valve cover leaking after valve check

[mtrdrms]

So I pulled the valve cover to check the valves on my 07 and once I put it all back together the covers are seeping just a bit. I cleaned them and the mating surfaces well enough. My question is, should I have to replace the gaskets after pulling the covers? Never had this prob before but. I haven't done a valve check when it was 20 degrees outside either. Thanks.

[eric2]

The gaskets generally survive valve checks, but its possible you may have torn one. I've had some seepage from the spark plug gasket so I make it a point to rotate them and make sure their reseated properly.

[def]

The OHV cover gaskets on my 2001 GS are OE and have never leaked....never will.

Handled properly and wiped dry of oil prior to re-installing them is the secret. Make sure you wipe dry the surfaces on the cylinder head and OHV cover as well. Insure that the spark plug donuts are aligned correctly.

[Mr Head]

Check the spark plug gasket is rotated so it seals. That is the usual, first place if all were cleaned prior to re-assembly.
Noting should be broken or torn it is only the really extra-credit types who are able to tear these up.

[mtrdrms]

Got it. Operator error.

[Mr Head]

I did this on my 1150 after decades of working and riding bikes. oiled a gortex boot really well.

Originally Posted by mtrdrms

Got it. Operator error.

[Dan Alexander]

I thought you were supposed to lightly oil the gasket before reassembly .... don't have a manual around to check.

[pcwirepro]

And dry some more

[roadtrip22]

Originally Posted by pcwirepro

And dry some more

Always dry and make sure everything is clean the kits you can usually get have a spark plug seal in there for a purpose. I recommend always replacing that seal BC it's a leak your never see till it fouls out your plug

[def]

Originally Posted by Dan Alexander

I thought you were supposed to lightly oil the gasket before reassembly .... don't have a manual around to check.

Just the opposite. Dry the gaskets and mating surfaces so there is no oil path from inside the OHV cover to the outside. Use caution when handling the gaskets so as not to bend or crimp them.

And no hogging down on the OHV cover fasteners otherwise, you'll be whining about the stripped threads in your cylinder head.

Just a small excerpt from my 2001 BMW REPROM;

• Install cylinder head cover.
e Caution:
Make sure that gaskets are correctly seated. Gaskets
and sealing faces must be free from oil and
grease.
X Tightening torque:
Cover screw............................................. ...... 9 Nm

[MotorradMike]

You sure about the 9Nm def?
I have 8Nm.
Not being picky, that's over 10%.

[Wallowa]

Originally Posted by MotorradMike

You sure about the 9Nm def?
I have 8Nm.
Not being picky, that's over 10%.

Must just be me...but using a torque wrench and getting that type of accuracy is impossible..like I said at least for me.. 8 or 9 Newton Meters is damn little [5.9 vs. 6.6 ft/lbs].

[jzeiler]

8 or 9 Nm just means turn until the fastner bottoms out and then STOP!

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by pcwirepro

And dry some more

Clean, dry is not necessary or preferred.

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/R1200_24K.html

Jim

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by jzeiler

8 or 9 Nm just means turn until the fastner bottoms out and then STOP!

Jim