1980 XS 650 Cam Seal Replacement

[ihaxs650]

The left camshaft seal installed very quickly with o'ring, gasket and Liquid Gasket 1104. The right camshaft seal is a different story. There seems to be less surface area for the OEM seal to ride on! Read some reviews and decided to try the suggestion of leaving the gasket off and use only Yamabond. Well, not only did I leave the gasket off but forgot to put the o'ring on as well. Neither side leaks and all appear well. I hesitate to put in the forgotten o'ring on the right side. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[xjwmx]

I'd leave it as you have it. The gasket and ring are supposed to do what you've successfully done a different way with the sealer. For anybody with an interminable leak between the seal and camshaft one thing you can try is buffing the shaft there lightly with plastic scotchbrite pad.

I think, but am not positive, that if the camshaft is centered, there will be equal amount of camshaft on each side for the seal to work against.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Ditto on centering the camshaft, plus ensuring that the bearings are fully seated inward on the camshaft.

Some camshaft oilseal cautions:

http://www.xs650.com/threads/need-new-cam-shaft-seal-oring-gasket.36404/