Topic: Honda Carb Bowl Gaskets Verses Newer "No Swell" Gaskets?

[RSchaefer]

Would it be better to order the Honda specific gasket set for the carbs and use their bowl gasket or to get one of the newer "No Swell" gaskets for the bowls due to the alcohol in the gas??

[harisuluv]

Hello AZ brother, down in Tucson here.  You will be fine with the Honda gaskets.  If you buy an OEM gasket kit remember that it is just gaskets and some o-rings.  You will still need all the hardware--jets, float valves, needles, etc.

[RSchaefer]

Harisuluv thanks for your reply.  I had sent you an email several months ago about your carb rebuilds, I decided to give it a shot myself, along with Hondaman's book and save the $200+.  I did polish the bowls and needle housing cap as you show on your site.

Yes I get that, my jets all appear to be good/cleaned, needle straight, etc. I was just wondering about the bowl gasket being the original Honda or these aftermarket "no Swell" gaskets.  Should I worry about using the stock bowl gaskets with current alcohol fuel?

I do see were I can get a set (4) of the no swell bowl gaskets on eBay for $14.  Not sure if I need to replace the round multi-hole needle cap gasket.  I am assuming I can get the other needed "O" rings locally and/or in my selection of HF "O" rings.

What would everyone recommend?

[RSchaefer]

Anyone have any thoughts regarding Honda standard carb bowl gaskets verse newer "No Swell" gaskets?

[RSchaefer]

Anybody??

[andrewk]

If they're more expensive than OEM, don't bother.  OEM gasket kit (bowl gasket and all o-rings for one carb) is about $16 each.

For the other o-rings, you'll need somewhere better than harbor freight.  Not only are the OEM o-rings a fractional (in-between size) size, but the ones from harbor freight are not alcohol resistant- kind of defeats the purpose of the no-swell gaskets, eh?

64 bucks (or so) for carb gaskets (16*4) seems expensive, but you get what you pay for.  I would leave the no-swell stuff on ebay, and use OEM.

[seanbarney41]

+1 to Andrew...I have not yet found one o-ring in all of Japanese Motorcycledom that matches any in my HF metric o-ring selection

[bjbuchanan]

I used the regular gaskets and have no swelling issues. If there is any effect of swelling it is minor and just hugs the channel better. I used keyster kits and used my original straight needles

[RSchaefer]

Did get an update from Hondaman and decided on just the bowl gaskets.  My air screws did not have "o" rings anyway and Mark said to stay away from them.  "O" rings for the gas "T" area readily available in the aftermarket, the tough one is the "O" rings on the bowl drain screw 1.9X4.9 has to be perfect.  I will try to source at ACE.  My local ACE seems to have a major "O" inventory in both standard and metric, even the very small ones.

[andrewk]

Good luck, you'll need it.  Some things you just gotta learn by doing.