cam cover gasket leak question

[greg78gs750]

hi guys,

the oem cam cover gasket on my 83 1100 es has squeezed out causing a leak. this is the 3rd time it has done this, seems to do it after about 2-3000 miles or so. yes, i should check my valves this often anyway, but they rarely need adjustment anyway. my 8valve 750 never had this problem. any idea what could be causing it? bolts installed to torque specs. maybe i need to retorque them occasionally? any ideas appreciated! thanks!

greg

[tom203]

Next time you have cam cover off, check it for flatness- maybe it's warped. Find a neighbor with granite countertop and see if cover lies good and flat all around.

[bubby]

are you useing a liquid bonding material like yamabond or three bond ???

[Nessism]

If bonding the gasket, only do it to one surface, like to the cover itself. Otherwise you will have a heck of a time getting it off.

[sedelen]

Is it doing it in the same place?
I generally retorque mine after it has been run a few miles after replacement, new gaskets tend to compress.

[greg78gs750]

no 3bond or such. different spots. i will have to check for flatness. guess i will start retorquing after a few heat cycles. not a huge deal, but i sure would like that 20 somethng dollar gasket to last more than an oil change. thanks for the replies! i HATE having to wait for a gasket during riding season....if it would have waited a few more weeks....

[tkent02]

I'm guessing maybe you torqued them down too tight? They don't take much.

[Steve]

i HATE having to wait for a gasket during riding season...

Next time you order a gasket, order TWO.

When you use your last one, order another, I'm sure it will be there before you can put on 2-3000 miles.

.

[gearhead13]

What kind of gasket are you getting for $20?
Maybe buy a suzuki gasket for more, but it will last 10k miles or more. Cheaper in the long run and a lot more convenient.

[tom203]

What kind of gasket are you getting for $20?
Maybe buy a suzuki gasket for more, but it will last 10k miles or more. Cheaper in the long run and a lot more convenient.

Last winter I got a genuine suzuki gasket for $10 delivered- I figured I might need it someday. They surface all the time on ebay,as dealers dump their old inventory, so be patient.

[greg78gs750]

sorry, 23.20 or whatever. from suzuki. oem, as stated in the original post. and i fully expected it to last longer.

steve, yes, i should order 2 at a time, like i do with oil filters. usually do, but it was the 2nd one i used last time! and i usually like to plan this kind of thing a bit better.... i might just ride monday anyway, it's a pretty small leak, i made it home from brown county last year with a bigger one and no problems. just complaining for the sake of complaining.

possible i torqued too tight, i suppose. my 750 had a realgasket, torque there was finger tight plus a half turn or whatever. my cheaper torque wrench is no doubt not completely accurate at the lower ranges.

What kind of gasket are you getting for $20?
Maybe buy a suzuki gasket for more, but it will last 10k miles or more. Cheaper in the long run and a lot more convenient.

[tkent02]

sorry, 23.20 or whatever. from suzuki. oem, as stated in the original post. and i fully expected it to last longer.

steve, yes, i should order 2 at a time, like i do with oil filters. usually do, but it was the 2nd one i used last time! and i usually like to plan this kind of thing a bit better.... i might just ride monday anyway, it's a pretty small leak, i made it home from brown county last year with a bigger one and no problems. just complaining for the sake of complaining.

possible i torqued too tight, i suppose. my 750 had a realgasket, torque there was finger tight plus a half turn or whatever. my cheaper torque wrench is no doubt not completely accurate at the lower ranges.

Finger tight plus 1/4 is more like it. Redo it every once in a while if needed. Torque wrenches are no good for this.
3bond on the cover side of the gasket will keep it from slipping.