• 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.

Real Gasket bolt torque update

Joe Nardy

Joe Nardy

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
TGSR Superstar
There has been a lot of conversation regarding Real Gasket valve cover gaskets and the torque of the bolts. I hadn't checked the bolts for a while before I removed the valve cover recently to do cam timing and valve clearance adjustment. I had torqued the bolts to 20 inch-pounds per the Real gasket instructions. Several of the bolts had loosened to hand tight or even looser. To the Real Gasket's credit there were no leaks, just a tiny bit of misting in a couple places. I decided to use lock washers on the bolts to help keep them tight. The lock washers definitely affected the torque of the bolts. When I tightened the bolts to 20 inch-pounds the gasket was noticeably more compressed than it had been before. I ended up tightening the bolts to 10 inch-pounds which seemed to compress the gasket about the same amount as 20 inch pounds did without the lock washers. The bolts seem more secure at 10 inch-pounds with the lock washers than they did at 20 inch-pounds without the lock washers. I'll keep an eye on the bolts and update at a later time.

Thanks,
Joe
 
I would use care with the washers as they reduce the amount of precious thread you get to tighten with.
 
duaneage said:
I would use care with the washers as they reduce the amount of precious thread you get to tighten with.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I considered that but with the very low torque on these bolts I don't think it will be an issue. Time, of course, will tell.

Thanks,
Joe
 
Joe, I remember you used locktite on those bolts when you put your Real Gasket on...didn't you?

Or was that my bike?
 
AOD said:
Joe, I remember you used locktite on those bolts when you put your Real Gasket on...didn't you?

Or was that my bike?
Click to expand...

No, we didn't use Locktite on mine. I was concerned about the possible detrimental effect of Locktite on aluminum..................

Joe
 
None of my valve cover bolts have ever backed out. I use SS button-head bolts, which use a little bitty 4mm allen wrench.

This is not scientific (since a torque wrench that goes that low is gawdawful expensive), but I tighten them all barely finger tight, then give them about 3/4 or 1 twist using a finger and a thumb, if that, with the t-handle allen wrench. No leaks or backing out yet.

BTW, the paper that came with my Realgasket last year specified 15 inch-pounds, not 20.

I wouldn't expect that traditional split lock washers would have much, if any, effect at such low torque values. You might do better with a "star" or "wave" washer, which is meant for very low torque. Or safety wire all of them. Every time you remove the valve cover...
 
I use a lot of Real? gaskets in other applications, and have a suggestion... Make absolutely sure that there is no trace of oil on either surface of the gasket when it is installed. It doesn't even work very well to wipe it down with gasoline. Gasoline leaves a tiny bit of an oily residue when it evaporates. Alcohol works well though. The tiniest bit of oil on the surface allows the real? gasket to squeeeeeeeze out of the gap it's intended to fill, like a watermelon seed between fingers. You want it DRY as dust when you torque it to the specs called out on the package :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top