Gaskets - Side or Valve Covers

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

I replaced my side covers and when I reinstalled the gaskets, I used red permatex per the manual. Road the bike and there is oil seeping from the seal and also from the mounting bolts.  Im thinking that the gasket it shot and too compressed and needed to be replaced.  I just bought two new ones to install.  From what I read, most say do NOT use any gasket sealer and just install clean.  Waiting on feedback before I do it again.  $50 for two gaskets, not doing it again.

[olddog1946]

mmm, I can't help you with that but I see you've changed exhaust again. Those look like super trapp pipes.........are they as loud as the cobras were before you cut them down?

[Hoser]

No permatex  needed on formed rubber gaskets .  Just make sure the round gaskets are in the groove. Hoser

[Chrisj CMA]

Theres four DABS of sealant called for.  Its on the square little shoulders above and below the cam seal.  thats it.  I do it every time, never had a leak.

BTW those are not the side covers, they are the cylinder head cover or commonly referred to as the valve cover............the side covers are the plastic 3 part cover that covers the coolant reservoir and the electronics

[RUDE DOG - Steelers]

Thanks guys, going to take care of it tomorrow.  
Olddog: Yes, yet again an exhaust change.  Yup, Supertrapps, in full baffled form, unbelievable power increase, breaks the tire loose. Sound is very quiet and tame with full baffles installed.  Ive tried numerous configurations: open end caps, discs, no baffles, etc.  With no baffles at all and just an end cap, very deep and loud, sounds great but less power than with the baffles installed.  I've got another set of Cobras Im cutting down again Im going to install.  For me I just like the way they sound.  Open Cobras are more radical sounding where open Supertrapps sound awesome but more controlled.  Any configuration though, the Trapps make more power hands down.  Thinking of selling the Trapps though not sure because they are so hard to come by used.

[Brian]

When I adjusted my valves this spring I cleaned all the gasket surfaces of the valve covers and the gaskets. I used the Permatex High Tack sealant to hold the gasket in place in the valve cover and did the sealant dab in the four corners on each cover just like the manual shows. No problem with a leak yet. This is the second time I have used this method with success.