Brand new leaking valve cover gasket

just installed a new valve cover gasket with all new grommets. Took a ride of about 15 miles and it is leaking really bad from the rear tab on the brake side. Too hot to mess with now so I will look at it later. Any idea what I may have done wrong? The old gasket bearly leaked and I was just trying to get it totally stopped.

 

did you use rtv to "glue" the gasket to the cover?
you have the donuts? did you replace them?
I think theold dry donut is the main reason valvecover gaskets leak.
the donut is what applies the pressure to the cover

 

A smear of RTV on the half-moon portion of the gasket will fix that problem. Pull it, degrease, smear, and reinstall.

 

I used the red gasket sealer recommended in post by bigfitz I think. Cleaned everything well an used new donuts ( I referred to them as grommets). Haven't used any rtv because I thought it might cause problems the next time I have to adjust the valves. I'll revisit this Thursday since my wife's birthday is tomorrow.

 

Got the cover off and I don't see any kinks, bumps, tears, etc of the gasket. Everything looks perfect, so I have no idea why it is leaking around the rear half moon. Since I used gasket sealant on the groove of the cover, I assume you mean using a little rtv between the gasket and the head. Will that cause an issue next time I have to remove the cover? JusT seems odd to have to use anything with the new gasket. It has the little raised ribs that should make sealing easy. The one I replaced was pretty much flat and barely leaked . I guess I should have left alone.

 

just use it in the half moon area (at leak)and remember you used it. you will have to coax it off instead of just lifting it away.
may as well check your valves while you have it off.

 

1. Yes.

2. No it will not. The RTV will peel off fairly easly.

3. Gaskets can be imperfect in ways that are difficult to see, and even thought the half-moons being integral to the gasket helps them seal better than the seperate half-moons used earlier, they do sometimes fail to seal on their own.

 

Thanks. I will give it a try around the half moons and see what happens. I did the valves when I put the new gasket in--about 100 miles ago, so at least I'm good on that. I'll let you know.

 

Seems to be working, at least at idle. Raining today so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to rode test it.

 

Buy rain gear

 

Got rain gear, but getting a little too old to ride in the rain for the fun of it.

 

I'm checking valve clearances tomorrow and have been wondering if I need to use adhesive to apply the new gasket to the cover. What was the red adhesive you used? Did the RTV fix your leak around the have moons?

 

I prefere high temp black RTV ...blends in better.

 

It seems to be working well. However, if I were to do it again I think I would first try just a little dab of RTV at the corners of the half moons rather than all around them. I think that's where the issue was. Thanks for the advice.

 

I found some Yamabond 4 in the DIY shop I've been going to. I put dabs around some bolt holes to apply it to the cover and a light coat around the half moons as I closed it up. I replaced the donuts on each bolt and have no leaks!