Motorcycle Repair: cbx leaking cam cover, valve cover gasket, dave calvert

Question
Hi I have a 1979 cbx1000 which has only done 16000 miles but has always suffered from oil weeps from the cam cover. I have taken the cover off and cleaned all the faces and the rubber seal but to no avail. Should I use some sort of gasket sealer on the rubber. A new gasket is about £70 so I don't want to go this route unless necessary!

Cheers  Dave Calvert

Answer
Hi Dave, this is a very common problem and there are two probable causes.  The first is that the gasket is no longer nice and pliable, so it loses its sealing performance.  In this case the expense for the valve cover gasket has to be made.  However more common is that the grommets on the chrome valve cover bolts are hard and worn, so that the pressure on the main gasket is reduced.  The grommets complete with chrome washers are available from aftermarket suppliers and is well worth the expense if it stops your leak.  Don't forget the 1979 grommets are much smaller than the 1980 or later valve covers, so make sure you source the correct ones for your bike.  Most importantly, the valve bolts have shoulders so don't overtighten!  Good luck,  Jan