Replace cylinder head cover gaskets?

Gonna be checking valve clearances on my '95 w/ 17K miles. Are the cylinder head cover gaskets usually shot and need replacement? If so, I'll just order 'em ahead of time.

 

At almost 20 years old it is a good idea to replace. My two pennies.

 

The gasket is a big thick rubber packing that functions more like an o-ring than a paper gasket. i've pulled many covers on old bikes and never found a bad one or saw a need to replace the packing, but using fresh rubbers is always a good idea.

 

Thanks fellas, I'll take a look at them and see what I think. I know it's good preventative maintenance to just replace old rubber, but this sh*# is starting to add up . . .
On another note, I just pulled the carbs for a thorough cleaning. The mice had a nice stash of corn for the winter in the airbox.
The bike has been sitting for a couple years and I don't think the bowls were emptied, so I was thinking of soaking them in some Berryman's that I have. I've cleaned old Suzuki GS carbs before w/ just carb cleaner and ended up doing them again w/Berrymans because the regular carb cleaner didn't do the trick. Waddaya think?

 

I think that is taking the ethanol argument just a bit too far :triumphant:

 

http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanics-garage/22449-cleaning-carbs.html

 

I think it is aboot time Honda put a "mouse in air box" sensor on the VFR.

 

Thanks, the humor does me good!
The intake boots or "isolators" are very firm - not rock hard, but not really all that flexible. Anyone know if brand new ones are more "rubbery"? At over $100 for the set, I don't want to spend the money if that's just the way they are even when new. Thanks.
BTW Toecutter, how in the hell did you get that name???

 

You can take "Winter Green" and mix 25% with Toluene and then soak the manifolds(isolators) in the mixture for several hours. 3-6 I think. Just keep checking them every hour or so. This will make the manifolds as soft as they were new. It will last at least a year that I know of. It worked for me that way. Check the web for many ways to do this. It works good.

I never replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 83. Still worked good at 28 years and 66k miles.

 

Thanks Grey. I recall reading about the wintergreen elixir somewhere in my internet travels. I'll do a bit of research on that.