Valve cover gasket replacement ?

[mrdigitech]

So I'm leaking a bit of oil from the top right of the valve cover. Just above (i think) the #4 exhaust. I'm guessing and hoping I can replace that without pulling the engine out. I haven't looked real close but Couldn't I just remove the bolts, lift slightly and pull out the cover from the side?

Anything else I should check or do while I'm in there? Don't want to take it out of commission for too long as it is my primary transportation.

Thanks all!!

Oh and Anyone know if a place to get original hard bag covers?

[dbeardslee]

Valve cover gaskets are pretty easy. Might have to get the ballast resistor out of the way, and the horn (and of course the gas tank). Other than that you just take the bolts off and slide it out to the left side of the bike. Might take a little wiggling around. Might as well check your valve clearances while you've got it off.

[DGXSER]

If I read your synopsis correctly, the answer is no, you can not simply lift that corner of the valve cover and put a new gasket piece in under it.

The valve cover is the entire piece you see on the "top" of the engine in an "H" shape. The gasket is a one piece gasket the entire shape of that "H" piece. you will need to replace all of it as it would seem to be torn in that corner.

Now, a simpler solution is to use RTV silicone for the gasket instead of buying or making one as it is a PITA to make. But any way you slice it, you need to pull the entire cover, clean the surfaces, and put the new material in place when remounting it. And like DBeardslee stated, may as well check valve clearances while your in there.

[jmnjrpa]

Dgxser,

Reading too fast?

[DGXSER]

Apparently, either that or those pain meds are having "flashback" effects on me.

[Ivan]

Hint when using cure in place gasket material for the valve cover:

Put the goop on the cylinder head, so it doesn't get scraped off the valve cover on to the cam chain when trying to slide the cover in.

Also, make sure you clean the plugs on the right side of the engine well and goop them up too, they are prone to leak.