Yamaha YZFR1 Clutch Cover Gasket Installation Help 

Getting the clutch cover gasket installed properly on Yamaha YZF-R motorcycle models has been known to be a bit frustrating at times.

Partzilla’s Yamaha motorcycle expert John Talley hosts live Q&A sessions on our YouTube channel every Friday at 3pm Eastern. In this edition, John was asked if there’s an easy way to install a clutch cover gasket on a 2008 Yamaha R1.  

Yamaha YZFR1 Clutch Cover Gasket Frustration

We have a 2008 Yamaha YZFR1 that we had to do some maintenance on the clutch basket. Keeping the clutch cover gasket on the cover while putting on the cover is difficult. Is there any easy way to do that? It’s so frustrating. 

John Talley: It is frustrating, mainly because if you don’t get that arm in the right place, the clutch is not going to actuate as it should. But you’re talking more about the gasket not staying in place, because I think the cover actually kind of tilts out. Well, use gravity as your friend, or find a friend to just lean the bike over further. Or find a way to just lean it on its side at about a 40-degree angle, somewhere in that neighborhood. Put the gasket on the engine case itself, then bring in your cover. That would be my suggestion for you. When I did that Yamaha R6 engine build, I basically had the engine on a stand and I just rotated it up, so that worked for me. Hopefully it will work for you, but without having to pull your motor out of the frame. I mean, at least tilt the motorcycle over where you can get to it, or let gravity help you out. 

Watch the video below to see the final portion of our Yamaha R6 engine rebuild, which includes the clutch installation.

Watch the video below to learn about how motorcycle clutches work.

Watch the video below to learn about the differences between wet clutches and dry clutches.

Want to see more live repair questions answered? See more motorcycle and ATV repair questions answered here.