Real Gaskets... over torqued?

[c3powil]

The other day i was finishing up my valve adjustment and I ordered Real Gaskets to put in. I read on BassCliff's tutorial that the bolts should be torqued around 7 ft lbs, so I went out to the ol' trusty Harbor Freight and picked up a torque wrench. It was not soon after torquing a few bolts that I realized something was off. The gasket was getting squeezed so much that It was slipping out from between the two surfaces. I shrugged and continued torquing all of the bolts until I read the instructions on the Real Gasket's packaging. No more than 15 INCH lbs. YIKES. My torque wrench wouldn't even give me inch lbs reading, so I just retorqued to a little tighter than finger tight.

So I guess my questions are,

Did I ruin my gasket by torquing too much?

A little tighter than finger tight seems like where the torque should be, but should I go out and buy another torque wrench for this?

[tkent02]

Take it out and see if it's ruined.

If you didn't run it and get it hot it might not be.

Finger tight and a touch more is what those gaskets need. Might need a spot of low strength LockTite to keep the screws in.



If you didn't get it hot it might not be.

HF has a inch pound torue wrench that works, it's cheap. You can't hear the click, you have to pay attention nd feel it but it works if you are careful.

But 15 inch pounds is too small to use it. Just go easy and watch the gasket. If it starts to squish out you went too far.

[Guest]

The other day i was finishing up my valve adjustment and I ordered Real Gaskets to put in. I read on BassCliff's tutorial that the bolts should be torqued around 7 ft lbs, so I went out to the ol' trusty Harbor Freight and picked up a torque wrench. It was not soon after torquing a few bolts that I realized something was off. The gasket was getting squeezed so much that It was slipping out from between the two surfaces. I shrugged and continued torquing all of the bolts until I read the instructions on the Real Gasket's packaging. No more than 15 INCH lbs. YIKES. My torque wrench wouldn't even give me inch lbs reading, so I just retorqued to a little tighter than finger tight.

So I guess my questions are,

Did I ruin my gasket by torquing too much?

A little tighter than finger tight seems like where the torque should be, but should I go out and buy another torque wrench for this?

I have an ole style beam torque wrench that works perfect for this. I have rather had that one from HR, it's in the land fill now. Matter of fact two of HR torque wrenches are RIP in a land fill.

[Joe Nardy]

Another tip for the Real Gasket. Make sure the gasket itself and the mating surfaces are clean and dry. Any oil will make it much easier for the gasket to slide out of place.

Thanks,
Joe

[chuck hahn]

As many problems of leakage, ripping, and bolts being lost with these, I find it hard to believe anyone would really want to use one.

[1980GS1000E]

Agreed. The stock gasket with some anti-seize or WD-40 is the way to go.

[GSXR7ED]

OEM is the way to go...worked great for my Valve Cover and Oil Pan. No more leaks for this "T" owner.


Ed

[Nessism]

Had a Real Gasket on my first 850 and didn't like it. Anything more than figer tight with the screws and the thing squirmed out of place. Another vote for OEM gaskets.

[Dogma]

Had a Real Gasket on my first 850 and didn't like it. Anything more than figer tight with the screws and the thing squirmed out of place. Another vote for OEM gaskets.

Same here. For me, the extended reusability wasn't worth the extra fussiness. Some people like them. I didn't.