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Gents, I'm tired of waiting for a new valve gasket every six months or so when I bend a valve or two...or three. What is the preferred sealer for the cover? And does one just put a layer on the cover flat surfaces, including those little tabs that cover oil-filled holes in the head?
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"Time is the greatest teacher; unfortunately, it kills all of its students." -
Hey! I use "The Right Stuff" by Permatex. However, getting that valve cover back in after using the sealant is a chore.1979 XS1100F
2H9 Mod, Truck-Lite LED Headlight, TECHNA-FIT S/S Brake Lines, Rear Air Shocks, TKAT Fork Brace, Dyna DC-I Coils, TC Fuse Block, Barnett HD Clutch Springs, Superbike Handlebars, V-Star 650 ACCT, NGK Irridium Plugs, OEM Exhaust. CNC-Cut 2nd Gear Dogs; Ported/Milled Head; Modded Airbox: 8x8 Wix Panel Filter; #137.5 Main Jet, Viper Yellow Paint, Michelin Pilot Activ F/R, Interstate AGM Battery, 14MM MC, Maier Fairing, Cree LED Fog Lights. -
Yamabond, Right Stuff, any ol' RTV sealant. Which ever type floats your boat.
Small bead along the entire sealing surface.Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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335 builders' silicone from a mastic gun....XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.Comment
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I personally like the Yamabond. No reason in particular, I just do. And yes, the shelf life of the opened tune is a lot longer than the three months they have on the label.
But like a paint job, it is the preparation that will count. Make sure both mating surfaces are absolutely pristine. Check the half-moon plugs on the right side of the head for their viability and seal them in their pockets with some of your chosen sealant. If you are using Yamabond, spread a thin layer on all the gasket mating surfaces and spread it out with your finger so it is very even and there ate no gaps at all. make sure you have enough room to insert the valve cover directly down on top of the head. Tighten using a center out pattern and immediately remove anything that might squeeze out.
Do that and you should have no leaks and it will last until you need to remover the cover again.Mike Giroir
79 XS-1100 Special
Once you un-can a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is with a bigger can.Comment
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I guess
I am old school. I still prefer a gasket. A small amount of oil on the surface before installation keeps it from sticking and the cover can come off and on several times until the heat makes it brittle. Unless you have a leak with the gasket you don't need to use any bonding agent with the gasket. I am not disagreeing with anyone on the use of the RTV etc... just not something I do.2 - 80 LGs bought one new
81 LH
02 FXSTB Nighttrain
22 FLTRK Road Glide Limited
JimComment
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Actually, I am too and when I purchase gaskets I usually get two. But every now and then I don't have one and will fall back on the Yamabond. It works well to and will get me back on the road if my gasket fails while doing a tune-up.Originally posted by cajun31 View PostMike Giroir
79 XS-1100 Special
Once you un-can a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is with a bigger can.Comment
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Actually, there is a reason to prefer Yamabond; it 'flows' better than all the other silicon-based sealers I've tried. I've found that Yamabond doesn't leave a 'bead' where it squeezes out, but instead 'flows' onto the adjoining surfaces. Means that you should clean it off exposed surfaces after application and before it dries, but you won't end up with loose 'strings' of sealer inside the engine (or whatever you're sealing) like you would with 'regular' sealers. Great stuff... I find myself using it on any machined joint, bike, car, whatever.Originally posted by TADracer View Post
And I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating; if you do delete the cam cover gasket, check for interference between the cam bearing retaining nuts and the cover; dry fit the cover, then move it around a bit, then look for scratches inside the cover. I've run into this several times, general pretty light interference, but sometimes there's enough to prevent the cover from fully seating until you tighten the cover bolts (risking cracking the cover). Some light grinding on the cover will clear this up...Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two
'78E original owner - resto project
'78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
'82 XJ rebuild project
'80SG restified, red SOLD
'79F parts...
'81H more parts...
Other current bikes:
'93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
'86 XL883/1200 Chopper
'82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...Comment
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Pam
Spray the gasket with Pam, it will last forever and not stick to either surface.mack
79 XS 1100 SF Special
HERMES
original owner
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6932d5df.jpg
81 XS 1100 LH MNS
SPICA
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad305/mack-055/2.jpg
78 XS 11E
IOTA
https://youtu.be/wB5Jfbp6SUc
https://youtu.be/RaI3WYHSuWA
Have recovery trailer and shop if you breakdown in my area.
Frankford, Ont, Canada
613-398-6186Comment
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I used a tube of "The Right Stuff" and beaded the valve cover then stuck the new gasket on the cover. Carefully installed it on the engine and re-torqued the valve-cover bolts a few hours later.
When I re-did my valves last month, the gasket was still attached to the cover, but came off perfectly from the head. Was able to clean up with carb cleaner and re-install the cover just fine. No leaks.
I even bought a new spare gasket just in case.
Yamabond on the cover side to hold the gasket would work also.1) Fire up Internet Explorer
2) http://www.yahoo.com
3) type "www.mapquest.com" into the Yahoo search page.
4) go about day as VP managing multi-million dollar financial contracts.Comment
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Yeah, I was wondering if bonding the gasket to one surface and Pam-ming the other side would work. How many of y'all do it that way?"Time is the greatest teacher; unfortunately, it kills all of its students."Comment
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