Honda Shadow Gasket Repair Advice

I've got an 85 Shadow 500 with leaky valve cover and head gaskets. Nothing terrible, but I just got an 86 Maxim X700 and I figure I might as well use the shadow as a learning experience. Plus an acquaintance offered me the use of his shop, tools, and assistance. Seeing as how my garage is in ruins at the moment, and the shop quoted it at $1000, I figure I should take him up on his offer.


My question is; what supplies will I be needing to make this go as smooth as possible (and if you say the gaskets I swear...)? Normally when I undertake a project I find myself making several trips to the store to get things that I should have gotten the first time around (lists were never my thing). I don't want to occupy this guys space or time for too long, so if there's anything other than tools that I might need, I'd like to have them on hand.


Also, this will be the first time I've dropped/dismantled an engine, so any advice is appreciated. Advice pertaining to the Shadow and not just the procedure in general would be doubly appreciated :lol: ! I've done plenty of reading up on the subject, but theory and practice are two different worlds... I'd like to not look like more of a fool than I actually am around my new friends . I have the Clymer manual, but in my opinion it's a P.O.S.


I know there's a shadow forum, but someone else here said they more of enthusiasts than actual wrenchers... PLUS, you guys always pull through with great info!

 

It's pretty unusual for the head gasket to leak, but when the covers leak it looks like the head gasket is leaking. I'd just do the valve covers and see.

 

Thanks for the heads up, I'll double check before I get ahead of myself...

 

I agree with MiCarl on the head gasket. Most likley just the valve cover leaking.
Study the steps in the manual, follow them. Have a friend who is familiar with bikes look over your shoulder while you work.

Things you will need other than tools and gaskets:
- rags and or paper towels(not the cheap kitchen kind)
- scrapers to remove the old gaskets, be carsfull using metal scrapers they will gouge the aluminum and make more leaks.
- you might occationally need a gasket remover spray. Sometimes these old gaskets can be hard to remove.
- degreaser to clean the mess up, spray brake cleaner is a favorite of mine.
- sealer for the new gasket. I generally don't use any. If the surfaces are clean and smooth it won't leak. I do use some sealer around the cam plugs. Gasket sheliac works best, I don't like silicone for this.

Think about preforming other maintanance while the cover is off. Valve adjustments , plugs, oil and filter change. Read through the manual and see what else needs to be done.