I've had it with this GD bike

[Nessism]

Getting the valve cover to seal is EASY. There is absolutely no reason to resort to monkey motion like Seals All, Gasket Maker, Real Gaskets, ect.

Take the valve cover off and clean the gasket surface until it's spotless. There should be no chunks of old gasket, and hopefully no gouges in the aluminum surface. Do the same thing on the head side. I repeat, no chunks of old gasket at all. Once you have everything properly clean, use gasket sealer on the half moon pieces and glue them in place in the head (only coat the rounded surface). Take a clean fresh valve cover gasket and rub it down with a little oil and slap that bad boy on the head and install the valve cover. Install all the bolts and loosely seat all of them - do not tighten yet. After you have all the bolts installed, lightly seat the bolts working from the center - outward. You want to tighten the bolts in a couple of different increments - again, working from the inside out.

Do the job right and it won't leak. Half ass it and you will never get it right.

[txironhead]

After the many gaskets you've tried, I seriously think you have a warped valve cover. If that's the case, nothing short of welding it on will keep it from leaking. You might try cleaning it thoroughly and laying it on a pane of glass and seeing if there are any gaps. If there are, time for a new valve cover and problem solved.

I would also take a straight edge to the mounting surface of the head and check that for any gaps. Quite possibly a PO got too vigorous with scraping the old gasket and gouged the head. I still think it's a warped cover, though. That could happen easily from overtorquing, heat, bad casting, any number of things.

[ShirleySerious]

I wouldn't be here if it was easy. Easy is a relative term. Like I mentioned before, I've tried everything. You guys make it seem so easy like a snap of the finger, but I've been working at this for the past 3 months using everything I know. I've cleaned it so much, the coating on the cover is coming off. I don't have half of the tools you guys have, and I don't want to buy tool after tool. The money I spend on tools could just go toward a new bike. This seems to be the only problem with the bike that's really major.

I've tried everything to the best of my ability, but this just seems unsolvable. I might just end up selling this POS.

[txironhead]

Trust me, I know how you feel. After getting every part I needed to get my GS running, only to try to fire it up and find out the starter clutch was shattered nearly got her parted out.

All you need to check for a warped valve cover is a sheet of glass or other known true flat surface. If it's warped, you could probably pick up a used one cheap from someone here or Ebay, and problem solved. I had a water pump housing on a 5.0 Crown Vic do the same thing, and after yanking the glass door off of my nephew's stereo cabinet I found out the housing was warped. $20 at the junkyard + $5 for new gaskets and it was back on the road and the door was back on the cabinet. Glass is easiest to use because you can look underneath and spot any gaps pretty easily. And any piece of angle iron can be used as a straight edge on the block to check for trueness.

[nabrams]

Hey, it's just a leaking valve cover??? There are problems that are MUCH more difficult to live with than that.
You say the bike runs well otherwise, so I don't see why you're ready to sell it.
Like others have mentioned, you could try a used valve cover from eBay.
Even if you can't resolve this one problem, so what? So you'll leak some oil and it'll burn on the pipes a bit. Just re-fill as needed. And yes, you can put sealant on the outside - Ugly, but effective in most cases. I'm guessing you've spent less than $1500 on this bike (including tools) - in that case you're WAY ahead of the game. Are you aware what a new bike of the same size goes for today? Astronomical!!!!
And yes, don't even think of bringing it to a "mechanic".
Now, if it's all about "looking cool" to you, then I guess you should get rid of the bike and spend a huge sum of money on a new bike. Our old bikes are hardly "cool" to anyone but us.

[ShirleySerious]

Hey, it's just a leaking valve cover??? There are problems that are MUCH more difficult to live with than that.
You say the bike runs well otherwise, so I don't see why you're ready to sell it.
Like others have mentioned, you could try a used valve cover from eBay.
Even if you can't resolve this one problem, so what? So you'll leak some oil and it'll burn on the pipes a bit. Just re-fill as needed. And yes, you can put sealant on the outside - Ugly, but effective in most cases. I'm guessing you've spent less than $1500 on this bike (including tools) - in that case you're WAY ahead of the game. Are you aware what a new bike of the same size goes for today? Astronomimical!!!!
And yes, don't even think of bringing it to a "mechanic".
Now, if it's all about "looking cool" to you, then I guess you should get rid of the bike and spend a huge sum of money on a new bike. Our old bikes are hardly "cool" to anyone but us.

It's not about looking cool or anything, it's just been frustrating because I've had this problem for a few months, and to a lesser extent, since I got it. You would be ****ed to if your bike was sitting in the garage on the many nice days we've had this summer.

It just concerns me to have something like this leak. Burning oil to me says "not in good operating condition." Smelling that every time I come to a stop is a little disconcerting.

[RonP44]

what the f

if GD means what i think it does you're askin for even more trouble....

[txironhead]

if GD means what i think it does you're askin for even more trouble....

Please don't turn this into a theological discussion. This is a technical forum for motorcycles.

[TheCafeKid]

Seriously Serious...This is what you need to expect when buying a 25+yr old bike. They aren't tanks. They are cooled by AIR, which as you might well imagine is not very efficient. Hence more modern bikes being watercooled. They warp over time, especially when not properly maintained or ridden with respect for the design. You really shouldnt get so crazy over it. I bought a 750 that runs, but needs a TON of work. Ive had a bit of trouble finding parts and what not for it, but ive never gotten discouraged by it. There are people all over the world that own and love these bikes, and most of them know where to get parts, just ask the guys and gals here. Everyone of us has problems here and there with them, but hardly any want to toss it in the dump. Hell my GS is sitting in the drive right now on this beautiful sunny day waiting on parts to arrive. Yeah it sucks, but it comes with the territory. I could go out and buy a "new" bike, but thats not what i want. I like these bikes, i like having to fiddle with them and tinker and cuss, thats part of the fun to me. When i get my GS done in its full cafe garb, what am i gonna do?? Ride the hell out of it, and buy another one to start on. I've already agreed to buy an 80 that needs a whole new head. Im not scared about it, i cant wait to tear into it. Just look at it this way, if you're going to own one of these, be fully prepared to accept the fact that you are going to have to work on it. Otherwise, go buy one with a warranty.

[ShirleySerious]

It's just frustrating to spend more time working on the bike than actually riding it. This is what I'm getting at and this is how it's been for the past few months. I am, at most, an amateur mechanic. Most of the stuff I know how to do on my bike came from either this site or the Clymer manual. FME, there isn't too much common sense involved when fixing these machines.

I'll try to give it another shot. I have a gasket on order and a valve cover on eBay that ends Thursday. Hopefully that isn't warped as well (seller said it was in good condish).

[txironhead]

Have you verified that the cover you have is warped? The cover is more likely to warp than the head, but stranger things have happened.

[ShirleySerious]

Have you verified that the cover you have is warped? The cover is more likely to warp than the head, but stranger things have happened.

I haven't, but I'm pretty sure it might be. Bad sealing, being 30 years old, and having a crack on it welded leads me to believe it is warped. If not, I'll only be out $10. The cover is cheaper than the gasket.

[97Intruder]

It's just frustrating to spend more time working on the bike than actually riding it. This is what I'm getting at and this is how it's been for the past few months. I am, at most, an amateur mechanic. Most of the stuff I know how to do on my bike came from either this site or the Clymer manual. FME, there isn't too much common sense involved when fixing these machines.

I'll try to give it another shot. I have a gasket on order and a valve cover on eBay that ends Thursday. Hopefully that isn't warped as well (seller said it was in good condish).

Hey dude......well, you certainly wouldn't make it as a " vintage " Harley owner then....their motto is " ride a day, tighten for 2 " try not to get so discouraged.....I know how you are though, I'm the same way. I've got a 97 Intruder that is a oil leaker, leaves a puddle on the floor every day, I know what the problem is.....which is a bad water pump oil seal.....but, I'd rather ride than fix it....until the weather gets too cold...so for now, I just make sure she's topped off. Unless the bike(yours) is like leaving quarts on the ground, or a white cloud as your riding it...leading people to A. either think your spraying for mosquitoes, or B. your on fire, and need to call the F.D. I would ride for now, and fix it on a rainy day...week-end, or winter depending on where you live. Or( insert shameless plug here) you could visit the For Sale section, and buy my bike....she leaks nothing but a great ride!
Bottom line, don't give up.....it's all part of having a " machine " they are prone to anything....
Best of luck to ya!!!

[97Intruder]

P.S.

I knew less than zero about my GS.... just learned from trial and error....mostly error.

[97Intruder]

P.P.S

And bought parts that I thought were bad, that turned out to be fine, cuz I was too lazy to READ my Clymers..... thought I " knew it all " so, it cost me money to learn..... instead of reading the damn book!!8-[