I never fit a spring washer and have never experienced 'slippage'...
Regarding the timing cover with the plug I find them very fiddly to use for resetting timing and would rather take the cover off...I do carry a timing cover gasket in my 'touring spares' package but have never actually used it...As long as the tapers are good the timing setting is very unlikely to move...Well it hasn't for the last 45 years!:laughing: ....Ian
Same story as Ian.
Because there is no advance mechanism with bob weights hammering ( well tapping any way )on the taper as you get with the auto advance models there is little to cause the pinion to walk on the tapper
I carry a pinion puller inmy kit as well and like Ian have never used it roadside.
I have been known to cheat on occasions on the side of the road and alter the points gap when I suspected the mag on some one elses bike was off time a bit.
The only time I get s slip is tightening the pinion bolt but a LIGHT tap with a lead or leather mallet will usually lock the taper before you tighten the bolt
Note the use of the word LIGHT amd it has to be a dead blow, rubber mallets just don't do the job
