Tools for Norge valve covers

[atavar]

Well, it was time to adjust the valves on my '08 Norge again and I decided I was done messing with generic tools to get the valve covers off and on again so off to the tool store I went.  Of course the tool store was closed so I settled for Menard's.  they had a couple of tools there that really helped. 

The first tool was a very basic stick to hold your usual 1/4" screwdriver bits.  It is small enough to fit in between the valve cover and the fairing nicely to break the screws loose and tighten them.


The next was a basic 5mm ball end screwdriver for spinning the screws in and out... 



For the easy screws I broke them loose with the trusty 3/8" 5mm bit and a ratchet.

Everything went exceedingly well and I finished much quicker than trying to get by with my regular tools.  It was very much worth the $12 investment.

[Huzo]

Getting the valve covers off is half the issue avatar, you'll have a lot of trouble removing the residual gasket material from the head. You may as well take off the tank to clean the head surface, then taking off the covers is dead easy.

[old as dirt 2]

Getting the valve covers off is half the issue avatar, you'll have a lot of trouble removing the residual gasket material from the head. You may as well take off the tank to clean the head surface, then taking off the covers is dead easy.

what residual gasket? its a rubber seal gasket. I just did mine with out removing the tank and had plenty of room to inspect and wipe the head prior to reinstalling the cover.

[atavar]

Mine are fiber gaskets but I have had no trouble at all with residual material.  They have always separated cleanly.  Perhaps this is because I have never used any sealant on these.  Never a leak so never saw a need to. 

[Huzo]

That's good news! Does the '08 have rubber as standard ?

[Wayne Orwig]

what residual gasket? its a rubber seal gasket. I just did mine with out removing the tank and had plenty of room to inspect and wipe the head prior to reinstalling the cover.

Pretty sure a 2008 does NOT have rubber gaskets like yours.

[Huzo]

what residual gasket? its a rubber seal gasket. I just did mine with out removing the tank and had plenty of room to inspect and wipe the head prior to reinstalling the cover.

So... Is the Norge you're referring to have the same gaskets as a 2007?

[Huzo]

what residual gasket? its a rubber seal gasket. I just did mine with out removing the tank and had plenty of room to inspect and wipe the head prior to reinstalling the cover.

Oh, ok. Are you referring to an 8v or 4v motor? I think he said his was an '08 and I didn't know if they had rubber seals or not. I was under the impression that the 8v motors ran the rubber gaskets.

[ITSec]

So to answer the last couple of posts, the 2v engine in question (2007-2010) does NOT have a stock gasket that is rubber or silicone; it is a traditional gasket, and that's what you'll get from a dealer if you order the factory product. There are some good sources for alternatives if you like them; one such is Real Gasket ( http://www.realgaskets.com/files/motorcycle.htm#motoguzzi ). I don't know what version old as dirt 2 has for his bike; I have used the traditional ones so far but may be switching soon just because of how often I mess with this (now at 109,000 miles).

The 8v motors do, from what I have read and seen in the parts list, have re-usable silicon/rubber gaskets.

The traditional gaskets do come off cleanly, particularly if you dressed them at installation with just a very thin smear of RTV sealant. The RTV ends up being what actually contacts the metal, and it simply peels away. However, even without this I have removed these gaskets cleanly with nothing more sophisticated than a stiff piece of plastic to help lift them (though I was not attempting to re-use them).

IF YOU USE A SEALANT OF ANY KIND AND IN ANY AMOUNT - be careful and thorough in gathering all the little pieces of material as you remove the cover and the gasket. It only takes a tiny piece of silicone rubber (or fibre gasket) to plug an oil gallery transfer passage. No need for paranoia, just be careful...

[Huzo]

So to answer the last couple of posts, the 2v engine in question (2007-2010) does NOT have a stock gasket that is rubber or silicone; it is a traditional gasket, and that's what you'll get from a dealer if you order the factory product. There are some good sources for alternatives if you like them; one such is Real Gasket ( http://www.realgaskets.com/files/motorcycle.htm#motoguzzi ). I don't know what version old as dirt 2 has for his bike; I have used the traditional ones so far but may be switching soon just because of how often I mess with this (now at 109,000 miles).

The 8v motors do, from what I have read and seen in the parts list, have re-usable silicon/rubber gaskets.

The traditional gaskets do come off cleanly, particularly if you dressed them at installation with just a very thin smear of RTV sealant. The RTV ends up being what actually contacts the metal, and it simply peels away. However, even without this I have removed these gaskets cleanly with nothing more sophisticated than a stiff piece of plastic to help lift them (though I was not attempting to re-use them).

IF YOU USE A SEALANT OF ANY KIND AND IN ANY AMOUNT - be careful and thorough in gathering all the little pieces of material as you remove the cover and the gasket. It only takes a tiny piece of silicone rubber (or fibre gasket) to plug an oil gallery transfer passage. No need for paranoia, just be careful...

Thanks I T for your response. Obviously I knew the '07 has the traditional gaskets 'cos I've had mine since new but your information is very good to have, thankyou. I bought some fancy black ones in Mandello last year and will take a couple of spares for this year's Euro trip, next time I have the covers off which will be the 120,000 k service, I'll dress the surface on a glass plate to remove tiny imperfections and ensure the flatness, I hope that works.

[atavar]

yes, my '08 has traditional gaskets.  What I do when replacing them is coat the down side with a thin coating of oil by dipping a finger in a puddle on the head and wiping it off on the gasket.  I don't do the top side because I like the gasket to stick to the valve cover.  This way all I have to do is remove the bolts, thump the cover lightly and the gasket breaks loose from the head and stays with the cover making removal and reinstallation easy. 

[Huzo]

yes, my '08 has traditional gaskets.  What I do when replacing them is coat the down side with a thin coating of oil by dipping a finger in a puddle on the head and wiping it off on the gasket.  I don't do the top side because I like the gasket to stick to the valve cover.  This way all I have to do is remove the bolts, thump the cover lightly and the gasket breaks loose from the head and stays with the cover making removal and reinstallation easy.

Yes that sounds like a good idea and I'll try that next time, thanx. Also as mentioned, I'll dress mine on a surface plate to ensure flatness.