Pressie For Ray
Right this is a post specifically for SID…
I have had a look at the other external tensioner pads and they are all the same, the picture you sent was of the old one on the left and the new one on the right, I see what you mean when the tubes are in different positions.
Now being me I grabbed a couple of old timing case covers and fitted one of the other rubbers I have to it, thinking what is he talking about?
Now as you can see they fit fine, with the rubber pad having its thickset part toward the bottom of the engine. The issue as you point out is that it assumes the engine is turning anticlockwise, when in fact the OHV engine actually rotates clockwise. These pads are therefore incorrect, and will go in the Odds bin. Looking through one of my older HA and HB books I came across a cut away drawing on the correct layout and it shows the Thickest part of the tensioner rubber towards the top of the engine, which fits with it rotating clockwise. It cannot be put it the other way around because of the offset tube arrangement.
I have tonight therefore posted you a conversion kit to make it internal adjuster like all the later engines.
All you need is bung up the hole with a stopper which I have also put in the kit. (see image below). You should be okay with how this kit and how it fits, give me a call if need be. Its important to fit the supplied cam plate plate and remove the old camshaft plate else the new tensioner will rattle about.
Here is a quick scan of the Hays manual for a HC (which shows the auto adjuster in position).