Athena Gaskets... Garbage or bad batch?

[sam78gs750]

So I did some research (on here and other places on the net) before I got an engine gasket set. Ended up ordering a complete Athena set through my local dealer (he matched the prices I found online). So far I've only used the valve cover, points cover, and cam chain tensioner gaskets, as I decided to put off the top end rebuild til the winter. Points cover seems fine, but there's some oil around the tensioner, which may or may not be leaking. I can't tell because the valve cover is pouring oil out through the brand new gasket I only put on about 3 weeks ago. I torqued it to the exact specs in my service manual and made sure it was on straight. a few days ago it looked a little wet, and last night it was pouring out...the new gasket separated all the way around so it now looks like 2 gaskets stacked on top of each other.... the bolts are still tight and at the correct torque spec.... what gives? did I get a dud, or are Athena gaskets just garbage? should I even bother trying to get a replacement or just order a different brand and suck up the cost and consider it a lesson learned about Athena?

[Nessism]

I used an Athena gasket kit on my 1000S. Other than some of the gaskets being green, and the head gasket that required retorquing a few times before it settled down, I think Athena makes fine gasket kits. I didn't use the valve cover gasket since I already had a stock one but based on my experience, I recommend Athena.

Regarding your bike, sorry it's been so difficult. Not sure what to suggest.

[TheCafeKid]

I personally wont buy another Athena set if i can absolutely help it. I suppose maybe case cover gaskets would be ok, and I buy Vesrah gaskets that have no pressure behind them and have liked them. But EVERY Athena gasket kit I have had the displeasure of either installing or using myself has been a bunch of poorly cut, ill fitting pieces of CRAP.

When I helped Steve with his sons 80 850G, the base gasket wouldnt sit flat because the stud holes had been cut just off enough to cause it to bow. The Orings didnt sit down very well either. Now, that bike, to my knowlege, hasnt seen many miles as of yet, and thusly hasnt leaked to my knowlege, but I can say i dont feel very confident that it wont to be honest.

Ive used Athena kits on 750 8v motors. The first one, same deal, either their dies are crap, or they're quality control is nonexistant. The last kit i bought, when rebuilding my 77 750B Cafe motor, I threw the base, head and valve cover gaskets in the trash in complete disgust and ordered OEM.

Vesrah, hasnt let ME down yet, but Ive seen others complain. On the 16V bikes, I would probably use Vesrah, since the complaints seem to be regarding the oil seal/orings on the 8V bikes, and the 16V dont have those. But I will never ever ever buy another Athena kit if there is something else available..

just my .02

[bwringer]

^^^ What Josh said. Dittos.

With one exception: Vesrah gaskets suck too. I have used many Vesrah sets over the years with good results, but the last Vesrah set I used (and the last one I EVER will use) had several gasket and o-ring failures. So I suspect their QC has also gone downhill. Vesrah case gaskets still seem OK, though.

So it's OEM only for me from now on. I hate doing stuff twice.

Also, I've seen some really shoddy aftermarket valve cover and case cover gaskets out there too (sadly, CRC2 has been selling these lately) -- they're very thin and fragile, little better than cardboard, and every last one fails. Plus, they can cause clearance problems because they're much thinner than OEM. For example, a thin clutch cover gasket can cause the shifter rod to bind, and a thin valve cover gasket can goof up the tach drive on 16V engines.

[Wallowgreen]

Yep, like bwringer said. Last valve adjust on my 850 I used a vesrah gasket, leaked like a sieve at the front. So I'm with him, vesrah are rubbish. Nothing but OEM for me from now on. I like working on my bikes but not to the point of doing the same job multiple times because of crappy materials.

[Redneck]

Wow am I glad i read this thread. I just broke my550 down to its crankcase and was looking at ordering one of the two formentioned brands. Can I order an OEM kit or do I have to order each individual piece. Second does anyone have a good recommendation for a place to get them or do I just order them from suzuki?

[Nessism]

Wow am I glad i read this thread. I just broke my550 down to its crankcase and was looking at ordering one of the two formentioned brands. Can I order an OEM kit or do I have to order each individual piece. Second does anyone have a good recommendation for a place to get them or do I just order them from suzuki?

Part Shark and/or Cycle Parts Nation typically have the best price on OE parts. The gasket kits, if they offer one for your particular model, are located in the "accessory" parts fishe section.

[Nessism]

I respect what Josh and Brian have to say since their knowledge is earned though wrenching. The OE gaskets are the best, I agree, only the pricing is crazy which gives me pause sometimes.

[1948man]

Part Shark and/or Cycle Parts Nation typically have the best price on OE parts. The gasket kits, if they offer one for your particular model, are located in the "accessory" parts fishe section.

Might also try Boulevard Suzuki to compare prices ask for Ashley Cooper. Might have to get the part numbers off another vendor's site before you go blvdsuzuki. Let us know what u find.

http://www.boulevardsuzuki.com/

[Rick65Cat]

PartShark had the intake boots I wanted at about the best price give or take a few $. But the shipping costs were way out of line. He charged me $29.50 to ship US post to Canada. When I got the box the postage stamp said $11.....So he charged me $18.50 to pick 4 pieces off a shelf and tape up a small box.
I won't be ordering there anymore.

**EDIT**
Just ordered 3 valve cover gaskets, 3 points cover gaskets and the 4 rubber plugs at the ends of the cams from Cycle Parts Nation. They say on their web site "all Canadian orders will be shipped via US Parcel Post" This is to avoid the couriers brokerage fees once in Canada. I know that DHL charges a flat fee of $50 brokerage fees at their depot when you go to pick up the package. Kinda puts you off ordering parts from the States when you get raked over the coals like that.

[sam78gs750]

I respect what Josh and Brian have to say since their knowledge is earned though wrenching. The OE gaskets are the best, I agree, only the pricing is crazy which gives me pause sometimes.

the prices for OEM gaskets are pretty steep, that's why I went with the Athena set... Nessism, I've seen a few of your posts on the subject and it seems you got a good batch from Athena.... I guess the company is inconsistent with their qc.... I too thoroughly enjoy working on my bike, what I don't enjoy is doing the same repair twice pointlessly. From the threads on this forum, it seems there are a lot of crappy gaskets out there. Seriously though, how hard is it to make a piece of paper

[Turtleface]

I've only ever used OEM gaskets, and am happy to report that I've never had one fail under normal circumstances. I was tracking down a phantom tick early in my ownership of the bike, and had the valve cover gasket on and off about seven or eight times before it finally started leaking. OEM is more expensive initially, but like bwringer said, "I hate doing stuff twice."

[Redneck]

What Kind does Z1 Sell

Z1 has a Engine Gasket kit for the GS550, is that an OEM kit and if not who makes it for them or has anyone tried their kit?

Paul

[TheCafeKid]

Part Shark and/or Cycle Parts Nation typically have the best price on OE parts. The gasket kits, if they offer one for your particular model, are located in the "accessory" parts fishe section.

I ordered a valve cover from part shark, I cant remember however if I ordered OEM or if it was an aftermarket one. The one I got was like fiberous paper, and it was garbage. Fit fine, but 2K miles into it, started leaking like a siev. I pulled it, and it was already hard as a rock and brittle and had a break in it. Not sayin that Part Shark sells all crap, I just remember thats where I got THAT particular gasket from.. The Vesrah valve cover gasket thats rubberized seem to be the best ones short of OEM that I have found, and thats what I will use from now on. I should try a REAL gasket, since my 1100ES has no tach drive, but im afraid to plunge into the $75+ dollar pool and have it not work..

[Nessism]

I’m reversing my position and eating crow on my support of Athena gaskets; noticed last night that the base gasket on my 1000S is starting to protrude out from between the cylinder and crankcase and crack. Apparently the clamping pressure is causing the gasket to fail. This engine only has about 200 miles on it since being rebuilt. I’ve noticed that the head nuts have been loose each time I’ve checked, although the torque falloff is less now than the first time I checked. I was attributing this falloff to the head gasket but obviously the base gasket is compressing too.

Athena = Junk