Vesrah Gaskets

[Trigger]

Something is going on with the Japanese! I have always used Vesrah gaskets for engine re-builds and find them to be the best. My stock was getting low so i contacted a number of suppliers to stock up again. All my contacts came back with out of stock.
Sent a mail to Vesrah in Japan asking for the whereabouts of vesrah gaskets in the UK and Europe. The reply was that they knew of no one stocking gaskets for old CB's but, i could order from them at a cost of $110 with shipping (but, a lot of what i wanted was out of stock with them). I explained that the cost was over the top and i would get my pant's pulled down by customs and VAT.
The conversation went on and i found out that they are not making gaskets for 1970's bikes anymore. To me this is against the Japanese way of business. Have the Jap's got too big for there boots?   

[UK Pete]

Thats Bad news, i have always had good results with Vesrah,what is your views on Athena gaskets
pete

[AshimotoK0]

Back 'in the day' I always used NP (Noboru Packing -  Japan) gasket sets on all of my CB250's and 400/4's and I never had a problem with them. I have NOS sets of NP for my CB250K0 and CB750K0, when I finally get round to building the engines up  . Any thoughts on these? I did get part of a bottom end  gasket set with the CB750K7 'Monster from the Swamp' parts bike I got, which was Athena and it did not look as good quality as NP or Genuine Honda.

Cheers ...AshD

[Bryanj]

NP and Vesrah were very similar in both packing and condition and we used both back in the 70's
Looks like we are going to be stuck with whatever we can get

[Trigger]

Vesrah is always my first choice and NP are second. I have always rated Vesrah over the Honda set.
Athena head gaskets are crap. Always had trouble with there head gaskets and would advise anyone thinking of using athena gaskets,to order a Honda head gasket to replace the athena one. Athena head gaskets are OK on a engine that does not have good pressure.

[AshimotoK0]

How about the NP head gaskets are they OK. I know that the 250k ones and 400/4 ones are because I have used them on serveral bikes but no experience using them on the early CB750. I have the extra 'O' rings to use with the head gasket in Viton, which I know ChrisR uses and I think he fitted to UK Pete's K1.

cheers ... AshD

[Trigger]

Ash, i am sure Bryan and i have answered that question

[AshimotoK0]

Ash, i am sure Bryan and i have answered that question

The only reason I ask is that I thought I read somewhere that on the early CB750 (K0/K1) without the knock pins you should always use the Genuine Honda head gasket but on the 400/4 I never had any problems.

Cheers ... AshD

[Saisei]

Just seen this thread. I am importing Vesrah Gaskets into the UK

If you cant see what you want on my site let me know and I will find it for you

Saisei-europe.com

[Trigger]

Nice to know Saisei.
I will be mailing Mr sato at Vesrah and ask him why he firstly states that they knew of no new suppliers of there gaskets in the UK or Europe and secondly that he did advise that Vesrah would not be producing anymore gasket sets for old Honda's.