Removing Shift Cover Gasket, What's the secret?

[thewright1]

Hey Guys,

I've been stuck on this thing for the past 3 days and it's driving me nuts. I pulled off my shift cover because it was leaking pretty bad and I wanted to replace the seal, so now I'm trying to scrape off the gasket, and I 'm having one heck of a time. Is there a secret to it? I have some gasket remover, and it works a little, but I need something a little better maybe. Any ideas? See my image below:

[DGXSER]

razor blades, and ALOT of patience. For gasket remover to work you have to cut through the top hard part of the gasket. Even then I did nto find any that worked like magic.

The most effective tool I have found for this is a 1/4" wood chisel. But you have to be VERY careful to not gouge the aluminum as it will cut it just as easily.

[trbig]

Yeah, if there's a magic solution, I've never figured it out. The easiest method I have ever found, was to sit Bohn Frazer down right next to the part with the crappy gasket where he can see it... set a scraper and a knife next to that.. then just walk away. He won't be able to stand it.. lol.

BUT.. if you don't have your very own Bohn laying around, it's just plain old elbow grease. I got tired of doing all that scraping, so I don't use a gasket any more. With the same stuff I put on the engine cases when puting a motor back together after splitting the cases,(Tri-bond/1194) I just use on my covers. When you take them apart again after that, you just peel off the rubber in strips. The stuff never hardens. It takes about 5 minutes to clean one back up after using that.

Tod

[thewright1]

I think I may have scratched the aluminum a little along the bottom of it. Toward the end I found myself getting tired and lazy and started trying to cut corners. I stopped soon after though cause I didn't want to mess anything up.

[wa407mpp]

Try some lacquer thinner on a gag, should take it off.

[wa407mpp]

If that doesn't work try it on a rag.

[BigDick]

I know it won't work in this situation (lots of help I know ) But you can take a small wire wheel on a 4 1/2" angle grinder to whip gasket off of nearly anything like noone's business. Unfortunately it'll also do the same to skin. Just ask Ivan. Doesn't hurt aluminum either.

[Ivan]

I know it won't work in this situation (lots of help I know ) But you can take a small wire wheel on a 4 1/2" angle grinder to whip gasket off of nearly anything like noone's business. Unfortunately it'll also do the same to skin. Just ask Ivan. Doesn't hurt aluminum either.

Yeah. Skin comes off quicker than gasket material. Use a brass brush on aluminum.

Also, you can pick up a grout scraper at Lowes for $7. It is basically a screwdriver with a large carbide lathe insert bolted on the end, and works well for scraping gaskets.



Be careful with it though, it will gouge aluminum quite easily.

[thewright1]

Thanks for all of the suggestions all, I have a few things to try out now, so I'll give it a go and let you guys know what the deal is.

[thewright1]

Man, that was a lot of work but I finally got it done. I don't see how you guys can do it without scratching a little bit of the aluminum though, I sure hope I'm ok. Is there a certain type of RTV to use? I hear a lot of people say they don't take the gasket route. I bought some RTV from Harbor Freight, but if you guys can tell me what you think would be the best for that, I'll go pick it up. I definitely don't wanna under do it for this one. I hate oil leaks.

[DGXSER]

I just use Black RTV and have had no issues. Other members use "the right stuff" and claim excellent results.

[red bandit]

I use blue RTV. I'm not partial to it, it's just what I have and it works good. Any hardware store has it and it's cheap. No need to glob it on. Only a thin "paper thickness" is required. A light film of grease on the engine side and put the RTV on the cover. Next time you have it off it only takes a rag to clean the engine and the cover is easy to clean anyway. Good luck.

[trbig]

Like I said.. there's probably many types, but the Tribond 1194 or Yamabond is what you seal the case halves back together with. Just about any bike shop will have either of them. They are interchangeable, but I use the Tribond simply because of the lighter color. I figure if it is good enough for sealing engine cases, then a sidecover is no problem. It's also easier to clean next time versus RTV. It also flows a bit innitially. When you put a light bead down, then smooth it with your finger, it flows back together evenly for an even coverage. Wait a couple minutes, then slap the part on.


Tod

[cywelchjr]

I agree. I use the tribond and have had really good results with it. It's easy to apply and has sealed the first time every time I have used it. That said on the engine I just got, since it's blacked out I will probably go with the black yamabond since it will match the engine better than the light grey tribond.

[thewright1]

Cool, thanks for all that info. I'm going to use the one that I already have which is:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90026

so hopefully that works out. I'll keep you guys posted on that.