Copper Washers on Cylinder head cover and side covers

[paulbaker1954]

Can anyone tell me what purpose these actually serve?

[Bryanj]

What copper washers where? Shouldnt be any on a 500/550

[paulbaker1954]

There are 8 of them Bryan, they sit under some of the camcover bolts and there are 2 fitted to the end cap bolts along with the alloy washer which sits at the bottom of the bolt. They are simply crush washers to stop oil weeping up the bolt and leaking over the camcover Paul.

Thanks Ken

[Nurse Julie]

They are a wafer thin that have been zink plated so, don't look copper. The later 550's had flange bolts 

[Bryanj]

Never noticed copper colouring on any of those, perhaps the zinc plating had not worn off as most of the ones i did were 1st time strip.

[Erny]

Reopening this topic - are mentioned washers fine to be reused (after check and eventual flattening /grinding) or needs to be replaced by new ones? HSM does not specify this.

[Tomb]

Any copper washers can be re-used if not damaged, copper work hardens so will need heating to cherry red colour and leaving to cool to anneal, they are then soft and should not need flattening/filing as they will do that when tightened down against. Of course this may remove the plating.

I make copper head gasket for my 4 cylinder bikes which I re-use in the same way.

[Bryanj]

Back inthe day they were rarely replaced unless leaking

[Erny]

Great, thanks