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ShaneL1013 Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 11 Location: Crossville, TN
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:12 pm Post subject: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Having a hard time getting gasket to seal, any advice or just prescience? |
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Peabody Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2013 Posts: 372 Location: Tennessee
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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ShaneL1013 wrote: |
Having a hard time getting gasket to seal, any advice or just prescience? |
Hello from around the way (Cookeville). I assume your 78 has a type 4 engine. If so, those aftermarket gaskets are getting to be pretty much junk. Maybe someone here has an opinion on who makes the best. Wolfsburg West has some good ones I think??
Give me a shout if you need some "in-person" assistance for anything. _________________ '71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts) |
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ShaneL1013 Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 11 Location: Crossville, TN
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Hey neighbor! Ive got a bunch of dana brand, im gonna run thru before i order anything. Ill get back with you about assistance, but hopefully i wont have to. |
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Jalabert Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2005 Posts: 630 Location: On the coast in NZ, somewhere...
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Others might disagree, but this is what I do. Thin film of red gasket to hold the cork in place on the valve cover, grease as usual prior to install. Next time you want to change the gasket, stand in a shallow bath of turps while you adjust your valves. Red gasket falls right off. Wipe, repeat. _________________ http://thickrubber.blogspot.com/ Writing, Surfing, and Exploring NZ's deep south by VW...
'73 westy, 1700 type 4 with 34icts |
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aerosurfer Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2012 Posts: 1602 Location: Indianapolis, IN
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:32 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Use grease on both sides of the gasket. Once you put it in the valve cover, make sure you push the valve cover against the head to prevent it from sliding as you put the bail into place _________________ Rebuild your own FI Harness..My Harness
77 Westy 2.0L Rockin and Rolling Resto!
72 Sportsmobile (sold)
79 Tran$porter... Parts car money machine (gone) |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50257
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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One way is to use some kind of setting goop and then install the gasket against a spare head while the glue sets. Once set then swap the cover over to the head on your engine.
Another way to go is to sew the gasket into place. Drill 5/64" hole into the outer rim of the cover and then using cotton thread lash the gasket to the cover. You can get a badly distorted gasket to work this way. |
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Tom Powell Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005 Posts: 4855 Location: Kaneohe
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Use hylomar on the cover side of the gasket and grease on the engine side.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hylo...gbzk_b_p10
The hylomar will hold the gasket in place and seal it. Slide the cover and gasket around a bit in the grease as you flip the bale. Do not use silicone gasket sealer. Bits may get loose and plug oil passages.
Aloha
tp |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Tom Powell wrote: |
Use hylomar on the cover side of the gasket and grease on the engine side.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hylo...gbzk_b_p10
The hylomar will hold the gasket in place and seal it. Slide the cover and gasket around a bit in the grease as you flip the bale. Do not use silicone gasket sealer. Bits may get loose and plug oil passages.
Aloha
tp |
I use elephant snot on the cover side and axle grease on the head side, but the effect is the same. It stays put. When it comes time to take the old seal off I scrape it and toss it on the workbench until I can bead blast it and paint it again. In the meantime I keep a spare set already to go. Make sure the gaskets aren't too hard from age or they don't seal well. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Making sure the bale is installed correctly also helps, if it's on upside down the gasket can slip while you battle with the cover and bale.
Center wow should face up. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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rugblaster Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2016 Posts: 1163 Location: San Angelo, Texas
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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I think elephant snot is the hypocoristic name for 3M trim cement. I like to do the valve covers with the snot too. I give the valve cover a little nudge downward after snapping the bail on to make sure it is seated. The outboard pushrod tube seals can leak like its a VC gasket. _________________ '69 Karmy, '69 Camper, Meyers clone, '65 drag bug, 10.78 @ 128 (sold it) '51 Dodge farm truck,
'09 MB E350 '18 MB E400, '65 Plymouth Valiant convertible and a '19 Ford F250 King Ranch (nicer, but dirty, farm truck)
VWoA factory trained line tech 75 till 90 or so
ASE Master Certification
VWoA Assoc. of Quality Technicians inductee (One of 25 in the five state southwest region)
La Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin (San Angelo Chapter)
TCU ......GO FROGS!!!!!! |
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ShaneL1013 Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016 Posts: 11 Location: Crossville, TN
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Thanks for the advice, oil leak is GONE! Whoever said superglue was on the money . Nah i just used more grease |
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streamr Samba Member
Joined: February 26, 2007 Posts: 555 Location: Southwest FL
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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Don't know if this is applicable anymore, but in the olden days, I used to soak the cork gaskets in water. They would swell up and fit the valve covers perfectly and would stay in place during installation. No grease or glue needed. Never a leak and I was always able to use gaskets I had even if they were dried a bit. _________________ '03 MV |
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Red Fau Veh Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012 Posts: 3037 Location: Prescott Az.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 11:55 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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rugblaster wrote: |
I give the valve cover a little nudge downward after snapping the bail on to make sure it is seated. |
^^^This^^^ _________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
Touch Nicks Thing wrote: |
Swivel Seat panels are for people with no friends |
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jtauxe Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004 Posts: 5778 Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 10:54 am Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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rugblaster wrote: |
... the hypocoristic name ... |
Cool! I learned a new word today!
On the valve cover gaskets, I use the cork ones, and oil-em up real good with engine oil. Never had a problem. _________________ John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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Malokin Martin Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2007 Posts: 3093 Location: E-burg
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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An interesting post script on leaking covers: There's two types of gaskets rolling around.
Try to find the fat Brazilian cork ones. You wouldn't notice a difference if you held each one individually.... but if you get the cheap cork one and the Brazilian cork one in your hands at the same time, the Brazilian is noticeably thicker and seals way easier. |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Tom Powell Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005 Posts: 4855 Location: Kaneohe
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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I once used a set of composite valve cover gaskets. They worked well for 947 miles. Leaving a Vanagon meetup at Greyhound Rock I saw someone chasing after me, yelling and pointing at the oil streak trailing behind my camper. The composite gasket had expanded and bowed out into the cylinder head and was causing a massive oil leak. If it had happened at speed on the highway the engine might have been toast. No problems with cork gaskets, hylomar, and grease.
Aloha
tp |
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Peabody Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2013 Posts: 372 Location: Tennessee
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Any tips for lining up valve cover gasket? |
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I know quite a few people who use indian head shellac to glue those suckers in. I've never had an issue (fingers crossed). Seems like a good, solid bale would keep it from moving but being that most are about 40 years old I see some glue in our future. _________________ '71 Transporter "June" (traded a nissan hardbody + some $) (daily)
'76 Westy "Sandy" (traded an ak-47) (on hold)
'77 Westy (parts)
'74 Westy (parts) |
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