Replacing front cylinder valve cover gasket

danimal2 · 10-20-2017, 11:06 AM

Thought I'd put this up since I haven't seen anything about it yet and everybody else is so good about posting up the "little things".

I developed a serious oil leak while on a couple hundred mile ride and lost almost a quart of oil on my right pant leg before making it home.

Had trouble identifying where the leak was coming from since it would only happen at speeds above 55 mph and then blow around so it was hard to tell.

Long story short I pretty much figured it was the valve cover gasket on the front cylinder and ordered a replacement for it. The manual tells you to pull the motor in order to replace it, but I got to looking at it and found it could be done by pulling the seat, gas tank, the hoses for the radiator and marbeling deal, horns and horn bracket and the top part of the radiator. I know it sound like a lot, but it's really only an hour worth of work and way easier than pulling the motor.

It's a bit tricky due to space constraints, but I got it in without taking anything else apart (or pulling the motor) and it solved my leak. Happy to say that for $20 and some easy wrenching I'm riding again and my pant leg is oil free.

Of course if you feel the need (or the rear cylinder is leaking), you'll have to pull the motor for that one.

10-20-2017, 11:06 AM	#1
danimal2 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 987	Replacing front cylinder valve cover gasket Thought I'd put this up since I haven't seen anything about it yet and everybody else is so good about posting up the "little things". I developed a serious oil leak while on a couple hundred mile ride and lost almost a quart of oil on my right pant leg before making it home. Had trouble identifying where the leak was coming from since it would only happen at speeds above 55 mph and then blow around so it was hard to tell. Long story short I pretty much figured it was the valve cover gasket on the front cylinder and ordered a replacement for it. The manual tells you to pull the motor in order to replace it, but I got to looking at it and found it could be done by pulling the seat, gas tank, the hoses for the radiator and marbeling deal, horns and horn bracket and the top part of the radiator. I know it sound like a lot, but it's really only an hour worth of work and way easier than pulling the motor. It's a bit tricky due to space constraints, but I got it in without taking anything else apart (or pulling the motor) and it solved my leak. Happy to say that for $20 and some easy wrenching I'm riding again and my pant leg is oil free. Of course if you feel the need (or the rear cylinder is leaking), you'll have to pull the motor for that one. __________________ VBA member #01682 Green 1999 Nomad 1500 carb'd 43,000 miles JOG'd at 20,000, JOG failed at 40,000 SOG'd at 40,000 Darksider Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by danimal2; 10-20-2017 at 11:40 AM.
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