• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

GS 1000L - valve cover gaskets

  • Thread starter Thread starter nuttman
  • Start date Start date
N

nuttman

Guest
I just bought my GS 1000 L (1981) with 10K on it. It has a slight oil leak from the cam covers so I am going to replace the valve cover gasket as well since it looks to be starting to seep. Anyone have words of wisdom before I undertake this task? I would throw in a picture but I need to compress it first since you aren't allowed to post a memory hog.

Nuttman
 
Be very careful removing old gasket material. It likes to stick hard, and a razorblade must be used very carefully or you'll ding the edge and oil will leak. I found that "stroking" it with the blade edge trailing did the trick most of the time, and scraping with an old credit card.

Everybody raves about the silicone Realgaskets.
http://www.realgaskets.com

If you use one, just remember to torque the valve cover bolts down very lightly... use the forum search for realgasket and see what people have to say...

Buy new rubber half-moons plugs, too.
 
Another tip that worked for me with stock new gaskets is to spray them liberally with WD40 before using. I've managed to re and re valve cover several times with no damage. Mind you that doesn't help to remove stuck ones - I agree with kalessin there. And silicone gaskets ?- wish I knew about those when I did my engine.
 
Thanks

Thanks

I appreciate the info. I talked to a real mechanic (Tim at Steeles Cycle in Denver) and he suggested gasket remover and razor blades as well. Said the Suzuki tends to get hot and just bake on the gasket. I did go ahead and purchase the half moon plugs for the cam covers as they seem to be the major culprit. I am going to ride it from Denver to Sturgis in August and want it to be right. I have a jammer on the front so bolts will be lots of fun to deal with on the front side, but what else are you going to do on a Friday evening?
 
The gaskets from realgaskets.com are excellent, I just installed mine recently and it went really well. Great quality, reuseable and lifetime warranty.

The guy gets STC's from the FAA for putting his products in airplanes, so the quality has got to be there.

As a real plus, Harold is great to deal with!
 
still leaks

still leaks

After three hours af cautious scraping of old gasket material, a new gasket and half moon plugs for the cams, it's still has a slight leak. I've re-tourked the bolts again just to be sure but that's obviusly not the culprit. From what I can see it does look like the half moon cam plug causing the issue. From pervious threads it looks like some RTV may fix it, otherwise I am going to order the silicone gasket. I looked them up per some of your comments and can see why you recommend them. On the GS 1000 L their part number only mentions through 1980. It looks the same as my 81 but wanted to be sure in case I need to order.

Apprecaite your input on this topic and an finding this whole site to be a great resource.
 
nuttman said:
After three hours af cautious scraping of old gasket material, a new gasket and half moon plugs for the cams, it's still has a slight leak. I've re-tourked the bolts again just to be sure but that's obviusly not the culprit. From what I can see it does look like the half moon cam plug causing the issue. From pervious threads it looks like some RTV may fix it, otherwise I am going to order the silicone gasket. I looked them up per some of your comments and can see why you recommend them. On the GS 1000 L their part number only mentions through 1980. It looks the same as my 81 but wanted to be sure in case I need to order.

Apprecaite your input on this topic and an finding this whole site to be a great resource.
Click to expand...

just check on bikebandit to make sure the part numbers are the same for the gasket from both years.
 
JHawkins said:
just check on bikebandit to make sure the part numbers are the same for the gasket from both years.
Click to expand...

FYI - www.alpha-sports.com has the actual Suzuki OEM part numbers wheras bikebandit has their own numbers on the web. They have been good to deal with and are generally cheaper than alpha-sports.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top