Author Topic: Valve Cover Gaskets  (Read 1399 times)

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Rich W

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Valve Cover Gaskets
« on: May 21, 2009, 10:04:24 AM »
    Mine is getting to the point where it really needs to be changed . For years it has been a mild seep ( shop rag fix . no biggie ) but now has evolved into a dribble at highway speeds . Did a 300 mile ride last week and my lower pant leg was covered in oil . Time to change .
    Now for the million dollar question : IS there a trick to changing the gasket without removing the motor from the frame ?   I did the search and all I could find was head gaskets .  I'd like to do this as a summer job than a winter project if I can.   Thanks for any help .  ;)

Offline MCRider

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Re: Valve Cover Gaskets
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2009, 10:22:13 AM »
    Mine is getting to the point where it really needs to be changed . For years it has been a mild seep ( shop rag fix . no biggie ) but now has evolved into a dribble at highway speeds . Did a 300 mile ride last week and my lower pant leg was covered in oil . Time to change .
    Now for the million dollar question : IS there a trick to changing the gasket without removing the motor from the frame ?   I did the search and all I could find was head gaskets .  I'd like to do this as a summer job than a winter project if I can.   Thanks for any help .  ;)
There was a recent thread, don't know how you'd find it exactly. You do need to click the "home" button before searching or otherwise be in the forum you want to search.

That person was excited he was able to do it. IIRC, he dropped the front of the gasket over the cam cover, all screws removed first of course, then wiggled it back over the rear of the cover.

Main thing to be sure of, and this was discussed in the thread, the gasket is NOT symmetrical. There is a left and a right, front and back, and it must be oriented properly. I think he said his had a notch in one of the ends and that notch went to the left, while sitting on bike. But that notch may not be in every gasket depending on manufacturer, or maybe it is?
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Valve Cover Gaskets
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2009, 10:23:18 AM »
I can change the head gasket on my 550 in the frame just fine as well as my ct70 but my cb750F i have to take it out of the frame. What kind of bike do you have?
You are right about the CB750 head cheese, but he's changing the cam cover gasket, which can be fudged on.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Rich W

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Re: Valve Cover Gaskets
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2009, 09:50:03 AM »
  The steed is a CB750k . A 76 .  I'm hoping I can just fidge it in somehow and not extract the motor .  I know the 750SOHC can be a real SOB to reinstall.

Offline Alan F.

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Re: Valve Cover Gaskets
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2009, 09:57:00 AM »
Here ya go:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=15529.0;all

and

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=29818.0;all

Good luck, and remember the gasket can be put on wrong, the front exhaust side isn't the same as the back carb side, very close though, so be sure before you go with your choice, if it leaks maybe it's just in backwards.

-A

Rich W

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Re: Valve Cover Gaskets
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2009, 09:09:10 AM »
   Cool !   I'm gonna give it go this Summer . I'll let you all know how it went .  Thank you !