New valve cover gasket installation questions

I recently checked my valve clearances on my '83 Seca 900 and they are all fine and dandy.

I'm about to install a new valve cover gasket and new pressure washers. I have three questions.

1-What should I use to properly clean the cover and head grooves before I put the gasket back on? Is contact glue remover a good choice? HOw about pure acetone?

2-Do I have to put any kind of stuff on the half moons? I will "glue" the gasket to the cover to make it easier to install, as per FItz's recommendation, but it is not clear in my mind if I need to put any gasket sealer or whatever on the halfmoons on the head side.

3-What is the torque spec for the valve cover bolts (the ones with the rubber pressure washers)?

Thanks in advance

 

1. I would think just about any solvent would be fine as long as it gets the job done.
2. Use silicone grease on the head side, even the half moons.
3. Approx. 7 ft. lbs. but really there is a shoulder on the bolt that tightens against the engine block. If you just snug it, it should be fine. In my experience, 7 ft. lbs. seems a bit much. They can be a bugger to break loose again.

 

Be really carefull with valve cover torque. 7 ft. lbs is possible too much as It stripped my threads. Turn until it stops then use three finger tap, it's been enough for me.

 

You may need this along the way......

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=32854.html

 

Thanks for the link, I haven't seen it yet. I removed the old rubber pressure washers a few weeks ago, I split them with a small utility knife (exacto style) and then removing them was a charm. I kept all of the metal washers because they look fine.

Then when I received my new rubber washers, I installed them using my benchvise. First I slipped a rubber washer on the bolt stem, then I opened the jaws just enough to put the bolt and washer up against the jaws so that the smaller end of the rubber is between the jaws.

Then I pushed down on the bolt head with a piece a wood. I felt resistance, but the rubber washer ended up in its place pretty easily, a bit of grease helped a lot, though. No need for a special tool.