red gasket gunk

[jacksondee]

wtf is all this red gunk around the gasket seal? I'm thinking the previous owner didn't want to dish out the cash for a new gasket, so he just 'painted' it with gasket sealer or some ish? the new gasket is in the mail to me right now..

 

[HerrDeacon]

Looks like RTV. You better give the engine a good check over since that stuff has a tendency to fall off and clog up oil passages. Good way to lose a head. The part in your pictures looks to be a 'dry' part and not near any oil, but make sure the PO didn't use it elsewhere.

 

[jacksondee]

Looks like RTV. You better give the engine a good check over since that stuff has a tendency to fall off and clog up oil passages. Good way to lose a head. The part in your pictures looks to be a 'dry' part and not near any oil, but make sure the PO didn't use it elsewhere.

there was a different, darker, slightly harder substance seriously gooped all over the valve head gasket. i had to pry the thing off with a screwdriver. that looks like it didn't really get anywhere else though, it wasn't as pliable as this red crap.

I've not heard of RTV, though I am new to this. How exactly would I give the thing a good 'once over'? it did run mostly perfectly for me all last summer when I bought it, I only just decided to tear into it end of this winter, and am otherwise only a weekend, maybe two, from it being done and ready to ride this summer.

that's the timing adjustment area. i also thought it was 'dry', but was surprised to see a few drops of motor oil in there. but as said, i am very new to working on a bike.