Are FJ1100 valve cover gaskets reusable???

[Motorheaddad]

Title says it all. Are the rubber valve cover gaskets on an 84 FJ1100 reusable. Gonna do some touch up on the valve cover and don't want to have to buy a new gasket. Thanks in advance

[FJ1100mjk]

You might be able to get away with re-using it. It depends on how old it is. If its hardened by age and thermal cycling, you're better off putting a new one on. Same goes for the rubber grommets under the valve cover's screws that seal them. It's enough work to go in there to check valve clearances and change out shims. Would be a shame to do it all, then have oils leaks afterwards that could've been avoided with the usage of new seals.

Careful with the torquing of the valve cover's screws too. Follow the recommended torque for them, or you can snap them off. More work then.

Good luck

[movenon]

Getting new gaskets is the way to go if possible. Since I replaced mine I have had the valve cover off 2 times and still no leaks but I TQ everything to spec.. 

There are times that you have to work with what you have because of time, cost, availability etc.. Here is a thread from another site that is a good read about rubber restoration.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=29707.0
Hope it helps or adds to the knowledge base.
George

[Bminder]

I had a new one ready to go but my old one worked fine to reuse.

[giantkiller]

I had a new one ready to go but my old one worked fine to reuse.

I think that's the secret. If you have a new one on hand the old one will be good. If you don't have a new one the old one will leak.

[Bminder]

I had a new one ready to go but my old one worked fine to reuse.

I think that's the secret. If you have a new one on hand the old one will be good. If you don't have a new one the old one will leak.

Exactly.
Murphy's Law I guess.
It's like if you lose something, the best way to find it is buy a new one.

[movenon]

I had a new one ready to go but my old one worked fine to reuse.

I think that's the secret. If you have a new one on hand the old one will be good. If you don't have a new one the old one will leak.

Exactly.
Murphy's Law I guess.
It's like if you lose something, the best way to find it is buy a new one.

Or just quit looking for it 
George

[Motorheaddad]

Small update. I did some reading on reusing them and found a lot of articles on reconditioning rubber gaskets and seals. So I tried it, and the results seem promising. I used an oil additive (STP oil stop leak) that claims to rejuvenate rubber gaskets. I let the gasket sit in the additive for 3 days and I noticed a big difference in the feel and it seemed to plump back. I installed it but haven't run the bike. I'll update you all on the results. If this works it beats buying a new one at $20ish when the additive is $6ish.

[Motorheaddad]

Ok, so I have an update (after 8 months). Well I'm pretty much done with the bike and I've gone on a few test rides and no leaks from the gasket. So that STP stuff really worked. Just thought ya'll might want to know.