Oil leaking at the cam cover - KZ1000

My '78 KZ1000 runs so nicely - I hope I can get this cam cover leak fixed soon! First I replaced the cam caps and was still having oil leak issues. Then I thought maybe the leaks were because the cam cover was chromed and the smooth surface made it harder to get a good seal. Some suggested that might be the cause and that if the sealing surface were roughed up that might fix it.

Instead, I decided to take a regular (unchromed) cover off a spare KZ1000 motor. There were no oil leaks on that one.

Now I've got that unchromed cover on the bike, new gasket and oil is definitely leaking from above the gasket. I have the cover bolts evenly torqued.

So I'm thinking of two possible solutions. One is to seal the top of the cover to the gasket with Permatex Ultra Black. The other idea is to use two cam cover gaskets. I don't have an extra on hand and will have to order it.

Thoughts?

I just put mine back on and put ultra grey around all the rubber mating surface of the cam plugs and it sealed really nice.

is it an emission control head. if it is you might have used the wrong gasket?

No it's a '78 head and the gasket is correct.

I tried sealing up the existing gasket (which is pretty new) up with Permatex Ultra Black above and below the gasket. Didn't work, still leaking.

Now I'm out of valve cover gaskets until my order comes in from Z1 Enterprises. In the meantime, maybe I'll remove the gasket completely and try forming one with the Permatex.

Where is the leak? Is it possible that it's coming from the tach cable area? That's a common leak.

It's the cam cover, not the tach cable area. Funny because I changed cam covers and am using one from an engine that did not have leaks. And I'm using a brand new gasket.

If still leaking after new gasket and previously non leaking cover I would look at the mating surface for damage

Both sides of gasket,let it get tacky before installing ,that gasket maker in a tube could end up someplace you dont want it

The mating surface (top of the head) looks fine. After removing the gasket and cleaning the surfaces, I put the cam cover on and noted some areas where the two surfaces have more space between them in some spots. And they seem to be the same places where the oil is leaking out.

Yesterday I cleaned both surfaces, put Permatex Ultra Black all around and put the cover on with the bolts finger tight. Tonight I'll tighten up the bolts and then try it out.

Wireman, next time I take the cover off and when I have a cam cover gasket, I'll go with your recommendation. If the Permatex Ultra Black works I won't be taking this cover off for a long time.

The Permatex Ultra Black was a terrible failure without a gasket. Don't bother trying it!

I checked USPS, the new gaskets should be here tomorrow.

When you tighten the valve cover bolts start in the center and work your way out to both sides to avoid warping the center