Gasket or RTV?

For the alternator and crankcase covers, could I get away with using black RTV? It's not that I'm trying to be cheap, but I simply can't find the gaskets for sale online. They are either out of stock, or selling them in an entire engine gasket set. I don't want to pay $100+ for two paper gaskets.

 

You can make the gaskets yourself, the gasket paper is available at auto parts stores such as NAPA. Place the paper on a flat surface. Apply a thin film of grease to the gasket surface of the cover. Place the cover on the paper and press down to make a pattern. Another method is to place the cover on the paper dry and use a wood block and hammer on the cover to make an impression in the paper. Use a hole punch (got mine from Harbor Freight a long time ago, saw some on EBay recently, Grainger has them) to cut out the screw holes, use an Xacto knife to cut out the gasket.

 

for the love of god man, if you're going to do a repair, do it right, and do it right the 1st time. Honda used gaskets for a reason. don't cheap out and use RTV where you should be using a gasket.

if you need to find gaskets, you can use Motorcycle Parts, Discount Honda Motorcycle, ATV, Watercraft Parts, Honda Accessories, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki Bikes, Polaris Parts - ServiceHonda.com or PowerSportsPro - 22% OFF & $6.99 Shipping Honda Motorcycle Parts & Kawasaki, Suzuki & Yamaha Parts to find them. OR, creaky has a good point, in that if you have time and patience, purpose made bulk/stock gasket material can be cut with a good sharp blade and effectively used.

 

There is a huge difference between cheaping out, and spending $150 on a kit I only need one gasket from. If it were an internal engine gasket, I wouldn't even question it. But for something as trivial as a crank cover plate? However, thank you for the link. Ill try creaky's method first, as I hate waiting for the mail man.

 

I've found that Yamabond sealant works even better than black RTV Viro. My Ducati 900SS doesn't have any gaskets at all on the engine and the Yamabond sealant seals up those cases tight as a drum. No leaks,no drips,no errors. I picked up a tube at my local Honda dealer.

 

+1 On the Yamabond, I have used it for years and is the very best in my opinion.

 

I do this all the time you can actually mark and cut the gasket with the ball end of a good ball peen hammer

 

Viro, I asked exactly the same question a few months back when I replaced the stator cover on my Hayabusa. I couldn't find any hard facts supporting the idea that you have to use a gasket so I just used generic Advance Autoparts black RTV and it sealed perfectly, no problems whatoever, even in this rediculous Texas heat that's making the bike run hot enough to start the fan.

 

I ended up just getting the gasket, since I had to go to the store anyway to try on helmets. I ended up spending $15 on the thing. Won't ever do that again, though. RTV for those simple, outer casings.