cylinder head cover gasket question?
I have an old 1968 Honda CL350 and took off the original cylinder head cover gasket, which appeared to be formed over the cam chain to prevent oil from leaking up into the cylinder head space.
While looking at replacement gaskets online, I noticed that none of the cylinder head cover gaskets are made to cover the cam chain – they just have a space cut to fit around it (not over it like on the original gasket). Both my book and shop manual for the bike don’t mention any cylinder head cover gasket at all (nor do they picture them in engine disassembly photos).
I have a gasket kit at home to make my own, didn’t know the consequences of letting oil possibly splash up from the cam chain, so I thought I’d ask one of you knowledgeable motorcycle people on here.
This is just a quick fix for my bike so I can ride it before it gets too cold. Please help!
Thanks!!! 🙂
No problem, it is the same oil.
http://www.bikebandit.com/parts/
Go to – your bike – Cylinder Head Cover
Gaskets # 5 & 6 prevent oil from splashing up into the head cover and leaking out the vent tube.
Those gaskets are there to only allow oil vapor to get into the head cover and escape out of the vent tube.
Buy gasket # 6 and make # 5 & 7 out of gasket paper.
Guardrail Jim is correct again.
Just make sure you don’t let any of the old material fall into the engine.
Ride that wild beast into the sunset.
What you’re thinking is the original gasket is not any original Honda part,,,nor aftermarket gasket.
I’d imagine that what you found in Your bike’s engine is most probably a “homemade gasket” cut from a sheet.
All of the cam cover gaskets have always been basically the same as the replacements you’ve seen while looking around online.
You didn’t mention the steel baffle plate….?
I assume it’s there.
The Lower Gasket which fits between the cam case & the baffle plate is pretty much just a “big open rectangle” to seal the perimeter .
The Upper one between the baffle & the Top Cover is almost a solid sheet,,,and serves to integrate the baffle plate into the top cover,,,,creating a sealed “Labyrynth/Maze” to ensure proper separation of oil vapours,,,channeling of the crankcase vapours,,and return of the condensed oil.
All a bit of overkill,,,they’re 180* engines.
They don’t produce the extreme crankcase pressure or inhale/expel cycle of atmospheric air that singles,V’s ,360* multi’s ,etc do.
Making your own gasket is fine,,,simply be sure to accomodate the few passages in the baffle plate.
It’s normal to have an open chainway,,ie chain not covered.
The inside of the cover is formed to receive & direct the drainback from the chain,,,to get it back to the sump as promptly as possible without being “suspended” by the chain whirring around.