Primary Cover Gasket Replacement?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 4
From: Newtown, PA
Reusing gaskets and hoping they won't leak is false economy. If it leaks, you will have to replace the new fluids again and you will have to do the work again. Buy the gasket before you do the work, remove the old gasket completely and completely clean the mating surfaces before reinstalling the gasket and the component. In over 40 years, I have never heard of anyone even thinking of reusing gaskets on cars or trucks - so why does everyone want to save $15-$30 on a motorcycle whose engine/transmission is worked much harder than a car or truck engine? Doing it right, not over, is the correct perspective.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
It's just a gamble whether or not it's going to leak - your engine's not going to blow up. I buy a new gasket when I buy the fluid and if the old one leaks, I've got a new one on hand. I haven't tried reusing more than once though. Of course, if the old gasket leaks, you've lost the time it takes to replace it, again.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Reusing gaskets and hoping they won't leak is false economy. If it leaks, you will have to replace the new fluids again and you will have to do the work again. Buy the gasket before you do the work, remove the old gasket completely and completely clean the mating surfaces before reinstalling the gasket and the component. In over 40 years, I have never heard of anyone even thinking of reusing gaskets on cars or trucks - so why does everyone want to save $15-$30 on a motorcycle whose engine/transmission is worked much harder than a car or truck engine? Doing it right, not over, is the correct perspective.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 1
From: A house.
I rebuilt my engine, transmission, and chassis. I used all the same gaskets, seals, and hard parts. I saved a lot of money because I didn't buy anything. Just my own labor which I didn't charge myself. The only thing is, the engine runs like crap, it leaks from places I didn't even know had fluid, and I can't get it to move in neutral or in gear. My wifes being all bit**y about it because I can get it out of the family room where the carpet was replaced just before the overhaul.
Now this is just my opinion, but if it's worth taking it apart, it's worth new gaskets and seals when you put it together.
Now this is just my opinion, but if it's worth taking it apart, it's worth new gaskets and seals when you put it together.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,164
From: Oxford, Nc
I rebuilt my engine, transmission, and chassis. I used all the same gaskets, seals, and hard parts. I saved a lot of money because I didn't buy anything. Just my own labor which I didn't charge myself. The only thing is, the engine runs like crap, it leaks from places I didn't even know had fluid, and I can't get it to move in neutral or in gear. My wifes being all bit**y about it because I can get it out of the family room where the carpet was replaced just before the overhaul.
Now this is just my opinion, but if it's worth taking it apart, it's worth new gaskets and seals when you put it together.
Now this is just my opinion, but if it's worth taking it apart, it's worth new gaskets and seals when you put it together.
Nobody, ( well I guess somebody,) would re-use internal gaskets on a rebuild! Pretty much deserved what ya' got there I'd say.
We were talking about an "outside" gasket that holds primary oil, not a friggin' combustion chamber!
And it's only a "false economy" rdondes if it doesn't work. On those 3 stators I replaced, there's $105 dollars in my pocket from those 3 primary gaskets I didn't buy and the bike leaks nothing. Nothin' 'false' about that.
BTW clicker01, if you can't get it in neutral, and it generally runs like crap, you f**ked up something else other than just your choice of gaskets.
Last edited by Stiggy; Mar 6, 2012 at 03:02 AM.
I've reused gaskets on repairs before if I wasn't confident that it was fixed and never had a problem with leaks but when doing general maintenance at the start of the riding season I go with new. I've reused the primary gasket twice before and I think it's more important to check it out for cracks and to torque the screws correctly. My '01 SuperGlide has an inspection cover in the primary and that gasket seems to be more sensitive to reusing.
Last edited by cecharles; Mar 6, 2012 at 12:47 PM.
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