Can cam end seals be replaced without cover removal

[Colin Green]

Hi, my two exhaust cam cover end seal (the half moon shaped seals) are leaking and I was going to try to release the cover over the exhaust cam then crack it half a mm or so then pull out the half moon seals and replace them. They don't seem to want to come out in one piece. Do I have to take the cover right off. Do I need to install the new half moons with gasket glue or will they be ok without the glue?

TIA for your help

[SqDancerLynn1]

NO! you need to remove the cam cover

[Guest]

You need to pull the valve cover. Use Yamabond or similar on the half moons. Also get new valve cover gasket.

[Colin Green]

Darn! I just put my new gasket in about 5 or 6 months ago when Psyguy and I did my valve shims

[hampshirehog]

You can get away with it. It's not the right thing to do as you might not get the seal but I've done it (and it's worked) a few times when I've been in a hurry.

[Colin Green]

You can get away with it. It's not the right thing to do as you might not get the seal but I've done it (and it's worked) a few times when I've been in a hurry.

Cheers. but the buggers are well glued and have already munted the ends of the existing seals now trying to get them out. I don't want to start digging them out bit by bit and end up with little crumbly bits of seal getting in so am prolly best to pop her off. Hopefully the gasket will come off clean. i'll have to get some "Yambond or similar" cause I haven't even though far enough ahead to organise any before I started fiddling.

[Colin Green]

Yay!... popped the cam cover off just now... came off nice and clean. Gasket stuck on cover so can get at the seals ok.

Will grab some gasket goo to bed the seals into the head (what do you recommend??). I would rather not glue the gasket to the seals or head though as I would prefer not to have to replace the gasket every time I take the cover off.

Is there anything else other than a glue that can be put on the gasket to make sure it seals down to the seals and head proper without gluing it ? don't want any leaks.

Cheers

[feelergaugephil]

you need to pull the valve cover. Use yamabond or similar on the half moons. Also get new valve cover gasket.

+1..............

[49er]

Yay!... popped the cam cover off just now... came off nice and clean. Gasket stuck on cover so can get at the seals ok.

Will grab some gasket goo to bed the seals into the head (what do you recommend??). I would rather not glue the gasket to the seals or head though as I would prefer not to have to replace the gasket every time I take the cover off.

Is there anything else other than a glue that can be put on the gasket to make sure it seals down to the seals and head proper without gluing it ? don't want any leaks.

Cheers

Clean up the half moon recesses in the head and apply some black Silastic siilcone sealant. check that the half moons sit slightly proud of the gasket surface before bolting the cover back on. Should re-seal ok.

[Colin Green]

Clean up the half moon recesses in the head and apply some black Silastic siilcone sealant. check that the half moons sit slightly proud of the gasket surface before bolting the cover back on. Should re-seal ok.

Cheers for that.. good point on the "slightly proud" bit.

Psyguy has also just suggested via pm to apply a little smear of high temperature grease on the metal faces and half moon seals faces where they are to be in contact with the gasket. The gasket seems to be well stuck onto the cover (except at one point) which I shall pop a little silicone sealant into with a needle.