GL1200 GOLDWINGS

How involved is it to replace the gasket that is around the left Cylinder Head Cover on a 1985 Aspenscade?

Will you have to remove the radiator, Timing belt cover and assembly to get to it?

You will need to loosen and remove the lower engine mount bolt, remove the engine guards, and remove the four allen screws on each side (if your doing one side you might as well do both) then replace the rubber gasket.
I cant see why you need to remove the radiator.

Presumably your talking about these?

Yes, I sure am. Will I have to drain the oil first?

Dont think so, most of the oil will be drained into the sump. I just changed the gaskets on mine this winter and was changing the oil and had drained it.

Thanks Tricky.

You always come through with an answer... :lol:

Also don't forget to change the rubber seals on the cover bolts. They can crack and leak also. Since you are going to have it apart!!!!
suks2bu37

Thanks for all the get backs, posts.

I had some problems getting the valve gaskets and ended up buying a new pair on e-bay that was still in the original plastic bag and got them put on. I went ahead and changed the other side while I was at it, thanks to you Tricky for advising to switch it out , that the other gasket was being held together with gasket sealer! I cleaned everything off good and put the new rubber seals on without any gasket sealer. That could have been a problem waiting to bite me down the road if I had only changed the one that was leaking.

It's really nice to ride without my foot getting half burnt off with the hot oil even if it was only a few drops.

I wish I could find my oil leaks.... the harder I look the less I see.

Bill, usually there's there's just a couple of places they leak if they do. The valve covers and the shifter shaft seal. If you wash the engine off you should be able to find the leak fairly easily.

Bill, I originally believed that I had a leak around the intake from the carbs on the left side(as you are sitting on the bike) where it goes into the cylinder. I replace that "O" ring and the leak continued but I didn't have the leak line from that connection. I got down and looked and noticed that the wetness, now was from the bottom of the engine from the valve cover gasket area. I replaced those gaskets and that fixed my problem.

As Vis says, there only so many places that the leak could be coming from. Pick the most questonable place that looks like it may be the leak area and work on it. If that doesn't work, go to the next suspicious area. You are bound to get it. 8)

Are the gaskets available from HDL? I just looked up the part number and called but they were closed for the day. I looked at Venco and did not come up with any by doing a search. I looked on ebay and found some aftermarket ones, but none for the bolts. I am scared to look at saber, even though I have done satisfactory with them before. I would like to get good ones so I dont have to replace again. Anyone have knowledge of who has these in stock? Plus the washers for the bolts.

Your local Honda dealer can get them but you could try here, but they require you spend at least $75 before they will ship them.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com/cycleparts/Honda_OEM/HondaMC.asp?Type=13&A=25&B=6">http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche.com ... 3&A=25&B=6</a><!-- m -->

$2.25 ea for the washers and $14.82 ea for gasket

Hey Pappy,...

I got my Valve cover gaskets ($30.00) from:

TAS Classic MotorSports
<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.tasmotorsports.com">http://www.tasmotorsports.com</a><!-- w -->

TAS had them listed on e-bay. Try contacting them they might have what you need. 8)

Hey Dalph,
I just ordered mine from <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hdlparts.com/default.asp">http://www.hdlparts.com/default.asp</a><!-- m -->. The total for both gaskets and the 8 waashers plus shipping was $50. I could not find the washers on tas's site, I did see them on ebay and looked around. The gaskets were us $11.41 ea and the washers a bit pricey I thought at $2.50. They had them in stock in the warehouse and shipping was $5. Hope this cures all my leaking.

Pappy, let us know after you get it all back together if that does the trick! Good luck...