Half Moon Seals--Help.

[Gimpdiggity]

Hi everyone.

I just got the valve cover off of my GS-1000G. I have a valve cover gasket that I had been planning on putting on it, along with a breather gasket, and some other odds and ends.

Well, today seemed nice enough outside so I started tearing into the thing.

I got the valve cover and everything off just fine.

I had planned on putting new half moon seals in, but when I got the gasket off, the ones that are in there seem like they are in there really well. I can't just pick them out of there with my hands, at least. And I tried kinda prying at one just a tad with a flathead, but it didn't budge.

So, my question is this: Do I need to replace the half moon seals when doing a valve cover gasket replacement?? Or are they usually in there good enough that they don't need to be replaced??


Thanks!!

[salty_monk]

Depends... Some times they are so hard that they don't seal well on the top surface, sometimes they are fine.

If you do fit new ones fit with a little RTV & be wary if using a silicon "reel gasket" as the low torque on the cover bolts with that gasket doesn't squash the moons enough to give a good seal the first time out (it will work well with your old ones prob though as the gasket is soft).

If you have the moons & have a stock gasket to fit I'd go ahead & switch them out.

Dan

[waterman]

If they are in that solidly, I would just let them be. I don't think they tend to leak if they haven't been removed.

[Gimpdiggity]

I ended up just shoving the new ones in.

I figured since I had it all apart, I might as well go ahead and put them in. I used some case sealer that they sold me at the motorcycle shop so they should be in there really good.

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. Gimpdiggity,

I used a very light coating of gasket sealer on the bottom (curved part) of the half moons the first time I checked my valves and installed a Real Gasket. They've been through 3 checks without leaking. I have an extra set ready for whenever they need replacement. But I'm just letting them stay until they start leaking. I'd really like to find a set of aluminum half moons.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Tom MLC]

If it's not too late, I recommend putting them in backwards. These little buggers do have a tendancy to pop out. If they are in backwards, they can't pop in because the camshaft is right there.

[BassCliff]

If it's not too late, I recommend putting them in backwards. These little buggers do have a tendancy to pop out. If they are in backwards, they can't pop in because the camshaft is right there.

This also might help alleviate noise from any "cam float" that you might have.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[ryonker]

It's good you put the new ones in.

I didn't and they seemed good like yours. I think all the monkeying around with the valve cover must of loosened them up because two leaked a little. I had to take it all apart (not that big a deal) and I sealed the lower part with RTV. No leaks at all now. But next Valve check I will be putting new ones in.

I hadn't heard about putting them in backwards. What if they creep into the cams ? Maybe that doesn't happen.

Good luck!

Rick

[Gimpdiggity]

It's good you put the new ones in.

I didn't and they seemed good like yours. I think all the monkeying around with the valve cover must of loosened them up because two leaked a little. I had to take it all apart (not that big a deal) and I sealed the lower part with RTV. No leaks at all now. But next Valve check I will be putting new ones in.

I hadn't heard about putting them in backwards. What if they creep into the cams ? Maybe that doesn't happen.

Good luck!

Rick

I didn't put them in backwards, but I thought about it while I had the bike all apart even before I read that post.

It LOOKS to me like there isn't much room for them to work themselves out at all on the inside. The cam is very close to where they sit, and in there backwards they would probably be almost right up against the cam.