Topic: Aftermarket o-rings

[yogi]

Hey all:

I have always bought OEM o-rings specific for whatever part I am working on at the moment, but as I work on more and more projects I realize I am getting nickeled and dimed to death over time by buying them piece by piece.  I found a JIS o-ring assortment set at the oringstore.com,  but I'm not sure about the reliability of sizing. I'm also not sure about the material. The website says they are made of 70 durometer nitrile, which I assume is fine for most oil fuel applications, but I don't know if that is good enough for the maximum sustained temperature of internal engine parts.

Does anybody here have thoughts about these kits? Do you end up saving money, or should I just suck it up, buy specific OEM  piece by peice, and chalk it up to the ever growing costs of my hobby/obsession?

Thanks,
Byron

[pjlogue]

O ring assortment kits are a good investment but purchase good quality ones.  I purchased both metric and SAE which have come in handy but be aware that the kits are usually "standard" sizes.  What I have found is invariable the size I need isn't standard size.  Can be very frustrating.  It's usually the cross section "thickness" of the O ring that's oddball size.  What I have found is the slightly thinner one is to thin and doesn't seal well and the next thicker size is too large to work properly. 

-P.

[ekpent]

  The price for OEM o-rings are crazy stupid high if you order them from Honda. I buy the specific size I need in bulk then always have the spares handy when I need them in the future. I recently ordered all the sizes from ebay seller oringsandmore that I need to do CB550/500 carbs and am set now to do many sets without chasing all over for a little round piece of overpriced rubber 

[DaveBarbier]

For the internal engine stuff (like head to jugs) I use OEM but for other stuff I order from McMaster Carr. For high heat I get Viton but for all else I get Buna N. One thing to look out for is that Viton is harder than nitrile generally and it has a slight texture to it. I haven’t had any issues though. My oil pump is leak free even though I’m using the slightly harder, textured Viton. I could have gotten away with Buna N there because it can take the heat in that application, but I think they didn’t have that particular size so I went with Viton.

I do like the o-ring assortments but Honda uses some weird sizes sometimes.

Hope that helps!

[DaveBarbier]

Also, I search the Honda o-ring part number followed by Honda (like xxx-xxxx-xxx Honda) in eBay. Much better pricing than through a dealer.

[johans]

Like anything in life the choice is yours . The internet makes these technical choices much easier . Ethanol tainted fuels are my only recent concern after rebuilding my early carbs with 8 o-rings on the fuel tees. Use this extensive chart for type of material and their limitations. Thank God these o ring supply houses are out there .Happy o ring hunting 

https://www.allorings.com/o-ring-compatibility

[Tracksnblades1]

Your local Ag and Construction dealers are a good source of standard and metrics orings. Our local Caterpillar, Case, CaseIH, John Deere, NewHolland, kubota, etc carry standard and metric assortments.
Caterpillar stocks standard, metric, high temp, high durometer, and all them pretty colored ones. Modern excavators are running working pressures over 4000# now, requiring higher durometer orings, if you have a troublesome leak. Part numbered orings are always higher priced than the same assortment ones are.

Catalog hydraulic shops like Baam Hydraulics ,Bull Dog Hydraulics and others can supply you with national oring assortments in all sizes standard, metric, or by size.

My experiences are similar to "you get what you pay for....but a rip off is a rip off..."
I haven't had any long term results with orings less than 80 durometer, especially on any type of suction lines.

[Deltarider]

I never felt Honda prices were a rip of. All the other brands are as expensive. Moreover I have always been content with the quality and the piece of mind genuine parts give you. Here's some more advice: go for Daiichi breakerpoints and condensers, Keyster carb parts and save an extra buck. Less quality, but what do you care? You have two for the price of one and... hey, hey, hey, two is more than one! Ever wondered why in Europe we have the quality firms like Dave Silver, CMSNL and many, many others and your territory is flooded by junk?

[Kevin D]

I used Viton orings at the head gasket area only, as the old ones that came out were a little bit crunchy. I always give the new and old parts a side by side inspection.

[ekpent]

I never felt Honda prices were a rip of. All the other brands are as expensive. Moreover I have always been content with the quality and the piece of mind genuine parts give you. Here's some more advice: go for Daiichi breakerpoints and condensers, Keyster carb parts and save an extra buck. Less quality, but what do you care? You have two for the price of one and... hey, hey, hey, two is more than one! Ever wondered why in Europe we have the quality firms like Dave Silver, CMSNL and many, many others and your territory is flooded by junk?

  Yeah-I have been getting some real warm and fuzzy feelings lately buying genuine Honda oem parts.  This was my latest batch. Guess I should just be happy somebody is still making them somewhere. Think we all know though there are certain things to steer away from in the aftermarket world if at all possible.

[Deltarider]

I remember the days the first SOHC Fours entered the market. At the time Honda made the promise that they would always continue to make the necessary parts and one has to admit they went a long way in fulfilling that promise. But if there's one market that practicilly makes it impossible to succeed in this, it is the US, where quantity is valued more than quality. All this with a race to the bottom as a result. Sad. Enterpreneurs like David Silver and CMSNL cannot be praised enough for their initiative like when they ordered to have the beautifull original 4-4 exhaust been built again. Expensive, yes, but still you pay less than for the originals back then when you index the prices. For instance, I myself will never go for a 4-1. When needed my bike will be rewarded for all its years of reliable service with a new set, a joy to ride and a lust for the eye. Excuse me for my disgress, I mean from an O-ring to chrome exhausts... 

[PeWe]

The owners have changed their mind about modifying their bikes. Back to stock look is the way nowadays Yamiya is also one good provider.

[yogi]

Thanks for all the comments. I think I will get ab assortment set, but buy OEM for more critical applications.

[Tracksnblades1]

I never felt Honda prices were a rip of. All the other brands are as expensive. Moreover I have always been content with the quality and the piece of mind genuine parts give you. Here's some more advice: go for Daiichi breakerpoints and condensers, Keyster carb parts and save an extra buck. Less quality, but what do you care? You have two for the price of one and... hey, hey, hey, two is more than one! Ever wondered why in Europe we have the quality firms like Dave Silver, CMSNL and many, many others and your territory is flooded by junk?

And to think I just bought Honda OEM thottle cables.....
With reference to the above:
 My inference was not to imply Honda prices where a rip off either...
I have paid $17.84 for a  $1.89 National Oil Seal Oring in a oem KDC plastic bag. Wonder who manufactures Hondas' orings?
I did understand Yogi's initiall post to share opinions and query with concerns in monetary and time savings. My post was merely to inform Yogi, here in the USA, we have many many many quality OEM dealers that provide full warranty support and supply quality parts for their products. That said, many many free modern opportunities and opinions exist here to save time and money. Blessed with quality modern products from quality modern manufacturers here and abroad that may well exceed the Oem requirements of a nearly 50 year old masterpiece.
I too, love the appearance of an unmolested masterpiece., but I equally enjoy the freedom of individuality  expressions.
Warmest Regards

[70CB750]

There is always Rocket Seals:

https://www.rocketseals.com/