Valve Cover

Took my valve cover off today to check the valves. Old gasket came off in one piece, but there is some kind of silver sealer all over both surfaces. It flakes when you try to remove it and I am concerned about it getting into the top end. Any suggestions? Also, I have heard that it is best to adjust the valves to the loose end of the tolerance. Does that mean getting as close as possible to the 0.15 MM or the 0.05MM gap (for my 1000)? Thanks.

Staying loose means to go toward the LARGER number specified which is the biggest gap you said of 0.15 mm.

Be careful scraping the sealer crap off. I pack rolled up paper towel pieces along the edges to keep the junk from falling down when I do it.

Thanks bountyhunter.

One more question if I may...do you all use any RTV or sealer with the gasket and if so what type? Thanks.

I just had this conversation with my buddy at the parts store. I went in to buy a 2 foot piece of gasket materiel to cut out a valve cover gasket and he suggested I get one of those gasket in a toothpaste tube things. Ya know, spooge in a tube, rtv sealant or whatever they call it these days.

I told him no thanks, this is how grandpa showed me how to do it and my stuff doesn’t leak. Another guy at the counter said yup, that’s how he does it too.

I’d like to hear from you guys on whether you use anything on the gaskets or not.

There's no need to gasket seal the valvecover gasket, but if you do please don't use RTV.

Thank you guys. I will just scrape off the old stuff and apply the gasket dry. Do any of you use a little sealant on the rubber cam plugs?

I think there is something you can put on it but it for sure isn't that rtv stuff. Just make sure whatever you do that the cover and the head surface is like perfectly clean and whatever you do don't scratch the metal cleaning off the old gasket or you will be looking for trouble. If you haven't already got them on your bike the aluminum caps instead of the plastic ones on there look better and last much longer. APE sells them I think.
While you got that cover off it would be a nice time to start polishing it. I would say. But I guess I am a kz geek.

Another vote for a dry gasket. The only time I've ever used gasket maker is to tack a dry gasket in place (very thin film.)

grumpy56 wrote:

Thank you guys. I will just scrape off the old stuff and apply the gasket dry. Do any of you use a little sealant on the rubber cam plugs?

If they are old, they will probably leak unless you run a thin line of gasket sealer across the tops of the plugs and onto the edge of the head next to it. I use the HI-Temp black stuff, works very well.

FYI, are you reusing the old gasket? If so, I would seal it. If it's new and the two surfaces are clean and smooth, it should seal along the aluminum areas. The stupid rubber plugs like to leak, especially at the corners next to the aluminum.

Have a new gasket, but I'm not sure I can safely remove all of the old silver colored sealer that is on the surface. Remnants fall into the top end (even with trying to cover the openings with shop towels) and I certainly don't like that. Also, the Motion Pro tool doesn't work very well. A friend has one of the OEM tools which I will borrow next week and hopefully that will work better. On another note, all the exhaust valves are in spec, yet I can't get a feeler gauge into any of the intake ones. Will re-check, but I think i did it properly.

I use yamabond #4 only on the rubber cam end plugs if replaced and a little yamabond #4 along the top of the cam end plugs extending out onto the aluminum. Torque down the valve cover and you're done, no leaks. Next time remove the valve cover carefully being sure all gasket stays down on the head and the gasket can be reused indefinately and never leak. I've had the cover off my old 650 20+ times probably before I finally retired the engine without gasket replacement. The bad part is the rubber cam end plugs will eventually leak and when they do, they must be replaced as sealing don't work worth crap on a crap plug and the old rubber is yamabond #4 attached to the gasket. It takes patience and luck to separate them without breaking the gasket. Last time I replaced a plug, I broke the gasket and the cheap SOB I am I even yamabond #4 the broken gasket together and still no leaks.