to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers

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to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers

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Harley Davidson Forum >> Harley Davidson Motorcycles >> Classic >> Ironhead >> to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers

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to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/6/2008 11:03:13 AM

fergerburger

Posts: 59
Joined: 6/26/2006
Status: offline

So I've been stripping down this 71 xlch I got out of a pole barn in WI and I noticed the primary and cam covers both has blue silicone sealant on both sides of the gasket.

So should I seal with blue silicone or not? Experienced ironheads?

I never sealed my Evo primary cover that way...and I run open primaries on my BT's

ferg

Post #: 1

RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/6/2008 1:30:24 PM

iknowyoueazyryder

Posts: 12
Joined: 2/3/2008
Status: offline

That stuff is bad. If a little bit comes loose on the inside it might stop up an oil line of something. Get real gaskets and use Indian Head.

(in reply to fergerburger)

Post #: 2

RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/6/2008 1:40:57 PM

FastHarley

Posts: 1519
Joined: 4/12/2007
Status: offline

Use stuff that is made for Metrics, outboards, marine inboards, outdrives, as well as Harleys. It is made by a company than labled under many brand names such as Yamabond & many others. This is the last word in seasling. Do a search and you can find it in many names but it all the same.

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(in reply to iknowyoueazyryder)

Post #: 3

RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/6/2008 2:44:46 PM

Calwoodbutcher

Posts: 370
Joined: 3/27/2006
From: OC California
Status: offline

Use gaskets! For sure use a gasket on the cam cover. The cam end play spacing takes a gasket into consideration. If you don't those suckers will run too tight and all kinda bad stuff can happen. JMO

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(in reply to fergerburger)

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RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/6/2008 9:46:36 PM

fergerburger

Posts: 59
Joined: 6/26/2006
Status: offline

the last guy used blue silicone PLUS the gasket....I never used extra sealant with my EVO but I'm new to the ironheads

(in reply to fergerburger)

Post #: 5

RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/7/2008 5:03:50 AM

piniongear

Posts: 1621
Joined: 2/13/2006
Status: offline

A gasket should always be used.
The type of sealer is a matter of personal choice.
Some use Copperkote, some use Permatex #2 (NOT ME), or other types.

What I use is Permatex #3, the non hardening stuff. If the cover is one that I plan on taking on and off from time to time then I only coat one side of the gasket with #3 and then bolt on the cover.
This allows the easy cover removal and reuse of the gasket. If you use a hardening type sealer you will have a real chore cleaning it off of the aluminun next time you need to remove that cover.
The blue RTV stuff? Never!............pg

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Post #: 6

RE: to seal or not to seal? Prim/cam covers - 5/7/2008 5:20:48 AM

liltrk

Posts: 1451
Joined: 1/29/2006
From: London, Canada
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: piniongear

A gasket should always be used.
The type of sealer is a matter of personal choice.
Some use Copperkote, some use Permatex #2 (NOT ME), or other types.

What I use is Permatex #3, the non hardening stuff. If the cover is one that I plan on taking on and off from time to time then I only coat one side of the gasket with #3 and then bolt on the cover.
This allows the easy cover removal and reuse of the gasket. If you use a hardening type sealer you will have a real chore cleaning it off of the aluminun next time you need to remove that cover.
The blue RTV stuff? Never!............pg