UL 45 Valve Cover Gasket

[John Guntner]

So I have NOS 45" gaskets. I figure I'll install new valve cover gaskets. I have cleaned and polished the inside of the outer valve cover and highly cleaned and polished the inner valve cover. I put the new seal / gasket in but the inner cover won't slide past the gasket. Has anyone out there figured out a way to get these seals / gaskets to co-operate?

[RichO]

Just a word to the wise John. I won't use N,O,S Harley gaskets because most are at least 70 years old and are hard, missed shaped (in storage), or brittle. New aftermarket are usually more pliable, made from more modern materials, and you'll get better results. Just my two cents.

[John Guntner]

Hi RichO,
Good point. The paper gaskets work fine after soaking in water and then drying and coated with oil. I never thought about these rubber gaskets, well until now.

[John Guntner]

The gaskets are rubber. Electric grease seems to work. Still a little stiff but usable. Thanks