'81 GS1000L stator side cover

[Guest]

I have a question about the stator side cover on my bike. It appears that someone has had it off in the past since it has what looks like blue rtv between it and the engine case. Does it need to be sealed with rtv? Can I remove it and rotate the Suzuki logo the correct way? The reason I ask is because it appears someone has bondo'd over it at one time.

[2BRacing]

Welcome to the forum! It is my personal opinion that RTV has no place in the workshop and should not be used on bikes/cars. More often than not, its use (or rather, "overuse") causes the excess bits to land up in oil passages, resulting in damage to an engine.

Rather use the correct gasket, or if are handy and know how, use the rolls of proper thickness gasket material available from auto spares stores to make a new gasket, using a sharp knife to cut out an imprint of the cover on the gasket material.

You can remove the side cover. Note that some oil will come out. You can lean the bike over to the right slightly and place a support under the one centrestand arm to keep oil coming out to a minimum. or lean the bike against a wall or workbench. You say it appears there is bondo on the side cover and the logo is upside down. This is highly suspicious, and it looks like the bike has been down in the past and cracked the side cover. The PO did a botched job with the bondo in an attempt to repair it. If there is a crack in the cover, have a competent welder repair it, or buy a second hand cover (post in parts wanted section on this forum).

Look on this forum in the following place to find a goldmine of information http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/ You will find the factory service manual for your bike, as well as information on electrical, fuel and mechanical systems. Settle down to read and become familiar with things on your bike if you are new to old bikes, and learn how to do all the maintenance required.

Enjoy the journey!

[OldVet66]

Z1 enterprises is a good source for the stator cover gasket. NO RTV! No you can't rotate the Suzuki logo, it is in a recess in the cover stuck on with double sided tape with a little V notch on the bottom for a locator, one side already stuck to the emblems. They are available but I don't know if they are exactly the same as Stock

[Nessism]

If the cover isn't leaking I'd leave it alone.

Use a heat gun and heat up the emblem and it will pop off.

[bcvickers]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to give this a shot and cross my fingers that the cover isn't cracked under the emblem. I agree that RTV can be used in nefarious ways but in the right hands and used (very) sparingly I believe it can be a useful tool.

If the cover isn't leaking I'd leave it alone.

Use a heat gun and heat up the emblem and it will pop off.

[kwb377]

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