I went to install a oil temperature sensor in my 2011 Ultra limited, and found a lot of oil under the oil cooler adaptor. Seeing how I have to drain the oil to perform the install and oil is ridiculously expensive, I removed the adaptor. Bought the gasket and noticed that it had an adhesive side, but there is no mention of this in the HD service manual, so common sense told me to clean oil the adaptor to remove any oil and adhere it to the adaptor. I wonder how many DIYS'ers struggled to try to keep that gasket in place.

On edit; and managed to leave the protective cover still on the gasket.

 

in the oil cooler install instructions, there is mention if how to mount a gasket with anadhesive back.

my HD kit came with a plain gasket ( I think most kits do)- and I use a thin coat of silicone on each side of the gasket- which when tacky helps hold it in place.

mike

 

One trick commonly used back in the day was to use 'yellow death'...3M yellow weatherstrip adhesive...on one side of the gasket, and Permatex #2 on the other side. The yellow death was to hold the gasket in place...use like contact cement, thin coat on one side of the gasket, thin coat on the contact surface. Stick 'em together so the gasket would stay in place, then a thin coat of Permatex #2 (non-hardening) on the other, put it all together, end of leak.

 

copper head gasket spray.
Been using it since the 70's.
It will hold it in place and it will not let it leak.
It was developed to help with blowing head gaskets and as a sealer. Adds strength to the gasket.
My first one I did did not have the glue backing and it was a real pain in the ****. The newer version has the backing making it very easy to do.