CX500 GL500 650 Global

Some of you may have read some of my posts on the other site, but for a quick rundown: I replaced my original engine with another, but this donor needs the bottom (front cover, clutch cover, and cam cover) gaskets replaced. I'm waiting for the cam cover oil seal to get mailed to me, but once I get them all I have a question for all of you. Do you use liquid gasket along with the actual gasket, or do you just put the gasket on by itself? I read on the Elsham site they recommend using a liquid goo to position the gasket before installation, but on another site I read that you shouldn't use the liquid goo due to it clogging oil passages. I've always used the goo along with the gasket on my truck, but don't have much experience with motorcycles.

Another question: For adjusting the clutch, what does the manual mean by "free play"? I was told by one of you (I'm sorry, I forget who gave me this tip) that the clutch arm should rest in about the 8 oclock position when properly adjusted.

I use a spray gasket sealer mad e by Prematex. It's called HighTack. It works great and does not squeeze excess sealer into the motor due to it being a spray on sealer. You can get it at most auto stores.

It was me with the clutch free play. The original post about the 8:00 o-clock position is on the Rob Davis site. It just shows that when all the clearances are correct in the clutch, the lever where the cable attaches to actuate the clutch, sits at the 8 o-clock position. The only way to change it is inside, not with the cable adjustments. I had to add shims to get mine back to the correct position. The clutch lever work much smoother now.
Just see where yours is when you get it back together!

So my clutch lever should rest at 8 oclock w/o the clutch cable attached? I just went back and read the post you sent me on the other site, where did you get your shims and what kind where they? Just basic, hardware store washers? Thanks for the quick reply, I'm hoping the mailman brings me a nice present tomorrow, maybe this time tomorrow I might have a working bike!

The shims were just washers that were wide enough for the spring to sit on all the way, and if I remember right, they were about .060 thousandths thick. That could be more or less depending on what you clutch needs after you get the gaskets installed and measure the location of the actuating lever. I cant find the Robs link that someone showed me, but I'll look more when I have time.
Larry

LRCXed wrote:I use a spray gasket sealer mad e by Prematex. It's called HighTack.

++ on the Hi-Tack. I love the stuff - won't leave home without it. Note: When you get it all over your hands (I always do), expect to get some funny looks at the liquor store

I've neve used it but it looks good.I've seen a ,"Copper" version over here that lloks good so might treat myself.I usually use Blue Hylomar or in exreme cases red Heremetite.

Ah yes, the spray copper - love the stuff, works stellar on all cork gaskets, great with paper/fiber, and steel gaskets, but hard to control film thickness - very gooey stuff - could probably booger some stuff up if your not careful.
I've also used it on steel shim head gaskets in automotive applications - both sides. On my old 10 1/2 to compression dodge engine I got carried away with the stuff and put so much on the steel head gaskets that the stuff started running down the block once it got hot - had no issues though - held tight for years of rather heinous beatings until she finally gulped a valve.

I've dressed head gaskets with the copper spray, too. I don't know that it's for other gaskets, though.

If I remember correctly, the pre-gummed OEM gaskets are meant to be mounted dry.

R

Last year there was someone on CC's site that had had some Copper Head gaskets made I think.I'd still be interested in these but of course the initial outlay would be high to get patterns made etc.I like the idea of re-usable hed gaskets like on my old Norton e.g you can re-anneal them.A standard head gasket set here in the UK is at least around £35/$70+ .If you got one re-use out of them they would be worth it for de-cokes?

thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and made my own clutch cover gasket, and got an OEM front cover gasket. I put both of these on along with some Permatex Flexible gasket goo on both sides of each. My "DIY" gasket didn't look perfect, there's a little bit of overhang inside and outside. Should I try to trim either or is it ok for it to be a little oversize? Also, my torque wrench only goes down to 10 ft/lbs, and I think I read that all those small 8mm cover bolts should be at 6 ft/lbs? So...do I need to go out an get myself another torque wrench, or can I snug to bolts down using the smallest wrench I have? I somehow lost my oil drain plug, so I'm going to have to take the one off my original engine, unless I find it in the driveway. That's one of the drawbacks of not having space to work, unless I take my time and go extremely slow, I tend to misplace things. I know, I should go slow every time, but sometimes you forget, right?