Valve cover gasket $20-$30 WTF?

[tussey]

Why is my local shop charging $30 for the valve cover gasket and bikebandit wants $20+SH



What's a reasonable price to pay?

[beRto]

Why is my local shop charging $30 for the valve cover gasket and bikebandit wants $20+SH



What's a reasonable price to pay?

It's a rubber gasket that is only replaced every 30,000 miles or so (per gsJack). $30 is probably reasonable. Are you sure you can't reuse your existing gasket?

[tussey]

It's leaking all around the cover, don't know why.

[kml.krk]

have you tried any "gasket sealant"?
If you just put the gasket back on the head cover it may not seal properly without the sealant.

Or if you have done this not right once you may have pinched the gasket and damaged it  then you'll have to replace it.

Just throwing some ideas. I'm not a pro tho 

good luck

[DoD#i]

It's leaking all around the cover, don't know why.

Examine the rubber - if too old, it may have cracks (more visible if you bend it).

You can get leaks from surfaces not clean.

You can get leaks from too loose. However, and perhaps more common, you can also get leaks from too tight - you see a leak, you crank up the bolts, the cover deforms, the leak gets worse...

You probably can get at least one more use from even a poor gasket if you clean it up well and use RTV gasket-maker on both sides when assembling.

[Kasumi]

Yup as all have said, you can reuse even some old nasty gaskets if you clean them up (not with PARAFIN!!!!) and use lots of gasket sealant. You can even combine a gasket with special gasket in a tube which is like a thick gel you can put in place of a gasket, you put a bead round abit like you would with silicone sealant then you put the cover on tighten down to correct settings and wipe away any excess that leaked out. It will go rubberlike and seal.

[Trwhouse]

Hi there,
I disagree with the last poster.
If it is leaking, don't try to seal an old beat up rubber gasket with RTV.
Just replace it. Try another dealer if you want to pay less, but you may spend more in gas to get it elsewhere than to just buy it.
You should use a bit of gasket sealer (see the SuzukiBond at the dealership) but only on the side of the gasket that touches the valve cover. You don't want to put the sealant onto the top of the cylinder head because it will be hard to remove later.
The problem with using too much sealant is that it will ooze into the engine, too, and will clog up small oil passages. That's NOT something you want to happen.
Also be sure to use some sealant on the rubber cam  end caps that are part of the gasket so they don't leak.
It's very easy to pinch the new gasket and ruin it when installing it, so go slowly, seal the new one to the valve cover so it stays in position, then reassemble it all carefully.
When you get it right, there will be no more leaks.
The gaskets are reusable several times.
Best of luck,
Trwhouse

[tussey]

It's a rubber gasket that is only replaced every 30,000 miles or so (per gsJack). $30 is probably reasonable. Are you sure you can't reuse your existing gasket?
[/quote]

Well my bike does have 31,000 miles on it. Don't know it PO replaced it.

[werase643]

how much is the shipping and handling on a $20 part?

[mullethunter3]

Bike Bandit shipping is generally $7.95.

[werase643]

so you will save 2 bucks and help slowly kill a local dealership


go for it

[DoD#i]

so you will save 2 bucks and help slowly kill a local dealership

..plus, you get to wait several days. Frick's sake, dealer is just not a bad option when you need one of something, now, unless they are WAY overpriced on that something (ie, $120 batteries you can find elsewhere for $37 or whatever). Mine came in under BB on a sprocket, shipping included. Had they been a couple bucks over, I'd have been OK with that, for the ability to get it NOW.

...and your smarter dealers don't charge $120 for a battery, either.

[The Buddha]

Correct dood #1 ... not every dealer deserves to live, neither does every junkyard. If you cant find it cheaper on ebay with the huge handicap of shipping added on ... then they have a good price.
Having said that, I routinely buy jets from the local clowns, but they also do and get me exactly what I say, and dont BS me. I am in the position to call them, and tell them get me 1 pack of this 2 of that and they dont ask me for credit card and BS, my jet ordering calls are under 1-2 mins via cell phone when driving to work. I go to pick it up and they get my card number etc etc etc ...
If they were to nickel and dime me, I'd find another, or I'd put sudco on my speed dial ... or just someone who does what I say.
Maybe the werase has a good stealer too ... maybe a carolina thing. OK forget it, I know its not. There is atleast 3 terrible ones in town.
Cool.
Buddha.

[CyberEye]

It's 15.65 @ www.cheapcycleparts.com

I paid 12 bucks at the suzuki dealership for mine.