Getting ready to do valve clearance check.  Manual says when reassembling the valve cover to coat the edges with Suzuki Bond 1207B.........

This crap costs like $20 a tube!!!!

A) what is it?
B) what else will work/do the same thing?  (some say permatex RTV blue)
C) do you really need it at all (on my honda, there is an o-ring type gasket which seals just fine without any goop!

D) where my mechanic put on some goop on the right engine cover on my honda, it all flaked off and got into the oil and collected and clogged the oil screen!!!


Cookie

I didn't use any thing on the GS valve cover gaskets for years but stuck the gasket on the cover with the old non-hardening green Permatex the last couple of times just to make reassembly easier.  No problem either way but my old arthritic hands are not as handy as they once were and it's a bit hard to get the cover and gasket into place without sticking them together now.

Suzuki Bond is a type of FIPG (form in place gasket).  It is similar to the Permatex RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) sealer found at most auto parts store but seems to be a bit harder and seals better (opinion).  I have had good luck with Toyota's black FIPG on my bikes.  The sealer just fills in any imperfections in the head from when the cam holes were bored.  If you assemble without any sealer and don't see any oil leaking out of the half moon corners in the gasket, then you are ok.

-Jessie

I've had my valve cover off a few times and never had a problem reusing the old gasket.

Quote from: jeremy_nash on December 19, 2010, 07:18:50 PM
I've had my valve cover off a few times and never had a problem reusing the old gasket.

Did you put on MORE SUzuki Bond?  Or did you just put the cover back on with the old gasket still in place with no new goop?

Cookie

Sometimes the gaskets will harden and its obvious that they need replacing. Sometimes they appear serviceable but leak after being disturbed. You have to consider the the manual is aimed at dealers.......and they don't want people bringing their bikes back after top end work with a leaking gasket. The use of sealant is a precautionary recommendation and despite its cost dealers will have plenty of the stuff hanging around.

If the gasket appears sound and there is no signs of leakage there is no reason not to go with it. If you feel the need to use a sealer stick with the semi-hardening types and dont use silicon based sealers, you dont want hardened "blobs and strings" of the stuff clogging up the inside of your engine.

Quote from: sledge on December 20, 2010, 04:09:53 AM
dont use silicon based sealers, you dont want hardened "blobs and strings" of the stuff clogging up the inside of your engine.

+1
I bought a nice little Ducati Desmo single years ago, got it cheap because someone had used silicone sealant as a cylinder base gasket. The oilway to the valve gear was full of sealant and the top end was f..ked.

Nothing worse than someone who ...THINKS... he knows what he is doing. I wonder if the same muppet used Hylomar to stop his khasi leaking