top end gasket set recomendations

[neat street]

Hi All
not been on for a while, now have a CB500 1973 to go with the 750, and taking top end down. could anyone please recomend a top end gasket set? (hopefully complete) :-)
thank you
John

[Johnwebley]

I can't

But most do not contain the rubber pucks,

Also the valve stem seals can be a bit iffy

Might be worth buying those separately



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[neat street]

thanks John, :-)

[Bryanj]

No matter what set you need thicker O rings at the headgasket than those in the set

[Mike_Berkshire]

No matter what set you need thicker O rings at the headgasket than those in the set

Does this apply to all gasket sets Bryan or just relating to this particular model? I will be putting the top end back together on my CB550 in the next month or 2 and it would be good know if I’m going to need to source some different O rings.

[Bryanj]

All head gaskets are now thicker than Honda original due to no asbestos used in manufacture but the suppliers still give you the original size O rings so they dont seal as well.
If you go to the US site and look up Mark Paris (Hondaman) he can sdvise on size, i dont have all my books to hand

[neat street]

Thanks Brian, good to know and will have saved some headaches later. :-)

[DomP]

Maybe get the block skimmed which will make the oring recess slightly shallower, that's what I did following Brian's advice after he rebored my block.  I used Vesrah gaskets from DS

[Johnwebley]

I have a local source for most O rings

A company called Hayley Group

On a local industrial estate, the Hereford branch are really helpful,

Imperial, metric,fuel resistant etc,

And the bonus, normally a fraction of the cost of NOS,

Take a sample, and the item, like tappet cap ,they will find the size needed



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[Nurse Julie]

It depends which gasket set you use as to the size O rings you will need. All the kits have different depth head gaskets.

[DomP]

I have a local source for most O rings

A company called Hayley Group

On a local industrial estate, the Hereford branch are really helpful,

Imperial, metric,fuel resistant etc,

And the bonus, normally a fraction of the cost of NOS,

Take a sample, and the item, like tappet cap ,they will find the size needed



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Now you tell me John!😄

[neat street]

I have a local source for most O rings

A company called Hayley Group

On a local industrial estate, the Hereford branch are really helpful,

Imperial, metric,fuel resistant etc,

And the bonus, normally a fraction of the cost of NOS,




Take a sample, and the item, like tappet cap ,they will find the size needed



Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk

Thank you John
Great tip and advise :-)

[neat street]

It depends which gasket set you use as to the size O rings you will need. All the kits have different depth head gaskets.

Thank you nurse Julie
any adea on the difference I should be looking for from gasket thicknes to `O ring`? or how would you work out what size would be best to use?
thank you again

[Johnny4428]

Check the thickness of new gasket compared with old and the difference then added to standard o ring thickness.

[neat street]

thank you Johnny, the old gasket is completely damaged beyond measurement, had to scrap off, but thank you for the tip