gasket adhesive

[mastan]

Hi All:
My bike just started seeping a little oil out of the cam cover area. I picked up a new gasket along with the two little half moon thingys. The guy at the parts desk said I didn't need to use any gasket adhesive when I reinstalled the covers. Is this so? If not, what kind of adhesive do you recommend?
Thanks,
Mark Stanton
78xs11e

[xssiveone]

The guy at the parts desk is probably correct, you don't "need" gasket adhesive with a new gasket.... provided that the 2 mating surfaces are clean, smooth, gouge free, etc.... and of course, you have to hold your tongue just right when you are putting the parts together. Basically, it's up to personal choice here.

Some people swear they NEVER use gasket adhesive and NEVER have a leak. I'm NEVER that lucky, so I always use a non-hardening gasket adhesive or gasket maker in conjunction with a new gasket.

[strom]

Like the man says... surfaces have to be clean... if they aint... clean em!
I never use any kind of goo if I have new gaskets. Never had a leak. I had leaks where I used goo.
Use some sort of high temp silicone gasket goo on the half-moon thingies, but only there, and not too much.
Just be sure and clean the surfaces. If you don't feel good eating from them, they aint clean. They have to be smooth, so forget sandpaper, screwdrivers etc....

LP

[skids]

Hah! I have one for ya. Denny once told me that I could run a small bead of RTV around the clutch cover and I tried it WITH NO GASKET. Of course I waited a day or two before filling the crank case with oil. It worked fine.