Clutch Cover Gasket

After cleaning the bike I was able to find my oil leak. Removing the clutch cover confirmed my suspicions... cracked gasket. New one is coming soon. I've removed the old gasket from the cover w/razor blade and cleaned with brake cleaner. What is the best way to glue the gasket to the cover? I have a tube of RTV hanging around...

I'm pumped... assuming this fixes my oil leak, my XJ600S will be 99%! Still have the damned mystery noise at 4.5k lol.

I've heard so many ways of installing these things... I think Rickomatic recommended elmers glue, I've heard of people using rtv, and I think I read someone on hear swearing by some kind of tacky spray on stuff. Thanks for the help.

 

I use Elmer's Glue to secure the Cam Cover Gasket to the Cam Cover by using a Carb Cleaner Red Tube to spread the Glue in the Gasket Lip holding channel.

Clutch Gaskets get RTV Black.
The Clutch Gasket gets a smear of RTV on the Case Cover side then gets positioned on the Cover and perfectly aligned.

Then I smear a bead around the whole seam -- Covoer to Gasket.

Once that cures, ...

I smear the Case Side of the Gasket and the Case Mating Surface.
Put it all together. Nice.

Remove excess with Razor Blade.

 

Hi Rick,

My manual didn't specify the color of RTV to use... I poked around and a bit and picked up a tube of red (I think that's for high temp applications). Can I use this instead of the black? I read something online in another forum that black is oil resistant... is this true? After reading so many of your posts, I trust your opinion more than random internet guy's. Thanks!

 

I don't know.
I only buy the Black.

OEM specified. Formulated for hi-temp applications, or heavy-duty use (such as towing, etc.). Replaces almost any cut gasket by making reliable “formed-in-place” gaskets that resist cracking, shrinking and migrating caused by thermal cycling. Coats pre-cut gaskets to increase reliability. Temperature range -65ºF to 650ºF (-54°C to 343°C) intermittent; resists auto and shop fluids. First generation 1970-1980 gasket maker.

Suggested Applications: Valve covers, oil pans, timing covers, water pumps, thermostat housings, transmission pans.

RED

OEM specified. Formulated for hi-temp applications, or heavy-duty use (such as towing, etc.). Replaces almost any cut gasket by making reliable “formed-in-place” gaskets that resist cracking, shrinking and migrating caused by thermal cycling. Coats pre-cut gaskets to increase reliability. Temperature range -65ºF to 650ºF (-54°C to 343°C) intermittent; resists auto and shop fluids. First generation 1970-1980 gasket maker.

Suggested Applications: Valve covers, oil pans, timing covers, water pumps, thermostat housings, transmission pans.

Six of one.
Half-dozen of the other.

 

Red works as good as black. Stay away from Blue...very short shelf life .Gets to where it won't cure / remains gummy. Some stores don't watch shelf life and you wind up with the re-do.
Random internet guy with 38 yrs actual rebuild experience.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Two tips: If you want to be able to remove the cover again without destroying the gasket, glue it to the cover and then oil the other side.

(Use motor oil, MMO, gear oil-- it doesn't matter.)

I also use high-tack spray-on gasket sealer almost exclusively on gaskets like that.