I made a gasket out of sheet (well actually it was in a roll) cork that I got at an auto parts store, I am guessing the cork was around 1/8-3/32" thick. I used the cover as a template, cut out the bolt holes with a wood drill bit, had the cover clamped down to a piece of scrap plywood with the gasket material sandwiched in the middle. I think the bit I used was called a brad point drill bit, it cup perfect holes in the cork. I cut the holes, then used a razor knife to trim around the outside of the cover, then removed the cover, and cut out the inner piece of gasket material, leaving roughly a 3/4" wide gasket. It has held up great so far, was easy to do, and have enough of the roll left to make several more....I actually used the same process to make the gasket that goes between the pump and rear end on the hydros, this was done basically free hand, was able to get the old gasket off in one piece to use as a template.

It is a grayish composite gasket that I ordered from the cub dealer.

If it were mine (and I have done this) is pull the cover, catching the oil in a clean pan. (your wife will never know if you use her dish pan) Ha,LOL!
If the gasket is good re use it after flatting the cover as I previously described/ posted.
If the gasket is torn discard it & clean both surfaces good, wiping with lacquer thinner or brake cleaner or similar cleaner and sparingly use RTV (more is not better) and button it up/refill.

Don't know if this makes sense but the leak seems to be slowing down. Could the gasket be swelling up or is it just wishful thinking?

I am going to go buy a plastic dish pan and some RTV and give it another try...sigh. What kind of RTV is recommended?

It's all pretty good, I use the Permatex red hi temp stuff as it fits most all applications. never had a "leaker"--- when you are doing a 4 hour labor intensive intake manifold job, do overs are A PAIN!
If your lucky the gasket is good and a little hammer work and your leak proof.
If using RTV, Clean clean clean!
Mop out the residual oil really good because it piddles out the bottom by the time you get the cover on.
RTV don't like to stick to oil, it sticks to surfaces and itself.(says so right on the tube) Ha,LOL----
That reason is why most folks have poor luck with RTV.
Your leak is slowing down because the gasket is compressing a tiny bit in the tight areas, they usually don't swell that much.
Bet ch you will see the cover with slight bulging-in around the bolt hole areas
Best of luck!

Don't use RTV...get some Form-a-gasket (made by Permatex) and as others have said, make sure both mating surfaces are completely clean and dry, and that the cover plate is flat.

Number 2, non harding permatex, seals up everything and anything, just don't get it on you, once on you it seems to grow:biggrin2:

Thanks to all for the advice, I pulled the cover, used a $3 plastic dish pan to catch every drop of Hytran. The gasket had a very small tear around one of the bolt holes so I went with permatex high temp red. So far not a drop leaking.

Don't ya just love happy endings,
just like the T.V. programs of the 50's :clap: