Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech cam cover gasket torque?

I have an 07 America, could someone please tell me the correct torque and sequence when replacing the gasket, thanks.

For me it is tight.

Got it. Wasn't sure if there was a "special" rule that one follows. Thanks.

I have had mine off a few times and several others and just made it tight, no TQ wrench. I am sure there is a TQ value but no real need. None of the ones I have done leak and I have never replaced a gasket or seal just used the old ones.

I think the secret to getting a seal is simply to get a light even squeeze on the rubber gasket, if the rubber is protruding, back off on the bolts. Just tighten in a standard mechanics star pattern, front right, back left, front left and so on. The 05 Spdy I bought from a member, leaked, but the cover was tightened like you would a head. I had to start with a new gasket on that one.

Not a good idea to tighten that much either considering where those bolts thread in.

Those screws will nearly bottom out and the halves "meet" before the rubber gets fully squashed, that's why they ooze sometimes.

Hey guys, mines a leaky on the top right cylinder. How much can i ride afore it has to be changed out? Could putting in a full 4 qts of synthetic have anything to do with it? I am thinking of having a 900 kit put in, going to ride to a garage about an hour away to talk to the owner (Jim's Motorsports Weedsport NY)about doing it as long as the top has to come off. Or getting a bigger bike. Or smaller triumph and have the 900 in the America, but i want more baggage. And it seems i could tell something didn't feel right with the bike. Can you notice a difference with a small valve/cam cover gasket leak? Izzat zen riding: one with the bike?

Dang man, that's fo' questions in one post.

Get you an oily shop rag and hang it in yo' back pocket, not only will you look real cool, you can wipe the oozie with it.

You can run all season with that leak, long as it durn't lose the oil real fast like.

Probly not a symptom of overfilling, you got a crankcase vent, you only three or four ounces over the line. The level should split the window with the bike upright.

If you is one wit yo' Zen bike thing, you should be leaking too.

Those rubber gaskets go through a lot of heatup/cooloff cycles, and they will eventually degrade. I had to change out a shot to $hit one on my '05. It's not the good old days, all rubber is some synthetic facsimile of real rubber. Look at how badly our tires get after 5-6 years, even with very low mileage. It's almost like they rot from exposure to air. In fact, what else could it be?

Good point. Hardly beat on tires, all beat up. One year fine, next all checked up. Someone with the same year Bonnie (06) had a Metzler i believe did the same thing. Tire conspiracy between the companies?

I'm sure planned and engineered obsolescence has a part in it. It was Henry Ford who is credited (urban legend) with "your car only lasts as long as the payment plan", before it starts going seriously haywire..

I never use a TQ wrench unless I am inside the engine or installing something like the head. Even inside mostly just use them on the bearings. Been wrenching my whole life though.

If you pull the treads out it's too tight.

Just keep pulling on the wrench until the bolt squeaks twice. Then go one more flat.