Reuse of valve cover gasket?

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  • andmoon
    #1

    Reuse of valve cover gasket?

    I see a lot of threads on gasket removal.

    Is it a definite NO NO to reuse the valve cover gasket?

    My cover came off clean and I left the gasket attached to the head.

    Do I do the gasket removal dance or is reuse a possibility?

    83 850g...new to me and going thru all maint. before I run the poop out of her.
    Tags: None
    • tkent02
      Forum LongTimer
      Past Site Supporter
      • Jan 2006
      • 35571
      • Near South Park
      #2
      If it came off clean in one piece reuse it, if it leaks then replace. It probably won't, at least not for a while.
      http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...tatesMap-1.jpg

      Life is too short to ride an L.

        Comment

        • rphillips
          Forum Guru
          Past Site Supporter
          Super Site Supporter
          • Jun 2005
          • 7613
          • Norene TN
          #3
          Yep! what he said
          1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

            Comment

            • willie
              Forum Sage
              Past Site Supporter
              • Mar 2006
              • 1836
              • Kingsport, TN
              #4
              I've been having good luck this past year with cleaning the mating surfaces with carb cleaner before applying a very thin coat of high temp silicone sealer. Hasn't leaked or weeped a bit. Of course, I'm only doing this when I've been able to remove the cover without breaking the gasket.
              Good luck.
              Willie
              Common sense has become so uncommon that I consider it a super power.


              Present Stable includes:
              '74 GT750 Resto-mod I've owned since '79
              '83 GS1100E (The best E I've ever enjoyed, Joe Nardy's former bike)
              '82 GS1100G Resto project

                Comment

                • Agemax
                  Forum Guru
                  • Apr 2008
                  • 8371
                  • plymouth uk
                  #5
                  personally i would replace it. any gasket that is vulnerable to oil leaks should be replaced. it would save a lot of time and inconveniance having to take the cover off again in a few days if it does start leaking.
                  just my opinion
                  1978 GS1085.

                  Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

                    Comment

                    • twr1776
                      Forum Sage
                      • Jul 2005
                      • 1826
                      • NORTHWEST INDIANA - AKA THE REGION
                      #6
                      If it came off clean I would re-use it. On my 1000 the gasket was also stuck to the cylinder side and I just put some hi-temp grease on the gasket surface and put the cover back on. It now has about 4 k on it with no leaks. The two valve motors do not run very high oil pressure so you should be OK. I have the Realgaskets on my other bikes and they work very well. No more scraping.
                      82 GS850L - The Original http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...ePics067-1.jpg
                      81 GS1000L - Brown County Hooligan http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...ivePics071.jpg
                      83 GS1100L - Super Slab Machine http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...t=DCP_1887.jpg
                      06 KLR650 - "The Clown Bike" :eek: http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/d...nt=SERally.jpg
                      AKA "Mr Awesome" ;)

                        Comment

                        • Calvin Blackmore
                          #7
                          My gasket is 20 plus yrs old
                          reuse it if does not leak

                            Comment

                            • lurch12_2000
                              #8
                              Originally posted by andmoon
                              I see a lot of threads on gasket removal.

                              Is it a definite NO NO to reuse the valve cover gasket?

                              My cover came off clean and I left the gasket attached to the head.

                              Do I do the gasket removal dance or is reuse a possibility?

                              83 850g...new to me and going thru all maint. before I run the poop out of her.
                              I suppose if it stayed in one piece and there aren't any noticable "soft" or squishy spots then you could reuse. But on my recent valve adjustment on a '81 850 I got the OEM gasket for $8.80 at the dealer. Mine came off in pieces so I had no choice, but if it's that cheap why bother with your old gasket and risk leaking oil for the next 4-5k miles.

                                Comment

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