sealing gaskets

I visited my local Auto Zone to pickup a tube of gasket sealer.
Years ago I would have bought the blue stuff.
There seems to be 3 compounds for every use.
What do you all use?
I want to stick the gasket to the covers and possibly
remove them for the occasional polish.
I've read that pam anti stick spray can be used on the other side
without causing leeks.
Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

I would go to www.permatex.com click on products and then click on gasket makers and gasket sealers. Both have merit and use with our bikes. I use the red hightemp RTV and Ultra black. I have also heard some great things about the ease of use for the "Right Stuff". It comes in a pressurized can which makes running a bead as easy as it gets. I believe it is blue also. Which I would prefer to the butt ugly red stuff that can be seen along my valve cover. But despite the color the red stuff has worked without fail for me. Pam cooking spray won't be needed with these RTV's since they peel off rather easily. But if you have trouble removing some old gasket material I highly suggest their gasket remover. I used it for removing my old head gasket and it was the best stuff I have ever used.

 

After some reading on the Permatex site,
I'm thinking the Ultra Black or Ultra Gray.(Probably Black)
If for no other reason than the color not staning out.
Though the Gray does say Rigid, maybe not good.
Surely nothing will exceed the 500 degree limit on either one.
Sometimes I tend to sweat the small stuff.. :roll:

 

The ridged would probably be ok on the point covers. Valve cover I would not think so. I used Ultra Black on my valve cover and my only complaint is that it is not as easy to run a bead as the red RTV was. But it does seal. Only thing that could possibly pass the 500 deg.F limit is the iner most part of the cylinder head. Since the head gasket has metal rings to seal around the cylinders I think it would be safe even on the head gasket! Not that I reccomend it though.
I think we all sweat the small stuff sometimes. Man I know I do. Tha's one of the tings I like about this forum , I can ask the small stuff questions and stop sweating!

 

I use a new Valve cver gasket and Nothing else works just as Mr Yama intended. Sillycone Goo can work if used sparingly but it does not suffer oils well... excess rtv has been known to find and plug obscure oil gallery drillings.. with dramatic result .

 

Caterpillar makes a can of gasket adhesive that is green (the glue)and works like contact adhesive, it's hard to get off when it sets up but permatex gasket remover works well.
At any rate it will keep that gasket in place right where you put it with NO leaks.
If you need the part # let me know & I'll get it for you.

 

Well I've starting putting covers back on.
What I did (and it worked great) was,
I bought a role of gasket material.
Traced the outer outline of covers onto the material.
Cut it out to almost exact size. not trimming the inside.
Glued it on with a very thin layer of Ultra Black Permitex.
Placed it on a flat surface with weight on top till dried.
With a razer blade, trimmed the inside and outside to the exact shape.
After trimmed, there is no excess sealer around gaskets.
Bolted on to motor without sealer on the motor side.
It made very acurate gaskets and hopefully the covers can be removed it tact.
total cost was about $12 bucks for enough material to do all side covers.
Now Im thinking of pulling the bottom since the sides went so well.

 

I will be ordering a valve cover gasket soon.

 

Right On Carson
That's the "old school" way!
I hope you used the right type of material... there are many types for different purposes.
I bet the parts store steered you right!
Definatly the lesson is worth the time it cost, which is a cheep lesson.

Way to go!