[KaBob]

Just checked the valves, Oops, they were all tight, and a couple of the intakes had no gap at all - Good thing I checked em, it was way overdue and with a little over 14K miles I dont think anybody's ever done anything to maintain this bike.

But I got em all set right now and ready to reassemple. Twas my first time setting the valve clearances on a Shadow (a 05 VT750DC Spirit) and its quite a job, There's a Whole LOTTA Stuff to disassemble just to get to those valves! All came apart ok, and the head cover gaskets are still nice good rubber and reuaseable, so here's my question,,,

The manual says to use HondaBond A or equivelant on the rubber head cover gaskets when re-assembling. Normally I wouldn't use anything except a little grease on such nice rubber gaskets and surfaces that came apart so nicely ( and using a little grease would only be used to hold the gasket in position to make reassemby easy) - But I'm new to Honda's and will definitely follow words of experience here...

The head covers came apart nice and cleanly, and apeared to have had a mild rubber contact cement that left a crusty residue. The crusty residue wiped off easily with a shop rag and WD40. Whatever the factory used as a sealer was not a Strong Adhesive or gasket sealer - it came apart too nicely and didnt tear the gasket.

So what, if anything, should I use as a sealer so the next time i check these valves it's as easy as it was this time?

I googled HondaBond A, and it seams to be not available anymore, prehaps replaced by Pro Honda Handgrip cement? (a Rubber/Pvc cement adhesive)

Is a sealer really needed for these head covers? It's not a high oil preasure area - but then if i wanted oil leaks I'd get a Harley!!! (And I dont want an Oil Leaker!)

 

[smilie]

Just use a TINY bead of blue permatex. It doesn't take much to seal two flat compressed surfaces. It's cheap insurance against do-overs. Thus the recommendation from honda to use sealer.

 

[Bobolto]

Just checked the valves, Oops, they were all tight, and a couple of the intakes had no gap at all - Good thing I checked em, it was way overdue and with a little over 14K miles I dont think anybody's ever done anything to maintain this bike.

But I got em all set right now and ready to reassemple. Twas my first time setting the valve clearances on a Shadow (a 05 VT750DC Spirit) and its quite a job, There's a Whole LOTTA Stuff to disassemble just to get to those valves! All came apart ok, and the head cover gaskets are still nice good rubber and reuaseable, so here's my question,,,

The manual says to use HondaBond A or equivelant on the rubber head cover gaskets when re-assembling. Normally I wouldn't use anything except a little grease on such nice rubber gaskets and surfaces that came apart so nicely ( and using a little grease would only be used to hold the gasket in position to make reassemby easy) - But I'm new to Honda's and will definitely follow words of experience here...

The head covers came apart nice and cleanly, and apeared to have had a mild rubber contact cement that left a crusty residue. The crusty residue wiped off easily with a shop rag and WD40. Whatever the factory used as a sealer as not a Strong Adhesive or gasket sealer - it came apart too nicely and didnt tear the gasket.

So what, if anything, should I use as a sealer so the next time i check these valves it's as easy as it was this time?

I googled HondaBond A, and it seams to be not available anymore, prehaps replaced by Pro Honda Handgrip cement? (a Rubber/Pvc cement adhesive)

Is a sealer really needed for these head covers? It's not a high oil preasure area - but then if i wanted oil leaks I'd get a Harley!!! (And I dont want an Oil Leaker!)

Whatever you do, don't use "Grip Cement" on the valve covers.

My service manual calls for new gaskets and the use of hondabond A when reinstalling the valve cover gaskets.

i can't find hondabond A either.

i did find Hondabond HT (08718-0004) and Hondabond 4 (08717-1194)

leaning towords the Hondabond HT (08718-0004) as it seems to have the same properties and the hondabond 4 with the exception of HT being good to 600 degrees vs 300 degrees.

i sent a message to the Ebay Honda dealer asking about hondabond A.

Here is an excerpt from a discussion about Hondabond:
"In closing, get a tube of either Hondabond HT 08718-0004 or Permatex Ultra Grey, which should cover almost everything, and a can of Honda Ultra Flange 2 08718-0009 for gasketless oil pans and a few other niche applications."

Knowing which Hondabond to use - Honda-Tech

 

[7xclm]

I think you are more than a simple tinkerer. I would just use enough grease to hold the rubber sealer in place while reinstalling. You are correct in their is no pressure in the valve cover area.

 

[Bobolto]

I think you are more than a simple tinkerer. I would just use enough grease to hold the rubber sealer in place while reinstalling. You are correct in their is no pressure in the valve cover area.

I think your right Mike, provided the gaskets are in good shape. not sure if i would use "grease" though.

 

[KaBob]

I like Smilie's suggestion - "Just a TINY bead of blue Permatex" and cheap insurance insurance against a redo. Sure sounds like a very reasonable solution.

Am off to town and a local shop for either some blue permatex or the shops ideas...
Whatever Honda used was perfect for the cover gaskets - the seal was very good (no seepage at all), and, it popped apart easily and surfaces and gasket cleaned up very easily. Later, will probably return with some blue Permatex...

 

[gypsy]

i purchased honda bond sealant from amazon last fall. it is available. honda recommends it on several machined surfaces. it does not get brittle, comes off pretty easily, and is often used to replace casing gaskets or to seal a paper gasket.

 

[7xclm]

I think your right Mike, provided the gaskets are in good shape. not sure if i would use "grease" though.

Old habit rebuilding engines back in the day before rubber gaskets. Grease would dilute in the oil. Just to hold the gasket especially valve cover gaskets.

 

[Bobolto]

Old habit rebuilding engines back in the day before rubber gaskets. Grease would dilute in the oil. Just to hold the gasket especially valve cover gaskets.

hey mike, your Temp in KY is starting to come up...

 

[7xclm]

Yes it is. Should rise 10 more degrees today. Starts dropping and snow by noon tomorrow. Forecast is for 7" snow by Friday morning.

 

[KaBob]

Yep, Back in the day... Grease works well sometimes (and keeps em alive for reuse...

and, Yes XXX... I'm not a pro mechanic, but I was a UH1 (Heuy) helicoptor mechanic for 2 years when I was drafted, and not unfamiliar with motors, boats and bikes... Metal and Steel - a Hard subject! (especially on your hands)

Actually I'l love to hear from a few who do their own valve adjustments periodicly and successfully seals em up and pops em apart again without tearin up the gaskets. Successful experience is definitely worth listening too...

 

[Bobolto]

Whatever you do, don't use "Grip Cement" on the valve covers.

My service manual calls for new gaskets and the use of hondabond A when reinstalling the valve cover gaskets.

i can't find hondabond A either.

i did find Hondabond HT (08718-0004) and Hondabond 4 (08717-1194)

leaning towords the Hondabond HT (08718-0004) as it seems to have the same properties and the hondabond 4 with the exception of HT being good to 600 degrees vs 300 degrees.

i sent a message to the Ebay Honda dealer asking about hondabond A.

Here is an excerpt from a discussion about Hondabond:
"In closing, get a tube of either Hondabond HT 08718-0004 or Permatex Ultra Grey, which should cover almost everything, and a can of Honda Ultra Flange 2 08718-0009 for gasketless oil pans and a few other niche applications."

Knowing which Hondabond to use - Honda-Tech

Honda Dealer Parts guy says Hondabond 4 for valve cover gaskets.

Hondabond A he never heard of, probably a typo in the manual and should have read Hondabond 4.

 

[jpr1968]

Honda Dealer Parts guy says Hondabond 4 for valve cover gaskets.

Hondabond A he never heard of, probably a typo in the manual and should have read Hondabond 4.

It's not a typo. My Honda maintenance books call for it. Must be a relatively new mechanic.

 

[KaBob]

Stopped by a local bike shop and they use Three Bond 1194 Liguid Gasket for bike valve covers, and say its a good sealer for those rubber gaskets, pops apart and cleans up easily...

Also stopped by NAPA auto parts. They looked up HondaBond A and found equivalent xref to Permatex Ultra Gray. With a NAPA Oem xref equivalant to Ultra Gray I got some Ulltra Gray. Am sure it will seal just fine - guess I'll find how it pops apart and cleans up at next valve check time. As long as it seals well, comes apart and cleans up easily without ruining the rubber gaskets I'll be happy.

Now on with the reeassemply - then Pilot screw settings and carb sync are next on the maintenance list. And I better get those done in the next couple weeks cause warm weather's gonnna be here soon...

So I have to center punch the Pilet Screw caps so I can drill a small hole in the cap, so i can then use a small self threadin screw to pull the cap - All Just to get at the Pilot Screw!
And Carb SynC - that's another special tool problem that needs a solution!

Honda sure aint makin it easy to maintain their bikes!!!
What have I gotten myself in to?

 

[7xclm]

Yep, Back in the day... Grease works well sometimes (and keeps em alive for reuse...

and, Yes XXX... I'm not a pro mechanic, but I was a UH1 (Heuy) helicoptor mechanic for 2 years when I was drafted, and not unfamiliar with motors, boats and bikes... Metal and Steel - a Hard subject! (especially on your hands)

Actually I'l love to hear from a few who do their own valve adjustments periodicly and successfully seals em up and pops em apart again without tearin up the gaskets. Successful experience is definitely worth listening too...

I knew it, yes I did. UH1 mechanic. And even though you were drafted, thank you for your service.
Drafted. You just gave away your age too me also.

 

[Bobolto]

It's not a typo. My Honda maintenance books call for it. Must be a relatively new mechanic.

Yet try and find Hondabond A ... you won't

 

[7xclm]

I am warmer than you.

 

[Bobolto]

I am warmer than you.

yes you are

but you're also an hour ahead of me, i'm still warming-up ... i think :lol:

why arent you out RIDING???? lol

 

[jpr1968]

Yet try and find Hondabond A ... you won't

Never said I could find it. :roll:

 

[7xclm]

Bike still down. been trying for a month too take her too the shop. Weather is just not cooperating. With the forecast it might be a couple of more weeks before I can get her too the shop.