Motorcycle Repair: oil leak at valve cover - design is no gasket here, silicone line, putty knife

Question

XL500oilLeak   Bike is 30 year old XL500 honda. I have the engine out of frame, but I have not worked on inside engine things - is this repair easy enough for one without exp.? It's just disassemble, clean flange areas, and reassemble - right? I also want to take off the right engine case to check oil screen. Can you elaborate on sealant use technique and the right side gasket change. I have a new right side gasket, new middle of cylinder gasket - metal I think, and a tube of Threebond 1194. On the sealant it says apply evenly, thinly with a brush or putty knife - are those the tools you'd use to do this neatly & quickly / how much time do you have to work with this stuff? Should any sealant be put on that right gasket or cylinder gasket? Pic enclosed, Thanks Gary am undecided if I will do this or have shop do it.

Answer
Alan,Just pulling the engine out of the frame is no biggie but pulling the side covers may be a different story. The gaskets depending on brand may have a built into the surface a silicone line to help in sealing the covers.The adhesive may work good also a couple others would be Kawabond or Yamabond.The valve cover on these however use no gasket just a sealer on clean surfaces so that the cam can run in the aluminum cut out. Do not use just silicone on the side covers as the oil will react with it and turn it into a slime and the gasket may squirt out and start leaking again.