OEM parts are stupid expensive and I would rather not order a $20 Gasket if I can avoid it. Would it be a bad idea to use gasket maker on my alternator cover?

 

Many years ago I bought some gasket making material and I used to lay an engine cover on top of it, gently tap all around with a rubber mallet and then cut out around the outline that was created. I'm not sure if you could find an outlet that sells that sort of thing now, but it wouldn't be costly for a sheet of it. Worth looking around shops that sell gas cooker accessories as that is where I am sure I found the material when I bought it.

 

What exactly is an engine cover?

 

Sorry, I meant to say the timing cover or gearbox cover or camshaft cover, any cover that is part of the engine! Alternator cover or clutch cover is simply an aluminium casting that makes up the engine as a whole. Hope this clears up your query?

 

Either suck it up and buy the OEM gasket, make one yourself out of gasket paper or even try making a cereal box gasket, liquid gaskets are basically a load of useless **** - any excess gets picked up by the strainer blocking it and causing oil starvation - given Honda's track record of crap head design and oil starvation it is not exactly ideal.

Cereal boxes actually make really good gaskets if you cut them right (put the shiny side against the crankcase), on a non critical seal like the generator cover it will probably be fine and it is of course free to try. If it is cut well it wont leak, try gasket paper if you don't like the poverty approach and don't want to spend loads on a Honda gasket.