Back up a bit to the first week in February 2015. I had just completed a ring job and a cylinder head swap to later model R65 heads.
New valve cover gaskets were installed and off we go for a gentle test ride. Well,
kinda gentle.
Back in the shop an hour later I noticed oil drips from both valve covers. Off with their heads... covers and gaskets.
Double-nut on the valve cover studs for removal and placed each cover on a machinist's granite set-up plate. Both covers were "high" along a stud-to-stud line -allowing a rocking motion on the plate. A sheet of this ne- fangled red 3M wet/dry in 150 grit was taped to the granite and both rocker boxes were sanded flat using a figure-8 sanding motion. Both came out dead flat.
Although I've previously used gasket sealer on the OEM valve cover gaskets, I don't like doing this. Always fearful a small string of squeeze out might find its way into a crankcase oil passage. But just to be sure of no leaks during the initial engine break-in period, I added the lightest smear of goop to both sides. No leaks but both gaskets were damaged when the boxes came off for a recheck of head torque and valve lash.
Now to my gasket review... finally.
Most are aware of the REAL Gaskets Tennessee products. Manufactured primarily for recip aircraft engines but some gaskets available for motorcycles. Only issue I've had with them is that they are pink. Now that in itself is not a bad thing but a pink line around the rocker box and cylinder head is not the color accent I wanted. Checking back to their website reveals the Airhead gaskets are now available in black silicone.
http://realgaskets.com/The silicone gaskets are slightly thinner than the stock BMW gaskets. Fit is spot on. Head and cover surfaces must be dry. Kept a weather-eye on the silicone gaskets and there is no sign of a seep, weep nor leak.
Not particularly cheap at $29.00/pair plus postage but they are reusable by washing with hot, soapy water and allowed to dry completely before refit. The way I've been going through the OEM 'cardboard' gaskets, I'll pay for these in a very short time.
Rated [smiley=thumbup.gif] [smiley=thumbup.gif]
