Valve cover gasket

[sailor_chic]

When doing a valve shim adjustment, is it recommended to change the valve cover gasket and the inner gaskets that seal the spark plug openings? Perhaps recommended is a what the Service manual would say, but will I be okay using the old gaskets again, or should I spend the money and change them?

[gPink]

I'd replace with new. Also while you're in there the cam sensor o-ring. And you might look at this if you're going shopping... http://forum.cog-online.org/index.php/topic,52884.msg381187/topicseen.html#top

[sailor_chic]

I thought that was the best route, but just wanted to make sure. Thanks for the reminder on the cam sensor. I already have the O-ring from MOB.

[lather]

Or just inspect the old gaskets and reuse if they are not damaged. I've done three valve checks and still using my old gaskets.

[B.D.F.]

As they are really seals and not gaskets, no real reason not to re- use them. Also, as these tend to leak on the 1400 Kawasaki engines, I use a small bead of RTV sealant under the actual seal to space it just a bit and put make a better seal. The valve cover has to be pretty clean, then about a 3/16" bead of RTV is applied and the seal is installed against a flat surface. The goal is to have the original seal sit up just a little higher- maybe 1/16" or so, then it does stock and that will stop the valve cover from leaking.

Brian

[JerBear]

As they are really seals and not gaskets, no real reason not to re- use them. Also, as these tend to leak on the 1400 Kawasaki engines, I use a small bead of RTV sealant under the actual seal to space it just a bit and put make a better seal. The valve cover has to be pretty clean, then about a 3/16" bead of RTV is applied and the seal is installed against a flat surface. The goal is to have the original seal sit up just a little higher- maybe 1/16" or so, then it does stock and that will stop the valve cover from leaking.

Brian

Very good advice, It worked like a charm on mine. it is very hard to tell where the oil is coming from but if you have the O-rings from MOB they are much better than the originals.  Just take your time inserting the edge into the sensor pocket, I rotated it slightly and it went in easily but is a snug fit.  Clean off all of the dried goop Kawa put on the seal to ensure your RTV will seal properly.   Mine came off like 100 year old spaghetti and had to be gently scrubbed out of the corners.

[sailor_chic]

Well I just spent the past 3 hrs traveling to and from my Kaw dealer and at the parts counter. Of course the parts guy wanted to do a hurry up job and get me out, but I didnt let that happen. After he looked up the part numbers for the shims I requested, he said that they didnt have them. So I asked him to look at the Honda shims. I stated that I had nothing but time, and ironically I a micrometer with me. After about 20 mins, he set the 8 shims on the counter. and said they were what I needed. So I pulled out my micrometer and started measuring. Guess what, 5 of them were wrong! He then went in back and brought out the shim container that the service dept uses, and we measured together. He was using a digital caliper and I had my micrometer.
The other sales associate walked over to see what we were doing, and she said that she was happy that she didnt have to try to help me with my order. She said that she was glad the Brent was assisting me. Brent responded that he was fumbling his way through this and the she, meaning myself, was "blowing him away". He finally just let me pick through the tray and I found exactly the shims that I needed. They are all used or should I say experienced shims, but the price was good. I was charged $4.95 each. So they were gentle to me on those parts.
However I cant really say the same for the valve cover seals and tires that I purchased. In comparison to internet prices, they really were higher. I like to support my local businesses but why such a difference in price? Tires were $50 more then at Jake Wilson.

Brian thanks for the advice on how to reinstall the valve cover. I will follow your instructions. But this will have to wait until Wednesday when the gasket arrives.Of course I am doing this project where the Kawasaki distribution center in Jacksonville closed down for a rebuild, and the parts now will come from Grand Haven.
Time to go try to reinstall the cams. Wish me luck!

[B.D.F.]

You might want to go back and edit your original posts to include a few Easy Boys!; I have marked a few places where I might have put them- just a suggestion though.

 

Yeah, both the seal and the slot in the cover have to be clean for the sealant to stick- I actually clean mine off with a scrub brush, soap and warm water and then thoroughly dry all so I know there is no trace of oil left. Just using a solvent and paper towels does not seem to get all of the oil out of the corners or the lips on the seals.

Brian

Very good advice, It worked like a charm on mine. it is very hard to tell where the oil is coming from but if you have the O-rings from MOB they are much better than the originals.  Just take your time inserting the edge into the sensor pocket (here), I rotated it slightly and it went in easily but is a snug fit (here).  Clean off all of the dried goop (here) Kawa put on the seal to ensure your RTV will seal properly.   Mine came off like 100 year old spaghetti and had to be gently scrubbed out of the corners (two times here).

[B.D.F.]

It is not really difficult but you do have to be very careful to tighten all four caps just a little bit (less than 1/8 of a turn) each so the bearing saddle caps draw the cam down evenly. We have seen a couple of people break the legs off a cam cap by trying to seat the cap with the first screw.

The problem is that the cams will not sit down in the bearing saddles as one or more lobes ride up on the top of the valve tappets (the 'buckets'). It <looks> like they do all the way down but they will not.

And yeah, the above needs all kinds of Easy Boys! but I just do not have the time right now.

Brian

<snip>

Time to go try to reinstall the cams. Wish me luck!

[MAN OF BLUES]

As they are really seals and not gaskets, no real reason not to re- use them. Also, as these tend to leak on the 1400 Kawasaki engines, I use a small bead of RTV sealant under the actual seal to space it just a bit and put make a better seal. The valve cover has to be pretty clean, then about a 3/16" bead of RTV is applied and the seal is installed against a flat surface. The goal is to have the original seal sit up just a little higher- maybe 1/16" or so, then it does stock and that will stop the valve cover from leaking.

Brian

I pretty much splained this in her post on the COG forum, we both have had the same viewpoint and fix on this part, I just had to run out for errands this a.m. and didn't post here... doh.

[JerBear]

Brian, I really appreciate your common sense advice.  It has helped me often as I try to keep my bike running well without going broke.  I would have to say though, you have to be the KING of innuendo.