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Author Topic: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?  (Read 755 times)

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Offline jorwesflow

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CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« on: June 18, 2015, 10:16:55 PM »
CB550K 1977
I've found conflicting opinions on it. My Cylinder Head Cover gasket (AKA valve cover) has recently breached and it's time for a new one. Should I use some sort of gasket sealant/form-a-gasket in the groove before setting the gasket in? Auto Zone has a million different types: high temp, red, copper, non-hardening, etc and there's also many who swear by Hondabond, but which one?
« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:21:12 PM by jorwesflow »
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1977 CB550K

Offline goldarrow

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Re: Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2015, 10:19:22 PM »
I'm guessing this is a 550 bike since you mention groove on the cover....

Don't need any sealant
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Offline jorwesflow

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2015, 10:22:04 PM »
Quote from: goldarrow on June 18, 2015, 10:19:22 PM
I'm guessing this is a 550 bike since you mention groove on the cover....

Don't need any sealant
Oops, Yes CB550k 1977. I updated the title.
Well I've heard OE gaskets don't but the Vesrah I purchased might?
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1977 CB550K

Offline goldarrow

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2015, 10:23:59 PM »
Don't need it still, but if for peace of mind, use hondabond sparingly. 
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Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0

Offline flatlander

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2015, 02:02:45 AM »
you mean that thing that's basically a big o-ring pushed into the groove along the cover, right?
it doesn't really need anything. if you find later that it leaks you can still remove it relatively easily (compared to the head at least) but then i'd look for the reason of the leak as there shouldn't be any if the surfaces and gasket are in good shape.
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Offline calj737

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2015, 05:34:28 AM »
Yes, the cover can come off easily, but then you have to adjust your valves again. Stock it didn't use any sealant. But, I've used a very thin coat of Hondabond (different brand) as insurance. 40 year old cast alloy is hard to expect to be perfect.
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Offline Tews19

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2015, 06:20:21 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on June 19, 2015, 05:34:28 AM
Yes, the cover can come off easily, but then you have to adjust your valves again. Stock it didn't use any sealant. But, I've used a very thin coat of Hondabond (different brand) as insurance. 40 year old cast alloy is hard to expect to be perfect.


I used sealant when I put mine back together. I am around several hundred miles and not a drop of oil...... This time around!
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Offline Duanob

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Re: CB550K Cylinder Head Cover Gasket - sealant or no?
« Reply #7 on: June 19, 2015, 08:44:19 AM »
I used sealant around the pucks but not the long o-ring gasket. If it's leaking for some reason make sure your crank vent tube isn't blocked or pinched and has air flow out of the crank case.
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