Hey Hap, do you still recommend Realgaskets?

[KEITH KRAUSE]

It's been awhile since Hap brought these silicone valve cover gaskets to our attention. At the time he said they seemed to work well as long as they were not torqued down too much. They are re-usable and don't stick to the head, which is a great benefit.
Instead of a private message, I thought I would share this with others who may be interested.
So Hap, do you still recommend them? My questions:
Any leaking? Because the cover bolts are at such a low torque setting,
have you had any problems with them loosening?
Did you use a drop of blue loc-tite or similar to help them stay?
What was the torque setting, something like 2 ft/lbs? My wrench does'nt go that low, so how do I know how much to tighten them? Maybe finger tight and then 1 full turn or ?
Thanks for your time.

[Anonymous]

Um ok.

Um. Did I miss something? I detect a bit of cinnacism.

[moto_dan]

Not to hijack your post to Hap, but I recently installed a Real Gasket on my 1100(16v) and after about 3 weeks it has not leaked a drop. I didn't have a torque wrench that registered down to 9-10 in. lbs. so I went just slightly more than finger tight using a 1/4" drive ratchet. With such a low torque setting I've been concerned about the bolts backing out and need to check them again, but I'm cautiously optimistic at this point. I considered but opted not to use any locktite(blue) with the thoughts that if the bolts did work loose I would reinstall them using either some loctite or a dab of RTV on the head of the bolts. Hope this helps.

[AOD]

i ordered one yesterday...but am still waiting to hear back from real gasket company. hopefully i get it by next week or so.

~Adam

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Re: Um ok.

Um. Did I miss something? I detect a bit of cinnacism.

I don't know how you read my post and thought I was being cynical.
I'm thinking of buying a Realgasket silicone valve cover gasket and I knew Hap has had one on his bike for awhile.
I would like his opinion/evaluation of the gasket.
I also thought others may be interested if it's a good product.

[Hap Call]

Keith, I strongly recommend them still. I do not have one on the 1100 right now because the last time I checked my valves, I picked up the gasket to go clean it, turned around and caught it on the foot peg ... being the bumbling idiot that I am tore it...not an easy thing to do but I accomplished it.

The gasket I replaced it with leaked like a sieve on the way to the Hill Country Ride...I forgot how nice it was to not have a major leak on the front of the bike!

Hap

[Planecrazy]

Re: Um ok.

Um. Did I miss something? I detect a bit of cinnacism.

I don't know how you read my post and thought I was being cynical.
I'm thinking of buying a Realgasket silicone valve cover gasket and I knew Hap has had one on his bike for awhile.
I would like his opinion/evaluation of the gasket.
I also thought others may be interested if it's a good product.

I thought you were being cynical too -- the post read as though you expected Hap's gasket to leak ... glad to hear that the way it read wasn't the way it was meant. Also glad to hear that the product seems to work!

Regards,
Steve 8)

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Wow. It's amazing how words can be missunderstood when you don't have the benefit of sound. We all interpret things differently. I've always tried to not offend someone.
After re-reading my first post, I still don't see it.
Maybe I should use more smilies? :?

[redliner1973]

I don't see it...??? :twisted:

[Planecrazy]

For me, I think it was the title that "set the tone" for my expectations ... I read it, "Hey Hap, do you STILL recommend Realgaskets?" even though that's not how you wrote it. After that, I kinda made the rest fit (in my mind) the way I thought you were presenting it...

You're right, it makes a huge difference when you can't hear or see the person whose making the comment -- plus, many of us newbies don't know the past history between you and Hap, although I DID read the heated thread about torque wrenches and as I recall, Keith was one of the participants with a "strong" point of view. That also set me up to misinterpret this post.

Anyway, sh!t happens...

Regards,
Steve 8)

[Anonymous]

To me, it just seemed an honest question. I was surprised about the question of cynicism.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

The thing about the torque wrenches still bothers me, but only because I'm a bit ashamed of how I reacted.
That's the only time I ever had a problem regarding one of my posts.
Water under the bridge.

[Anonymous]

Hap,

Silicone valve cover gasket? cool! What's your source?

Kurt Worden

[dpep]

I very much want one for each of my GS's. Unfortunately they don't have them for the 8-valve heads as yet. I have asked them to let me know as soon as they are available.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I very much want one for each of my GS's. Unfortunately they don't have them for the 8-valve heads as yet. I have asked them to let me know as soon as they are available.

They have a valve cover gasket for my 8 valve '79 1000.
Their list say's '78-'80 GS1000.