New Oil Leaks

[mrhedges]

I posted before about what I thought was a leak in the shift seal that turned out to the cam chain tensioner while I was on a 2,000 mile road trip. Well, I got home and took my bike over to my buddies warehouse. They have a little shop set up with a lift, it's pretty chill and much better then trying to fix my bike on the sidewalk infront of my house. Before I went over I looked up how to replace the cam chain tensioner and found a great turtiuoral on basecliff's webpage. After reading it over I realized I was missing an o-ring because I ordered based on looking at a parts fiche and that there's another o-ring behind the spring. I decide to go ahead and replace what I can. I get the cam chain tensioner off and the old gasket crumbles in my hand, yea definitely the problem, also the top bolts where somehow loose. I don't rebuild the entire tensioner since I don't have a new o-ring.

I did most of the work myself, which felt good, and it was nice to have company while doing the work too. The next day I degrease the engine as best as I can and I take the bike on a shakedown ride and its leaking oil from the o-ring I didn't replace which figures but it's also leaking from a bunch of places on the valve cover gasket and half moons. I've had the valve cover off twice and replaced that gasket. The first time I had it off It was way over tightened (maybe to prevent leaks?) and now is tightened down to spec. Is it bad to have it over tightened? Should I replace the half moon gaskets? I did a search on the forum and saw someone say it's best to reuse the old ones. Should I just take it off and put some gasket sealant on it? Anyone have any tips on preventing valve cover leaks?

[tom203]

The valve cover gasket surfaces need to be super clean - any old gasket residue will haunt you. Half moons also. Remember camcover bolts only get 7 ft-lbs of torque..start from center and work you way to outer bolts - I do this in two pulls. Most 3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches are useless below 10 ft-lbs.

[alke46]

The valve cover gasket surfaces need to be super clean - any old gasket residue will haunt you. Half moons also. Remember camcover bolts only get 7 ft-lbs of torque..start from center and work you way to outer bolts - I do this in two pulls. Most 3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches are useless below 10 ft-lbs.

This is why I use a torque wrench with inch pound settings. I also do it in two pulls with the final pull being at 75 inch pounds.