1986 Rear Valve/Cam Cover

I noticed some oil smelly stuff running onto my rear/side fairings (ones that cover the Battery and coolant overflow)

...anyways I noticed the rear cam cover/valve cover is wet. Not too bad but enough that it's making everything around it wet too.

What is involved with replacing the gasket on this part?
Is it difficult?

Will a kit come with one side or both? Does it include gasket for the spark plug tubes?

Thanks in advance!

 

Here's a parts fiche ...

Hello:

A good look at this should answer your question:

honda cylinder head cover partsmanual fiche vf500f 500 interceptor


Gray Market

 

Sweet...thanks!

For anyone that has done this before, will I need anything besides the Gasket? Do I need new bolts?

Will I need to remove anything besides the Gas tank to get access to the rear valve cover?

 

Been a while ...

Hello:

It has been a while since I took a look at this thread. Since then, I've learned a thing or two. The only problem is that I have absolutely no idea if this applies to YOUR bike. I'm simply not that familiar with your bike.

However, on mine, I had to remove the carbs in order to get the rear valve cover off. Oh, I could have loosened the entire sub frame, but I had to take the carbs off anyway (long story).

So, I replaced the gaskets and I replaced the little gaskets which are associated with the valve cover bolts. No, I see no reason why you'd have to replace those bolts, assuming they are not cross-threaded or something like that.

Sure enough, I f__ked up re-installing the rear valve cover. It leaked oil. So, I had to take the whole damn thing off again and re-seat the valve cover gasket (my bad).

Hope this info is helpful.

Gray Market

 

If your rear valve cover gasket is not split, you don't need to replace the gasket!

90% of the time, the oil leak is caused by the rubber washers under the chrome washers losing their "squishiness" and fail to compress the valve cover to the gasket with enough pressure.

The valve cover bolts bottom out in the head so the only thing putting pressure on the gasket is the rubber washer being compressed.

The fix is simple and cheap. Take yourself to the hardware store and buy some hose washers ($1.00). Since you are there, get enough for 8 bolts (in case the front valve cover starts leaking0.

Now remove the valve cover bolt and the chrome washer. Place the hose washer on top of the rubber washer and replace the chrome washer and bolt. The chrome washer will hide the hose washer. Don't overtighten the bolt. The gasket should not be more than "slightly" bulging if at all.

I have personally used this on my previous bike for at least 3 years/thousands of miles and never had a problem. It is a common fix that has been around for many years.

 

What Mason said plus. The valve cover gasket is neoprene. Take it out of the cover and clean gasket and groove in the cover real good. Lacquer thinner or what ever. Then apply a LITTLE sealer to the gasket part that fits in to the cover. Once the gasket is in turn the cover over on a flat surface and put your weight on it to squeeze any sealant out to make sure the gasket fits tight. Clean the face of the gasket and head surface before putting it back on. Without the sealant in the cover oil will works it's way around the gasket eventually and make a mess. Wipe any excess seal off the inside of the cover. Keeps it out of the oil system.

 

having had the valve covers off of my own bike, i can say that youre lucky that its the rear cover that you need to work with, as its the easier of the 2. you can re-use the old bolts that are there to begin with, and replacing the gasket is quite easy once you get to the cover and actually get it off.

it wouldnt be a bad idea to take this opportunity to replace the spark plugs too.

 

I disagree with GreyVF750F.

The valve cover gasket does not need any sealant. And the chance of a piece of sealant getting into the oil and clogging the oil pickup filter/bolts/lines is too great for me to do it. No sense in aggravating an already low oil situation if you don't have to.

 

That's why I said "apply a LITTLE sealer". In the factory Honda manual Section #10 pg 146 of the Cylinder Head/Valve section it says "Apply sealant to the cylinder cover gasket." From previous experience I've had it weep (oil film) around the cover and head. I used an Anaerobic (Permatex)sealer just on the outside edge of the gasket (very little) If it does squeeze a little it will just barely go over the ridge edge of the gasket , but not past the inside edge and outside of the cover. It will work either way. Plus the gasket is stuck to the cover. Easier on and off. Just another way of doing it.

 

Well with mine, I bought it with carbs off. PO said it would run with clean carbs, so the carbs are being cleaned. Meanwhile I am taking NO risks. Checking fluids, cleaning cooling sys, checking all electrical yada yada yada... Seriously my wife said don't buy anything that doesn't run and well..... I got somethin to prove. But I digress. Personaly, I agree with no sealant on the gasket. If it leaks, check all the rubber around the affected area and replace anything that raises a question. (Apperently easier said than done) I have adequate skills with a wrench and have no problems removing anything in my way to make life easier, especialy in this situation. (86VF00f as well)

 

Holy thread revival, Batman.

 

Oh gosh look at that date. 2yrs and some months. Ya think he's got it?

 

Well, I was doing just this very thing a couple of days ago and I snapped one of the bolts off. Oops. If I remove the cam? that the bolt is stuck in, (in order to extract the broken bolt), will I have to readjust the cam when it goes back on? Or is the bolt just stuck into a cam cover?