79 R65 Oil Pan Gasket Change Question?

[farmer]

Replacing oil pan gasket on my 79 R65 which is leaking. Can anyone tell me if I also use gasket sealer and which kind is best?

Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

Yes, you can use a sealant, just about any automotive oil resistant RTV ( room temperature vulcanizing) sealant will work, just a thin 'skin' of sealant on the gasket will do.

[rl900]

Be very careful using RTV silicone around any pressure fed oil system.  When tightening the mating faces, excess RTV can be squeezed out internally.  This will cure and can be circulated in the oil system to block oil passages in plain bearings.

I prefer to use an anaerobic sealant such as Loctite 518 Gasket Maker.  This will not cure in the presence of air so any squeezed out will dissolve in the oil and be removed in the next oil change.

[Ed Miller]

The Airlist gurus, especially Tom Cutter, reccomend no sealant, just install the gasket onto very clean parts.  I haven't done that job myself.

[drewboid]

No sealant but go to realgasket.com for their silicone gaskets - thicker and red but work very well and are reusable.  

Drew Daniels
R69/2 - LS200
R75/6
R65
R1100R

[Bob_Roller]

I had some leftover sealant from working on my first bike, a '79 Yamaha XS 400, it was called Yamabond, I put that on some gaskets on the R65, and had to fight to get the parts apart when the time came.

I don't know if Yamabond is still available, but take my word for it, don't use it !!!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

No one has mentioned it yet, so I will.

It is very easy to over-tighten the bolts that hold the pan on.  they will strip!!!
If you don't want to go to the trouble of getting an INCH/POUND torque wrench, then use one of the stubby ratchet handles, or a 1/4" "screwdriver"-type handle socket holder to tighten them down.

Slowly go back and forth in criss-cross patterns, as the new gasket compresses.

You will have to go around the pan several times before all of the bolts are up to torque value.

When I replace mine, I will probably install it dry.

[Justin B.]

I put a slight smear of Hylomar (mainly just to keep the gasket from sliding around too much) and I always swap in socket-head stainless bolts.  I then use a "nut-driver" handle with an allen bit to tighten - not much way of getting too much torque with this form of wrench...

[MrRiden]

I installed mine dry on very clean surfaces degreased with brake cleaner. BMW OEM gasket with the printed side up. The "realgasket" silly cone model squirms around a bit once it gets seasoned so I went for the standard type. After all how often do you drop the pan? As for the valve covers, I'm in there quite a bit and I do like the silicone gaskets in that application. Like others have said 'easy on the torque'!
rich
who may or may not have buffed his oil pan to a high sheen.