Changing gaskets

Looks like I'm leaking oil from a few differant places on my 82 650 maxim; from some of the bolts on the valve cover, the valve cover gasket, and the head gasket. Never tore into the motor before, is there anything I need to know before I attempt to fix these leaks?

 

YES.

Look through this article and pay attention to the valve cover bolt "donuts." http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

 

The first thing to know is find out EXACTLY where it's leaking. Oil travels all around the outside of the bike when it's moving, the wind and gravity can make a valve cover leak look like a neutral sensor leak, or anything else.

Here's what you do, even though it's a pain. Clean the engine, thoroughly. Get all the oil off of it. Then, use either baby powder, or easier, spray-on athlete's foot powder, spray a coat of white all over the motor. Now start it up and look for leaks. The white powder makes new oil trails easy to spot.

 

I'd like to add that a valve cover leak can send oil through the spark plug recess drains and look like the head gasket is leaking.

It's fairly unlikely it's actually leaking at the head.