Reuse Valve Cover Gasket?

[Huked]

This will be try #2 . I posted this question already, but showed my stupid and said head gasket not valve cover gasket. My bad, so here we go again.

 

 

I know I should change them out with new ones, But something went wrong with the ones I ordered. I need to move and got to get the bike back up and running to move it. If I use some good high temp black, anyone think I have a chance of getting it sealed well? the gaskets look good still.

 

Ok, so thanks for any help this updated post may get me.

[Flyinfool]

There is a good chance that you can reuse the valve cover gaskets. They are rubber and therefore are reusable. The only issue will be how old are they and are they dried out and cracking. If they are still the original gaskets they might be to old to reuse. The black RTV might work for a while but it will not be long before the cracked come thru again.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

I reused them on my first gen..... one leaked one did not

[cowpuc]

You really need to pick up a tube of YamaBond #5 . The stuff is AMAZING for use in exactly what you are facing Huke. I now use it exclusively in any application where rubber and metal are being restored. It is far superior to silicone sealents IMHO. After attempting to repair Diaphrams with many other products I finally found YamaBond #5 . Its sealing capibilities are INCREDIBLE and the seal bonding between rubber/rubber - rubber/metal is second to none. Also, unlike using some other products - it does not dry hard so removing the repair for future repairs is not to bad.

If I were wanting to do what you are talking about doing I would clean up the old rubber gaskets real well with carb or brake cleaner. I would also clean the aluminum joining surfaces real well with the same - all that stuff HAS to be oil free and dry.. Then I would take some YamaBond 5 and lightly coat the entire rubber gasket with it (YamaBond 5 is REAL fluidy when first comes out of tube - doing this is simple) - let the gasket dry. Then coat the rubber gaskets sealing joint with a little heavier coat of the 5 and put it together..

A word of advise,, no matter what you use please be caustious about over application. IMHO - you really do not want to end up with any form of sealer being pushed in the cam cavity and finding its way into the oil system - not a good thing..