gasket leak and starter ?'s

Hi Everyone. Hoping someone can offer me some help. I just bought back my first bike-82 XJ650 Maxim. Last fall I helped replace the valve cover gasket on this bike because it was leaking. The new gasket leaks worse than the old one. It is only leaking around the cam plugs. The girl I bought the bike from bought another 82 XJ and it has the same problem, although much more minor. How do I fix this or do they all leak? I hate to buy another gasket and have the same thing happen. I have another valve cover to swap and see if that works better.
Also after starting bike makes a strange sound for about 3 seconds. I think it is the starter. Hard to describe, kind of like a sickly oogah horn. Is this the starter going bad? (it made that noise the two years I rode it, starts fine, runs great, but the noise is embarassing!)
I appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

 

Sorry, I don't know anything about the noise.

I would apply some high temp RTV gasket sealant (I buy the stuff that says O2 sensor safe because I use it on my cars too - otherwise the silicon will KILL the sensor) to the sealing surface of the gasket and the metal surface, and then reinstall the same gasket. You can buy this at any auto parts store. Be careful to not use too much, you wouldn't want that stuff floating around in your bike! Also, make sure all of the surfaces are really clean too.

Should you apply this to both sides of the gasket? I would - but like I said, not very much at all, just a small smear. By the way - I have done this on many cars, and it usually cures the leak.

Welcome to the site by the way.

 

I forgot to mention I already tried that, but I am thinking that it didn't cure enough. Since the gasket only has a couple hundred miles on it, I think I am going to pull the cover and try sealing it a little better this time. The gasket does not seem to fit tight around those plugs. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Well Richard took care of your leak so I'll tell you about the starter. Don't worry! Most likely it is a sticky starter button which lets the starter run a bit after the starter clutch disengaged from the starter. What you hear is the starter free spinning. A little WD-40 in the button may help.

 

If you pull it and reapply, be sure and get the old stuff off as well as you can!

You might try this before you pull the cover: apply the RTV to the outside, and force it in with your finger, like caulk between trim and the wall. If it is leaking, there has to be some sort of hole, right?!

If that doesn't fix it, then pull the cover. You might as well try though! Be sure and wipe up the extra while it is wet, or it will look bad.