valve covers

[aarm]

Hi All,

I brought my 83 R65 to get a tuneup (carbs rebuilt among other things) from a local recommened shop.  Long story short when they set the valves, the valve cover threads stripped.  They put insert threads in but now the covers weep a lot of oil.  

They are saying they think the valve covers are warped, but it didn't leak before.  Is it likely?  If so.  where would be a good resource for valve covers?  I just want to see their cost versus web cost.

Thanks for any input.

Aaron

[Bob_Roller]

The covers don't normally warp, the mating surface on the cylinder head usually is the culprit .

You may want to try two paper valve cover gaskets on each side, instead of one .

Having the threads strip out on the center stud is fairly common, they get over tightened and the threads pull out .

[aarm]

Thanks for the input Bob.  As opposed to a paper gasket would a rubberized one be in order instead?  

Also I know someone mentioned a few good part's places on the web for items like covers and gaskets.  Any recommendations?

[Bob_Roller]

Rubber gaskets should work, as long as they are thicker than the paper gaskets .

[Barry]

The valve covers are quite substantial and I would have thought very unlikely to warp. I would want to check them myself and while it could have been a previous owner that overtightened things you have to wonder if the local shop understood that the valve cover nuts should be barely more than hand tight. The valve covers don't normally leak when they are so lightly tightened nor do they come loose but you need to have some experience with airheads to know that and maybe the shop didn't.

[aarm]

Barry.  I've thought the same thing myself.  But that said this is a BMW / Ducati only shop though.  They've been speciallizing in them at this location for almost 10 years.  They are one of 2 highly recommend BMW shops that I've seen in the Portland Area.  It could have been an honest mistake or something from the previous owner.  Hard to say at this point.  Either way I'm going there this afternoon to check and see what the next step is.

Bob - What is the corrective action if the cylinder head is the issue?  Take it off and remachine or replace?

[montmil]

If the valve cover was not leaking when you brought the bike in for service and the "mechanic" screwed the pooch and your bike, it's their responsibility to fix it properly. Don't buy the warped valve cover excuse. They may have even messed up the Helicoil job and now the valve cover will not seat properly.

Me? I'd definitely discuss this with the shop owner. Give him the opportunity to fix it to the owner's satisfaction -that be you- or tell the shop owner you will file on them for damages. Then follow up on it. Smart shops usually have insurance to cover f**kups like this.

BTW, Don't share this with the shop owner, but the small, threaded valve cover studs can be double-nutted and removed. A warped valve cover, or a "true" cover, can be easily detected on a piece of flat glass. Save this tidbit for later if you need it.  

[aarm]

I'm not sure I'm ready to bust out the law suit card, but I will have a chat with him about it.  I'm a little at a loss as I don't know this bike that well, since I just bought it, but I do know it wasn't leaking.  Thanks for the input everyone.

[Matt Chapter]

Last time I did my valve job, I figured I'd replace the gaskets because they were weeping a little.  Naturally with the new gaskets they leaked a lot more.

So, I doubled up the gaskets.  If I'd known I was going to double them up I might have tried to reuse the old ones, but gaskets are cheap compared to the pleasure of not having motor oil dripping on my garage floor (from the valve covers, at least).

What changed to cause the new gaskets to leak more? I dunno, I was gentle with the valve covers, perhaps the gaskets weren't seat correctly or maybe they needed some oil to expand..

One day, maybe next valve job, I'll try monte's glass trick and see who's warped.

[tvrla]

The center stud isn't really needed to seal the cover. I've seen them go thousands of miles with the center stud missing and no leaks. So that's not the problem.

Sometimes the gaskets leak at first and I think they need to get good and hot to seal up well. If there's oil on the mating surface, the gasket can stick and then they won't leak, but you'll have a helluva time getting the cover off next time!

Normal practice is to oil one side and keep the other clean. These gaskets are pretty hard material, so it may be necessary to heat them up well, get the hot oil sloshing around in there and they'll seal up. Give em a little time.

[aarm]

Again.  I appreciate everyone's insight.  This group is a nice resource to have.  I think a combination of doubling up the gaskets and a good ride may seal them right up.  If that's not the case then onward and upward.  I'll let you all know how it turns out.

[marcmax]

I installed a set of silicone valve cover gaskets a few years ago and haven't leaked a drop since. They were a little pricey at first but they have been on and off at least a dozen times and still seal as good as new.

[nhmaf]

I'm actually missing the center acorn nut on one of my valve covers, and it doesn't leak, so the center nut is really not required for leak-proof installation.   (I've got replacement on order - I had put some anti-seize on the threads, and not tightened it up much to avoid pulling the center stud, and apparently it wasn't tight enough to stay put and vibrated off).

I've got the standard BMW gaskets on my R65, but was having oil weeping issues on my R100/7, which I suspect has slightly warped head surfaces.   I ordered a set of the Real Gaskets for it and it has sealed things up nicely without leaks - these gaskets are a bit thicker and made of squishy silicone, so they can better handle imperfections in mating surfaces.   You do still have to be careful about overtightening, as they are squishier and therefore have more "give" than normal gaskets.
http://www.realgaskets.com/files/motorcycle.htm#bmw

[montmil]

... I ordered a set of the Real Gaskets for it and it has sealed things up nicely without leaks - these gaskets are a bit thicker and made of squishy silicone...

Are they still a pink color? I noticed an Airhead at a bike joint in the Hill Country with the silicone rocker box gaskets. Certainly stood out.

[nhmaf]

They have a new part number now which is black.  They still have the original kinda orange-y ones too.  Maybe that Texas sun bleached out the ones that you saw - or perhaps it was one too many Shiner Bocks?  ;-)