Reuse valve cover gasket?

[ddaniels]

Anybody do this if it comes off cleanly? I'ver reused rubber ones, but never a paper one.

[850 Combat]

I have reused them when they came off cleanly on one side but remained stuck on the head. They didn't leak much at all. I had a new one, but it is such a bitch to get it off of the head, and to pick the shards out of there.

[hampshirehog]

If it comes off cleanly why not?

[Runningdog]

If it comes off cleanly, I've managed up to 3 re-uses, usually starts to weep after that.

[Dogma]

Some here have talked about greasing one side of the gasket to make sure it separates, but I'm not sure what grease to use. I tried it with bearing grease with only limited success.

[ddaniels]

Some here have talked about greasing one side of the gasket to make sure it separates, but I'm not sure what grease to use. I tried it with bearing grease with only limited success.

When I installed the one currently on there, I put axle grease on both sides. I haven't tried taking the cover off yet. We'll see what happens.

[chuck hahn]

Even if it doesnt come off cleanly you can just use a bead of three bond all the way around ( very thin bead ) and reapply. On my 77 750 there isnt even a stator cover gasket at all..just a bead of three bond and she hasnt leaked in 2 years now. Thing is that in areas that arent subjected to actual oil PRESSURE and just need a seal to prevent leakage, such as the cam covers, the three bond is all that is needed.

[Charlie G]

I read to spray with WD-40, which is what I used.

cg

[SqDancerLynn1]

No problem reusing it. All it takes is a coat of oil, wd40 to make it reusable. BE carefull. Stator cover should have a gasket. IF not someone has left out a thrust washer on the starter idler gear, that could cause an unknown noise

[gbw]

I did the same...sprayed both sides of a new gasket with WD-40 and have reused it many times for several years. Learned that trick here.

[Tom R]

On my '80 GS1100L the valve cover had a chronic leak in front of the cam chain. Apparently from '82 up they put two more bolts in that area to correct it; but just a new gasket on mine, OEM Suzuki or otherwise, wouldn't stop it.
At the start of this season, I hung the old gasket on the wall (used grease when I installed it, so it's still in one piece.), cleaned the surfaces with mineral spirits and used RTV black and no gasket. I rode about 1500 miles this season without a leak from there; but I did find I'm leaking elswhere - probably the o-rings on the head bolts I reused last two times I had the head off.
It's amazing what a big mess a little drip could make; but still, much smaller than the mess I dealt with last year. Nonetheless - I'll have to leave the white pants at home until I get around to fixing the other leak.

[Steve]

Some here have talked about greasing one side of the gasket to make sure it separates, but I'm not sure what grease to use. I tried it with bearing grease with only limited success.

I read to spray with WD-40, which is what I used.

All it takes is a coat of oil, wd40 to make it reusable.

I did the same...sprayed both sides of a new gasket with WD-40 and have reused it many times for several years. Learned that trick here.

Yep, this is one of those few times when WD-40 is THE perfect item to use.

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[ddaniels]

I hope my grease application had the same good effect as WD-40 apparantly has.

[Steve]

As long as it was a very thin layer, it will probably be OK.

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[Dogma]

Yep, this is one of those few times when WD-40 is THE perfect item to use.

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Not doubting, but what makes it so?