away the front bodywork - typical BL