valve cover gaskets on a 02 1500 drifter

[lumper]

Well I still wouldn't put it past him to do that if he thought it would mean making more money.

Either way I am going to fix the leak and move on, it will give me a chance to get to know the bike a lot all at once.
Lump

[chief]

I'm not sure its possible to disconnect the odometer on the 2002 without losing the whole speedo...

[lumper]

Well after hearing this and then paying attention a little more as I put a few miles on this bike I have a right side rear leak too.
I read your plug/silicone fix and a friend of mine did the valve cover gaskets on a Vulcan 1500 last week for another friend, said it took 4 to 5 hours and wasn't too bad to do.
I am going to investigate tomorrow more and try to determine if it is the plug or the gasket and go from there.
'IF it is the gaskets I will try to get as much of the riding season out of it as it is before I tackle it and then I will do whatever I can for future preventative maintenance at the same time while I have the engine out.
I had a suspicion that the miles were too low and had wondered if someone along the way had disconnected the speedo for about 20k miles.
I hear these leaks are sort of common around 25k, so the math adds up.
If thats the worst of it I am ok with it, at least I can fix it inexpensively and over a weekend and have the satisfaction of replacing anything else I an get my hands on so I have piece of mind for a while.
Luimp

[chief]

That's why I was asking why you were doing the valve covers.

There are a couple of relative tips here:

http://www.VulcanDrifterRiders.com/reviewpost/showcat.php/cat/57

[rawv]

Hey Troll ..Thanks I'm going to look closer and see if its the cam plugs or valve covers that are the problem  but if I have to pull the motor I'm just gonna fix it after riding season.......     Rick

[cincydrifter99]

My 99 1500 seeps a little at the right front corner if I over fill the oil even the slightest bit overfill! 18,000 miles, no other issues. I too was wondering if the engine needed to be removed to do the valve covers. Nothing like the old days, on the KZ's I guess..........

[Troll]

   Welllllll, you're probably not going to like this, but.....The first thing it says in Mr. Manual is "remove the engine". Pretty straight forward after that, but there is mention of replacing oil filters located in the rocker cover. I would replace the cam bore plugs, myself, if I went to all that trouble.  Here is a shot of the page referencing the procedure.....Are you sure it's the gasket? The rubber cam bore plug is right there on the right side of the rear head.

[rawv]

Mine are leaking on the right rear so I'm thinking about installing new gaskets..my question is after removing the tank do you have to pull the motor out or is there enough room between the backbone  of the frame and the motor to remove the bolts and slide the valve covers out the side..I just thought I'd put this out here first before I tackle the job cause if its to much I'll wait till fall when I put it up for the winter....Thanks...Rick

[chief]

Rocker Case Cover Bolts - 78 IN/lb.

[dawg]

The front valve cover started lleaking weekend before last and makes quite the mess. Will sell for $5000 before I fix the leak, will be doing it this weekend

[chief]

Sorry not at home to get to the torque specs. Why are you doing this?

[lumper]

Ah, ok, sorry then.
My friend just did one on a friends bike, said it was 8 hours and a pain but he knows how to do it now when mine goes.
HE seems to think at 15- 20k I will need to do the same thing, we will see.
Anyway just a coincedence, sorry I dont have a manual or any useful infop for you man,
Lump

[dawg]

I haven't done it yet will be tackleing it this weekend and I figured this would be a good place to gather info

[lumper]

Was it by chance Dr Sin ( Walt) that came by to help you?
Sry if not, my buddy just helped another friend do a valve cover gasket on one of these and he was telling me about it, I just thought it might be the same guy, small world if it is man.
Lump

[dawg]

I have a 02 drifter and I am going to attempt to replace the valve cover gaskets with a friend and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the torque specs or maybe email me a shop manual. I am also selling this bike for $6000 it is a sharp bike but I'm wanting to get something better to go o. Long trips with my wife. It has many add one and has around 46000 miles.