Partsnmore Complete Gasket Set

[Jok3r]

I recently ordered a "complete gasket set" for my '82 GS850GLZ from partsnmore.com and thought you guys might like to know about the experience.

I bought a complete gasket set for $65, so I'm not terribly upset with partsnmore. How they handle the situation (as it's not yet resolved) will determine if I buy from the again or not. The gaskets themselves don't seem to be of any sort of outstanding quality, this I expected. Shipping was slow, but this was also expected as I knew they only shipped on certain days of the week. The gasket set was missing a timing chain tensioner gasket, which wasn't too much of a pain. The only real problem I had with the purchase was the cam cover gasket. This gasket must have been for another bike, because the spacing for the bolts was very off in a few locations ( ~2 inches) regardless of how the gasket was positioned. I've emailed them about it and I'll be awaiting a reply. I'll update this thread once they do.

UPDATE: After looking more closely over half the gaskets were not made for my bike. This combined with them offering me $10 to replace a valve cover gasket is unacceptable in my opinion. I will not be buying from them again.

[donimo]

I had the same issue with a different vendor, wrong valve cover gasket...

vendor gave me a full refund didnt ask for anything back, you should get something similar.

[Jok3r]

I had the same issue with a different vendor, wrong valve cover gasket...

vendor gave me a full refund didnt ask for anything back, you should get something similar.

Sorry to hear you had the same problem, but I'm glad to hear it had a favorable resolution.

In the email I sent to partsnmore I made it clear I couldn't send the gasket back, as it came into contact with oil at one point. I would be happy if they were to just ship a replacement gasket, but I certainly woudn't turn down reimbursement.

[Nessism]

Did you order the right kit for your bike? There are two different 850 kits; early model, and later type like your bike. The valve cover and head changed to increase the number of bolts - sounds like you have the wrong type or maybe the head on your bike has been changed?

Hope you get positive resolution.

[donimo]

they are a bit vague/incorrect with a few things on that site.

mine was a gasket kit manufacturer fault, and the bugger is it is ALL gasket kits for my bike. The 4v per cyl 400 like mine shares everything but the valve cover gasket with the 450, PLUS there were 2 rocker cover gaskets, one style for 80-81, then they added some bolts for 82-89, the crazy part is the kits all list "gs400, 1980-89", but all I needed right away is the bloody rocker gasket of course...

I would say that if you werent at fault they should send out the correct gasket asap (1st choice) or refund the whole purchase price including shipping (2nd choice)

[Bribird]

I had ordered a complete gasket kit from partsnmore for my bike. It was an athena kit which is fine for me since they changed the material the head gasket is made out now..so yay. The problem with this last kit I got was it was a 35 piece kit containing 31 pieces. I knew right away what was missing. The 4 orange viton kinda o rings for the head gasket corners. I sent them an email and they sent me the 4 within like a week. And also told me that they had just noticed that more than half of the gasket sets they just received from athena for the GS bikes were missing them also.

If it is their mistake, they will own up to it.

[Jok3r]

Did you order the right kit for your bike? There are two different 850 kits; early model, and later type like your bike. The valve cover and head changed to increase the number of bolts - sounds like you have the wrong type or maybe the head on your bike has been changed?

Hope you get positive resolution.

Quoted from the part description on their site:

Fits Suzuki GS850G L/LZ/D/LD (82-83)

So I ordered the right part according to them, and I'm 99% sure this engine has never even been opened before, as I'm the third owner and the second was the original owners son, with 36k on the odo. The only reason I'm rebuilding it is because it sat for too many years and gaskets and orings have dried and died. The head gasket also fit with no problem. Either just the valve cover has been swapped from an earlier bike (I'm not even sure this is possible and it's at least highly unlikely) or they're packing the wrong gasket in their kits.

UPDATE: I was refunded $10. Bikebandit has the gasket they screwed up for $34.19 plus shipping. I have a feeling I'm going to have a very hard time finding this part for $10. I may be wrong, I haven't done much shopping yet. I wouldn't recommend anyone I know buy from this site unless their prices are too low to resist.

[bwringer]

How many bolt holes does your valve cover have and how many are on the gasket you received?

The earlier type had 16, and the later type had 19.

This may not have been Partsnmore's error. I know of at least one bone-stock 1982 GS850GL that has the earlier type cylinder head and valve cover, so it's quite possible that your bike was manufactured early in the run while they were still using up the earlier cylinder heads.

I have an earlier-type valve cover gasket I'll send you cheap if you need it.

[doctorgonzo]

I had ordered a complete gasket kit from partsnmore for my bike. It was an athena kit which is fine for me since they changed the material the head gasket is made out now..so yay. The problem with this last kit I got was it was a 35 piece kit containing 31 pieces. I knew right away what was missing. The 4 orange viton kinda o rings for the head gasket corners. I sent them an email and they sent me the 4 within like a week. And also told me that they had just noticed that more than half of the gasket sets they just received from athena for the GS bikes were missing them also.

If it is their mistake, they will own up to it.

I haven't dug all the way through my Athena kit yet, hope all the pieces are there, guess We'll see.

[850 Combat]

Realgasket has it in Silicone for 25 bucks. They fhip right away. their ordering is hard to use though. Kind of like going back in time to the 90's.

Did your gasket set come with the cam rubbers? Is it necessary to change them?

[TheCafeKid]

Did you order the right kit for your bike? There are two different 850 kits; early model, and later type like your bike. The valve cover and head changed to increase the number of bolts - sounds like you have the wrong type or maybe the head on your bike has been changed?

Hope you get positive resolution.

Actually, I think TECHNICALLY there were THREE different 850 valve cover gaskets. One for the earliest head it shared with the 750, one for the early CV carbed and then a later one where they kept adding bolts to stop that irritating little leak up front. The early two MIGHT be the same, but i dont think so.

At any rate, dont be TOO upset, as this happens from time to time with just about EVERY vendor. Even the almighty Bike Bandit, who, generally ive had pretty good luck with, has screwed this up twice on me. Once with the 550 head, and once with an 1100E head. While yes, they should check their dang orders, sometimes mistakes happen, and at least THEYve been very good about correcting it both times, shipping the correct part and not asking for the mistake in return.

[TheCafeKid]

I haven't dug all the way through my Athena kit yet, hope all the pieces are there, guess We'll see.

A Word on those Athena kits. They're junk. The two ive used, once for a 750 and once helping Steve with his sons bike both had irregularities, mis-aligned holes and they tended to want to buckle when installed. Ive not had any luck with them at all. Vesrah is a lil better IMO, but not much.

[Nessism]

Maybe I've been lucky but the Athena 1000 kit I bought seems pretty nice. All the gaskets line up nicely so far, including the head and base gaskets.

[bwringer]

Actually, I think TECHNICALLY there were THREE different 850 valve cover gaskets. One for the earliest head it shared with the 750, one for the early CV carbed and then a later one where they kept adding bolts to stop that irritating little leak up front. The early two MIGHT be the same, but i dont think so.

Nope, they're the same -- the 8 valve (76-79) GS750 and 79-81 (and some early '82) GS850 all use the exact same 16 hole valve cover gasket.

The late '82-83 GS850 used the 19 hole gasket. Funny thing is, it doesn't leak any less than the 16 hole type.

With silicone RealGaskets, both stay nice and oil-tight.

http://realgaskets.com