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Author Topic: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?  (Read 3936 times)

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Offline Goldbug

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Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« on: July 20, 2011, 06:07:53 PM »
Will a CB550 Vesrah engine gasket set work in a CB500?

If not what's the best place to get a gasket set for a CB500? I found a lot of old threads but I've noticed that as time wears on with these bikes the final word on suppliers, prices and quality changes rapidly.
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Offline Greggo

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2011, 06:10:51 PM »
I've wondered the same thing.  I'm pretty sure all the top end stuff is the same, but the bottom ends are different.
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Offline Goldbug

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2011, 07:07:45 PM »
Thanks. I am only planning on getting a top end kit.
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Offline Goldbug

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2011, 01:18:04 PM »
I got the Vesrah CB550 top end gasket set off ebay for $74.99 shipped.
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Offline JBMorse

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 04:32:24 AM »
I can't think of any top end parts that are different between the CB500 and CB550 except maybe the head gasket.  But it might be possible to use the CB550 head gasket anyway.  Maybe someone can chime in on head gasket compatibility. 
Everything else should be the same.  The heads and valve trains are exactly the same. 
Good luck with your project!
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2011, 04:43:31 AM »
Why not have a look at the resp. Parts Lists? Best source to discover eventual modifications.
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Offline Goldbug

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2011, 05:44:04 AM »
So can anyone answer the question of whether a CB550 head gasket will work on a CB500?
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Offline Shifter19

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2013, 12:48:08 PM »
So whatever was the outcome? Did your Vesrah cb550 top end set work ok on your cb500? The part numbers for both bikes head gasket are the same; 12251-374-306.
Did you have any of the dreaded oil leakage around the head?
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Offline dave500

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2013, 12:56:55 PM »
couple of years ago now??,but just out of interest the bore is larger in the 550,it wont seal right on top of the cylinder liner properly,using a 500 one on a 550 might have the gasket overhanging into the cylinder,the 550 liners are larger aswell,a 500 base gasket wont go over them i dont think as you have to machine a 500 bottom end to take a 550 barrel,the clutch covers are different aswell.
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Offline Shifter19

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2013, 06:57:17 PM »
Thanks for the reply Dave.......but c'mon guys, has anyone actually tried this? I bet somebody has....? What was the outcome? Anybody.....?
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2013, 09:51:45 AM »
Quote from: Goldbug on July 22, 2011, 05:44:04 AM
So can anyone answer the question of whether a CB550 head gasket will work on a CB500?

I learned my lesson about using after market head gaskets. Don't do it. Just buy an OEM Honda.
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Offline Shifter19

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2013, 10:54:16 AM »
That would be great if they were available. I went ahead and ordered the Vesrah cb550 top end set. Gonna use lots of sealant this time around. Most likely all I will really need is the head gasket. I'll post the outcome when I get it back together.
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Offline chickenman_26

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2013, 11:46:29 AM »
Quote from: Shifter19 on July 11, 2013, 10:54:16 AM
That would be great if they were available
What makes you think they're not available? They are. The current part # (12251-374-306) is the CB550 head gasket which also supersedes the original 500 gasket #.

Stu
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Offline pangloss

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2013, 11:53:09 AM »
Correct.. flange on the 500 liner easily accomodates a couple of mm larger gasket. As does the head surface.
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Offline Shifter19

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2013, 02:32:02 PM »
I only know what the dude at the Honda shop told me, and that was part number 12251-374-306 and the orings part number 91301-426-010 were no longer available.

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Offline Duanob

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2013, 03:21:43 PM »
Quote from: Shifter19 on July 11, 2013, 02:32:02 PM
I only know what the dude at the Honda shop told me, and that was part number 12251-374-306 and the orings part number 91301-426-010 were no longer available.

you can still get them just google search the Honda part number. I forgot where I got the o-rings from but I bought 2 sets. You gotta be patient with online ordering out of production parts.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline chickenman_26

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #16 on: July 12, 2013, 12:54:54 PM »
Quote from: Shifter19 on July 11, 2013, 02:32:02 PM
I only know what the dude at the Honda shop told me, and that was part number 12251-374-306 and the orings part number 91301-426-010 were no longer available.
My apologies. I was going by Service Honda's website which shows whether a product is discontinued or not. I just now got confirmation that the head gasket is discontinued, and there's zero stock in the continental US. Bummer.

Stu
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Offline AMT

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #17 on: July 12, 2013, 01:21:15 PM »
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82355.0

Here is a link to the list of gaskets / o rings included in the vesrah kit for the CB550.
Cross reference the OEM part numbers via the parts search at www.servicehonda.com and you'll find your answers quickly.
 ;)
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #18 on: July 12, 2013, 02:19:53 PM »
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline Shifter19

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Re: Will a CB550 Vesrah gasket set work in a CB500?
« Reply #19 on: July 19, 2013, 07:22:49 PM »
So....in answer to the original question  "Will a Vesrah cb550 gasket set work in a cb500?"  The answer for me was YES. I used the head gasket, orings, valve cover gasket, breather gasket and the exhaust gaskets. My base gasket was undisturbered so I left it alone. I coated the Vesrah head gasket with plenty of K&W Copper Coat from a can. Then for good measure I gave it a thin coat of K&W Copper Coat spray....to kind of even out the surface some. The stuff in the can is hard to spread even and the spray just seems kinda thin, so I used them both. Then during assembly, I used a tip I read on the forum......Tighten to the max torque range.....let it sit 24 hours.....back off a quarter turn and re-tighten to torque. And now I'm happy to say ...I'm leak free! No more oil leaking from the head gasket. Yea!
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