Joined
·
3,968 Posts
They all do this.
Anti-seize on the threads, and a little grease on the o-ring, are needed because the threads on the aluminum plug really, really love to bind up and stick to the aluminum cover. Even if you don't need to do a valve check, it's good practice once you've added anti-seize to crack this stupid loose a little and then snug it back up every six to 12 months.
And snug is all you need. People tend to drastically over-tighten these things seeking to get the o-ring to stop seeping. Again, every DL1000 will seep a little, it's perfectly normal minor failing of the design. Just wipe it off every so often. Tightening the plug does absolutely nothing to improve the seal; quite the opposite in fact.
I'll also point out that, if you manage to damage the plug (which isn't hard -- it's a surprisingly thin and weak aluminum casting) a new plug isn't that expensive from your favorite source for Suzuki bits, and that you should replace the o-ring as well.
Lastly, there is, or used to be, a much-improved Yoshimura timing plug sold for the DR-Z400 that fits the DL1000. I never ponied up the cash, but some have. There are also some Chinese knockoffs out there of unknown quality.
Anti-seize on the threads, and a little grease on the o-ring, are needed because the threads on the aluminum plug really, really love to bind up and stick to the aluminum cover. Even if you don't need to do a valve check, it's good practice once you've added anti-seize to crack this stupid loose a little and then snug it back up every six to 12 months.
And snug is all you need. People tend to drastically over-tighten these things seeking to get the o-ring to stop seeping. Again, every DL1000 will seep a little, it's perfectly normal minor failing of the design. Just wipe it off every so often. Tightening the plug does absolutely nothing to improve the seal; quite the opposite in fact.
I'll also point out that, if you manage to damage the plug (which isn't hard -- it's a surprisingly thin and weak aluminum casting) a new plug isn't that expensive from your favorite source for Suzuki bits, and that you should replace the o-ring as well.
Lastly, there is, or used to be, a much-improved Yoshimura timing plug sold for the DR-Z400 that fits the DL1000. I never ponied up the cash, but some have. There are also some Chinese knockoffs out there of unknown quality.