Valve cover oil leaks on lots of 865cc engines.

[mr1bienvenu]

I just bought a 2009 Bonneville SE with 980 miles on it. Got a good deal on the bike from a Triumph dealer in Katy Texas. There is no warranty on the bike.
The valve cover gasket is now leaking in four spots and from what I have been reading on the other forum forum this is a VERY common problem. Mostly on the newer 865cc bikes. Here is what I have found.
This is the valve cover bolt for the 2001 Bonneville (BOLT, LGE SKT HD, SHLD,M6X24.0) and this is the bolt for my bike (M6X24.95, SLV 2009 Bonneville) Can I us the one from the 2001 on my 2009?

The bolts are shorter on the older Bonneville engines so it seems to me it may squeeze the valve cover gasket tighter and be less likely to leak. Many of the people that are having this problem don't have many miles on there bikes before it starts leaking.

 

[gumpt1oo]

Not sure about the different bolts, but when mine leaked, I just re-torqued the valve cover bolts.
I think over time as the gasket is made of a rubber composite material it compresses and goes harder with heat.
The bolts should be torqued to 10Nm. I have done 5000 miles since I re-torqued the bolts and have not had any more leaks.
Worth a try!

 

[devo]

Not sure about the different bolts, but when mine leaked, I just re-torqued the valve cover bolts.
I think over time as the gasket is made of a rubber composite material it compresses and goes harder with heat.
The bolts should be torqued to 10Nm. I have done 5000 miles since I re-torqued the bolts and have not had any more leaks.
Worth a try!

Definitely agree with this.
I dont know wot you mean by late model, but my 07 America has 23000 ks and not a drop of seepage anywhere thankfully.

 

[Silli]

WARNING Do not overtighten the fasteners. Doing so is a sure way to distort the material and cause leaks.

 

[Rocky]

Mine is an '06 T100 865cc. I had it about a year and changed the valve cover to a chrome one.
I carefully removed the factory cover and gasket, cleaned up the head and gasket and reused the factory gasket along with blue hylomar jointing compound.
That was nearly five years ago and the joint has never leaked even the slightest.