Topic: GASKET BRAND / QUALITY??

[chippyfive50]

I am about to embark on a top-end rebuild of my 750 K4.
I have seen the top-end sets / total sets in a wide price range.
Any brand recommendations other that the dealer??

[heffay]

its been said and i'm just gonna pass it on...
buy honda

i just purchased the complete honda engine gasket set for the 400f... 

[heffay]

so, when you say dealer... do you mean honda?

... just because you don't like your crack dealer doesn't mean you don't like his crack 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

so, when you say dealer... do you mean honda?

... just because you don't like your crack dealer doesn't mean you don't like his crack 

Heff,
so, when you say crack, do you mean his butt crack or his rock?    (couldn't resist)

Anyway, yeah Honda gaskets, etc are more expensive but in this case there is a reason why - they are worth the minimal extra expense. Considering you are/will see how much work there is to a rebuild ask yourself - do I want to do this again when I should have laid out a few more bucks the first time? Just depends on if you are keeping the bike and want to put some miles on it.

[heffay]

i know a few plumbers who like to sling crack... i prefer to go elsewhere unless i'm really desperate.   

[bwaller]

Agreed on Honda gaskets, BUT I was told just last week that a complete set (750) was no longer available. It wasn't the parts guy I usually deal with so I didn't pursue the matter. I also know that certain individual gaskets aren't available either.

We may be forced to find an aftermarket source like it or not.

[hymodyne]

I've got an upper head rebuild and a carb rebuild in my  future, and I'm planning on getting Honda parts from my local dealer (whose prices are high enough that you'd think he was selling something else ) but as may have said, the honda parts are worth the price.

hym

[heffay]

maybe the 400 and bigger engines are entirely different gasket pricing but i found my set on ebay (he even included some leftover oil seals beyond the unopened complete set) for 51 dollars including shipping.

is that bad?  if it is, i need to redefine my definition of saving a buck. 

[bert96]

I bought a set,(the last time i rebuilt my engine) from honda because they were suppose to be better but guess what...my base gasket is leaking...this time i'll use cometic gaskets for the base and the head,for the rest i have a set that i bought from cyclex.I don't see why a lot of guys only use OEM gaskets.With cars we only use Fel-pro gasket and not OEM and we don't have any problem.When i can,i try to buy aftermarket parts,for exemple i've just buy my cable clutch and i bought MotionPro instead of OEM and i'm really satisfied with the quality.That's just my .02 cent

[neil young]

correct me if im wrong.....but are the honda gaskets made by Vesrah?
if so Z1 has them for the 550....not sure about the 750.

[heffay]

When i can,i try to buy aftermarket parts,for exemple i've just buy my cable clutch and i bought MotionPro instead of OEM and i'm really satisfied with the quality.That's just my .02 cent

me too... but being friends w/ gordon, i knew he would have a few choice words. 
and, i knew it... when i told him i scored the gasket set from ebay he says: "honda right?!"
 

[Jeremiah]

I've used Athena gaskets on the last 4 550s and had no problems..  I think if you do it right, it doesn't matter that much.  Honda seems to have the nicest head gasket, but it's almost as much money as the complete set by versah or athena.   

[mattcb350f]

I've heard good things about Athena.

On a side note, since Honda no longer makes complete gasket sets for the 350F (A or B) I added up the total if I were to buy every seal, o-ring, and gasket from Honda for the entire engine....

Came out to a little over $300 

 Matt.

[mark]

..........With cars we only use Fel-pro gasket and not OEM and we don't have any problem......

+1 ...... too bad they don't make Honda sohc gaskets. Fel-Pro always blamed their higher kit prices on their fancy Viton valve stem seals - what's honda's excuse?


I just got an Athena set for the 350 twin. The head gasket is punched from Victor/Reinz stock. V/R has put a lot into updating their materials over the past decade or so. The exhaust rings are a modern corrugated stainless/graphite composite that looks like it should be more tolerant of slightly pitted surfaces than copper/asbestos. The flat gaskets are punched from green stuff that looks like what FIAT used to use... hmmmm.
The set includes both cam cover gaskets - only one still available oem. It wouldn't bother me if they had put in some more o-rings and maybe the oil pump gasket that is also NLA............

The aftermarket oil seal kits for the twins and the 500-4 usually include the clutch lifter seal that Honda has discontinued.

[heffay]

what's honda's excuse?

SOHC4s