i have an 03 600 F4I and the alternator cover is shot and i have a new one on order with a new gasket. i was looking through the repair manual and it looks fairly easy. one thing they could have explained better is applying the sealant. it says....

Apply sealant to the mating surface of the new crankcase as shown.

then it shows a drawing which resembles a gasket but i'm assuming is the part of the crankcase where the gasket would rest. it has two grayed out areas, one on the left and one on the right, where i guess you're supposed to put the sealant.

my question is, where to you put the sealant. i have some automotive experience and i would swear that we used to put gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket. does the sealant go on both sides or just one? does it go on the crankcase only as the manual would suggest?

any help or advice appreciated. thanks

 

I put it on both sides, very thin. Wiped up all the excess after the parts were tight togther, with thinner. No leaks, no unsighly joint goop.

 

thanks for the response. i don't see where i could go wrong doing as you suggest. that would go along with what i had always thought was right, using it on both sides. if something happens and it ends up leaking, i guess i can try it again. my only other concern is the type of sealant to use. i would think a high temperature gasket sealer would be ok. but to be on the safe side i guess i'll go to the local honda dealer and get the "proper" sealant, though i'm sure they'll charge an arm and a leg for it. thanks again for the reponse.

 

I used Yamaha Bond. I found it works very well. I also have used Honda's brand as well and it works well also. I am kind of funny about the color of the stuff I use. I just HATE non-original looking colors on sealants. Remember when it was tough to get anything other than blue or red? Yuck!!!!!!!!

 

i was reading through the manual on how to do this and it said to remove the throttle body. i was like, what the hell, screw that. so i went ahead and pulled the cover and come to find out you only need to remove the throttle body if you want to completely remove the stator. i would have gone to the dealer for the sealant but they're closed on mondays. so i picked up some good old permatex high temp sealant. i saw where the original sealant had been placed and it was only in two small spots. i don't think i will have a problem. i'll put oil in it tomorrow. but guess what, good old red permatex, heh!