'81 KZ1000 cylinder O-rings

I am confused... I thought I was ready to put on the cylinder head today, but there's some incorrect information somewhere about the O-rings on the four outside corner head bolts. Looking at the top of the cylinder, all four corners have the same groove cut in them, like I'm supposed to put an O-ring on all four corners. And the Clymer manual seems to agree with this, although the pictures are highly lacking. However the parts diagram from Kawasaki says this is part # 92055-1148 with a quantity of ONE, and I can only seem to actually find one O-ring in my gasket kit that fits this spot (it is somewhat squared off and has a kind of plastic feel to it even though it is rubber, which I assume is because it's a high-temp piece).

So what's the correct answer here? Am I supposed to have four of these O-rings, or are the descriptions wrong and maybe I should actually be looking for a metal piece? I know the four copper washers go on the top side of the cylinder head, but these are for the corners between the cylinder and the cylinder head...

www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-kz1000j1-1981-usa...t/62055.html#results

part# 92055

4 x O-Ring,OD=18.5 mm



Michael

92055 actually seems to be the general category of ALL the O-rings in the motor. As I mentioned, the correct part number is 92055-1148 which is reflected in the part you highlighted in the second image. (Just trying to keep the info straight for anyone who finds this thread later.)

OK so this particular vendor says 4x are needed. It still seems rather odd then that the Kaw files, which this vendor is actually showing the same file I'm looking at, says quantity 1 and doesn't show any reference to the placement on this part.

And good god, $38 for a set of O-rings? That's from Partzilla and is the cheapest price I found with shipping. I did find another thread here discussing the high price of these, and the conversation turned to trying to find a vitrol substitute, but there was never an answer and the thread died.

You can always go with a one piece Cometic gasket. But all I hear about is oil leaks going that route.

Yeah...no, certainly don't want to go that route! Partzilla has shipped out the replacements for me, so hopefully I'll be able to assemble the head next weekend. Gives me more time to pick up a tube of assembly lube, since I forgot to grab any this weekend,.

VTEC wrote: You can always go with a one piece Cometic gasket. But all I hear about is oil leaks going that route.

Haven't heard that myself and I am using a Cometic one piece gasket... +4000 miles now and no seeps or a drip anywhere.
I did spray the gasket on both sides with Copper Coat high temp gasket sealer first.

They say the Cometic comp gaskets should always go on dry, just like OEM. Copper coat is for copper gaskets (with bore o-rings) on race engines.

VTEC wrote: They say the Cometic comp gaskets should always go on dry, just like OEM. Copper coat is for copper gaskets (with bore o-rings) on race engines.

I don't know who "they" is but I have had EXCELLENT results with Cometic gaskets and using this product:

What about the stock two-piece head gasket? I assume this is similar to an auto engine head gasket which also goes on dry?

huh ? I always use 1 pc head gasket WO issue.

Could be... Most of the head gaskets on cars I've replaced, in years gone by, were steel and formed so we would always use sealer.
I've heard that some compo gaskets have a kind of temp sensitive sealer on them. Not sure.
Some builders are afraid of the Copper Coat Sealer, as if it makes the gasket, head and cylinder all glue together, etc.... this could not be further from the truth. They separate very easily after thousands of miles.

I stopped using the two piece had gasket on the 4cyl Kaws quite a while ago just to eliminate that darn, leaking cam chain tunnel, O'ring.
I've had those things leak, eventually, too many times.
I just fill the groove up with high temp Ultra Black RTV, install the one piece gasket with CC Sealer on both sides. It works very well.
So far, with the one piece gasket and the thin coats of Copper Coat Sealer, I've not had one engine leak anything.
Not quite so lucky with the dry fitted cam cover though.... I can always rely on a little seepage somewhere over time when fitting those dry.

Here's a link to APE tech tips. Look at the head gasket section. www.aperaceparts.com/cope.html

I've worked in a dealership for a lot of years, moving from composition to muliti-layer steel head gaskets, and no manufacturer that I know of recommends the application of sealant on replacement.

Quality gasket, both decks flat, clean job and proper torque -- it won't leak.

I've heard bad things about the KZ Cometic gaskets, but they may have all been cases of missing one of the above.