Tappit cover gasket

[skippyc]

Does anybody put anything on these gaskets when replacing them?

[Tony Smith]

I used to smear a small quantity of non-hardening "Aviation Form a Gasket" onto the cylinder head mating surface so that the gasket would be "encouraged" to remain in place when the tappet cover was removed for maintainance.

More recently I've bought several sets of silicone gaskets which are better taken off and cleaned, but essentially last forever.

The reason I bought a few sets was that I had leaks. I traced the source of the leaks to a lack of rigidity in my cylinder heads that have been extensively ported prior to my ownership. The initial "cure" was to put two standard cork gaskets on each side. I later discovered that the silicone gasket maker was happy to cut me a set of gaskets from thicker material, hence my return to silicone gaskets.

[Kookaburra]

The silicon gaskets (viton) are great particularly if your head/cover  surfaces are at all warped (which mine were). They really last if the care instructions are followed ie wash gaskets in detergent and clean metal surfaces with mineral turps to remove oil traces.

[Barry]

Mine are firmly stuck to the cylinder head which as Tony says is a good thing. Is it possible they are like the sump gaskets where there is a heat activated adhesive on one side  ? 

If the mating surfaces are flat there isn't any need to routinely replace them. Mine are at least 12 years old and it wouldn't surprise me if they are the originals as the bike came to me with only 6000 miles.

[Matt Chapter]

I have the silicone gaskets and they're great + reusable.  However my head surfaces are warped, which caused leaks, which is why I bought them.

I also believe there is a heat activated adhesive like Barry says, but I also bet that if Barry got his off they would crumble in his hands!  The stock gaskets don't survive many off and on exercises.

[skippyc]

I tried to reuse the ones on it but they had been over tightened and leaked a bit. I didn't have the wave washers as well. I have the gaskets that come in a moto binns service kit, so i will stick one side on and see how i go.
Thanks.