500/550 head gasket O rings

[Bryanj]

As reported the 500/550 can leak at the head gasket oil feed O rings due to modern asbestos free gaskets being thicker.
Having talked to Mark Paris (Hondaman) on the US site i have ordered a quantity of the bigger size to get the price down to 15p each so if any body wants some pm me and i will work it out.

The permanent fix is to mill about 5 thou off the rop of the block but works out considerably more expensive.

Regards to all

Bryan

[Oddjob]

Or fit genuine head gaskets OR fit a copper head gasket the correct thickness and never have to buy a head gasket again.

[Bryanj]

I fitted a genuine one and its still thicker and leaks

[Oddjob]

They didn’t leak before with a genuine so why would it leak after?

I have a few NOS gasket kits lying around, quite a few bottom end ones as well.

[Bryanj]

Because Honda took the asbestos out as well as they had to and they are now thicker, i used a genuine nos top set last year on a rebuild and its weeping

[Oddjob]

Got to say Bryan I’ve never had a leak with a genuine gasket set, have with stuff like Vesrah etc

[Bryanj]

Neither had i till this one, now going to fit the bigger O rings anyway

[Oddjob]

I've considered this for a good time Bryan after seeing Marks posts on the matter. What concerned me was the calculation of the ideal size. You are limited to the diameter by the recess it sits in, if you increase the thickness would that mean if you got the amount wrong the internal hole might close up as the ring got crushed, it can't go outward as the recess stops it, so it would be forced inwards and thus possibly restrict the oil flow to the head.

Valid point or did I overthink it?

[Bryanj]

It is Valid Ken but having talked at length with Mark i am 95% that its ok, will check oil flow though.
I would prefer to take about 3 thou off the block but finding somebody to do it and the cost is the problem.
Keep it safe

[DomP]

I did Bryan's other method, skimmed head when I fitted new liners.  No weeps here, not that I've gone very far on it

[Bryanj]

I remember those liners!!

[DomP]

Yeah they were a bit of a headache but all good now