Valve cover gasket

[Grimly]

I could be wrong but I think the point is once the gasket is permanently deformed (flattened) it may not seal with the factory spec torque applied to the fasteners. This may cause some to over tighten the fasteners with hopes it will stop the leak, but instead strip the threads.

That's about it. The more ham-fisted will crank down on them, not realising that enough is enough. The OEM gasket is either thicker or slightly more resilient and can seal properly from the first go, or can stand a second check-tighten a few hundred miles later - and then go on to be re-used a couple of times. The cheaper ones, not so much, and those encourage over-tightening.

[rphillips]

OK, I read "reusing a torqued gasket is what tears out threads", I can see overtightening a torqued gasket is what tears out threads. I guess the exact same thing only different. Thank ya'll for clearing me up.

[Suzukian]

You can re-use my '83 GS750ES gasket quite a few times. It will weep as much as it did when it was new. I only got new ones when they got hard. They are incredibly thick. The shoulder bolts makes the gasket float between the top cover and the head. You cannot squeeze the gasket past the shoulder bolts. Good in theory, bad in execution.

[Mark1200]

Hi Guys, sorry for the lack of replies. i have been away. anyways i was hoping to hear of an off brand that works well. i have a 76 KZ900 Kawasaki and they want over $100 for an OEM gasket. It seams that i will have to go that route. , thanks for the responses. I am somewhat surprised that some are having success putting grease on a gasket. it just seams so wrong when grease is normally used to reduce friction. But in the end, what ever works , right.

[93Bandit]

Hi Guys, sorry for the lack of replies. i have been away. anyways i was hoping to hear of an off brand that works well. i have a 76 KZ900 Kawasaki and they want over $100 for an OEM gasket. It seams that i will have to go that route. , thanks for the responses. I am somewhat surprised that some are having success putting grease on a gasket. it just seams so wrong when grease is normally used to reduce friction. But in the end, what ever works , right.

It surprised me too when first reading about people greasing gaskets. But I tried it on my clutch cover gasket using WD40 and it didn't leak a drop, nor did the gasket appear wet anywhere along the seam.