Changing valve cover gasket

[ny_redneck04]

Just a short question for hopefully an easy job..I have a small leak from the valve cover gasket on my gs1100 gk ,,my question is can i just pill the 19 bolts and replace the gasket or is there more to it that im not aware of?? thanks for any replies in advance

[Steve]

You also have to remove the breather cover that is on top of the valve cover. It's just another 4 bolts to remove that one.

Not sure about your GK, but you might have to do something with the fairing brackets if they are in the way. I have never had to work on one, so I don't know.

When you get your gasket, make sure you get the right one. Earlier bikes had 16-bolt covers, later ones had 19-bolt covers. The GKs might all be new enough to have 19-bolt covers, but again, I don't know for sure. I just know that I had to do some quick scrambling to find a 19-bolt cover for our '82 850. 8-[

The next time you go to pull the valve cover, try to make sure the gasket stays with the engine, not the cover. Clearance is rather minimal trying to slide the cover out the side, and the gasket might get snagged on the cam chain tower. If it stays with the engine, the cover is thinner by the thickness of the gasket, and the gasket will not get torn.


.

[Mark M]

When you get the new gasket, if it is an OEM paper type, smear a thin layer of grease (I used white lithium grease) on both sides of the gasket before you install it. This helps prevent it from sticking to one side or the other and reduces the chances of tearing it.

Mark

[chef1366]

I use gasket tack on the head side and grease the valve cover side so you can pull the cover off several times. The gasket sticks to the head so you don't tear it while trying to clear the cam sprockets.
I've had my cover off ten times or more with the same gasket.