need cheap gaskets!!

Whoa, I'm somewhat at a lost here, why would you risk your engine for $20 is beyond me.

I mean as Patton provided, $8.95 plus shipping. So under $15 you get a gasket designed for your bike, seems like a hell of a bargain to me considering a hamburger, fries and a coke cost $7-8 any longer.

Yeah when we were kids we had 75 cents so fill up the gas tank or get good old dad to buy a gasket and work our asses off doing chores, hmmm... what to do, cereal box it is. Guess what, we're not kids any longer and even at $20, that truly isn't a lot of money these days.

I'm truly not trying to insult here, your bike and I should just keep my opinion to myself but I just don't get it, not for under $20 anyways.


OMR

Bountyhunter...That reminds me... don't buy Athena gaskets......
I've got a set here.What's the problem with them?

I did order the gaskets. Whats the difference in making gaskets and doing my own repairs? I mean it all comes down to how educated and dedicated I am. I am not afraid to spend the money I need on my bike. I'm also not ashamed to let a tech work on what I can't handle. On the other hand I work with my hands for a living(shop carpenter) so I am also not also afraid to take on a money saving idea even if it's only worth a tank of gas. So, thank you for all your input. By the way valve clearance is 4k but cam chain tension is 2k, thats's according to my manual(Kaw. shop)but I may need to check again.
Thanks againB)

thadley55 wrote:

... valve clearance is 4k but cam chain tension is 2k

The valve cover is of course removed to check and/or adjust clearances. However, the valve cover is not removed incident to adjusting the cam chain tensioner.

I have the Z1E valve cover gaskets on my bikes and am well pleased with them.

Good Luck!

SPARKY47 wrote:

Bountyhunter...That reminds me... don't buy Athena gaskets......
I've got a set here.What's the problem with them?

I bought an Athena rebuild gasket set for my 750 twin. The valve cover gasket was crap, and the cylinder base gasket broke up and fell apart after I installed it and ran the engine for about 50 miles. When the cylinder base gasket fell apart I had to tear the engine down to the rods again and do the rebuild over. I was NOT happy.....

Bountyhunter,thanks for that.I wouldn't mind but this Athena set wasn't cheap,a case of try it and see I guess.
I used to make gaskets from corn flake boxes for an S1 triple a couple of centuries ago.
They worked well enough for me to leave marks[still there as well:woohoo: ] on a local church wall at 85mph!
Ah the good old days eh?:blink:

SPARKY47 wrote:

Bountyhunter,thanks for that.I wouldn't mind but this Athena set wasn't cheap,a case of try it and see I guess.

The one I bought was about $80.

The gaskets that were bad were the thin material ones like the oil pan gasket, base gasket, all the same thin material. When it got hot, the gaskets hardened and cracked. They looked OK to my eye, but they hardened and got brittle.

YMMV

Pep Boys sells gasket material that is 1/16" rubberized paper a,d I think the number stamped on the gasket paper is N8904 or something like that. It works really well for base gasket, cover gasket, oil pan, etc.

To make a cam cover gasket, use the cam cover to make the outline first. That way it will now end up crooked. Then use the gasket to fill in the rest. I made a template of all my gaskets so when I need one I can just trace and cut one out. I have had good luck with the Z1 cam cover gasket. I glue the gasket to the head with permatex no2 along with the end plugs. Silicone tends to weep oil after awhile. Only put no2 on the head side of the gasket when you glue it to the head. Spray the other side of the gasket with permatex copper sealant, yeah, it comes in a spray can. That way you can remove your cam cover a few times without changing the gasket. chris3