Reuse head gasket????

[JJ]

I have re-used many, many lawnmower head gaskets. Even a few of the graphite ones!
If Chuck's head was torqued, but not run, I know I would try to re-use it.

I guess it boils down to whatever you're comfortable with. If I take the head off an engine that has been running, a new head gasket goes on when I reassemble it. I really hate doing repairs twice when it can be avoided.

That's just me, though...

As Ed asked, do you feel lucky?

[chuck hahn]

ED..thanks for the cush drive clarification. Hadnt seen that so far in the manual. this for sure will be checked before throwing it back together. As for chain specs, the only one i saw in the manual was to measure the slack play by placing a ruler on the case and see how far the chain can be lifted up and down...much like testing the chain slack for chain drive bikes. 22MM is then stated service limit and at 7/8 inch im pretty sure thats about it for this chain. I suspect the original owner at some time raced the heck out of the bike and the chain has paid the price.

I plan on taking a pic with the new one next to the old for comparing the stretched difference.

[Brendan W]

We take the availability of new gaskets for granted.
Back in the day they didn't always have this luxury and the record is full of ways they found to keep going.
They might even consider us to be from a wasteful throwaway culture
I reckon the gasket is compressed and you will come back to full torque sooner and have less, if any, to make up on a retorque.
High build Aluminium paint is my wonder fix.

[Nessism]

I've got a spare set of the cush drive rubbers for the 750 engine. They are a different part number than the 650 parts though for reasons unknown to me. The 650 and 750 share the same primary chain but not those damper parts. At any rate, if your dampers are crushed down you might want to take some measurements to try to figure out what's different between the 650 and 750 parts. You need 8 dampers and that ebay guy only has 5.

[chuck hahn]

Wont be till Saturday whhen I get at the drive assembly Ed. What I can do is take some pics of them inn the calipers and PM you..maybe we can work a deal if yours are same. Yes???

[Nessism]

Wont be till Saturday whhen I get at the drive assembly Ed. What I can do is take some pics of them inn the calipers and PM you..maybe we can work a deal if yours are same. Yes???

Sounds fine to me.

[chuck hahn]

Ed....just went to the shop and went a far as to wrap a rag around the starter clutch and hold it in the vice. Absolutely NO wiggle at all from the primary chain sprocket hub in relation to the rest of it. Did i grip the right place or should i have gripped the shaft and tried moving the sprocket hub???

Cant do too much right now as my right hip is reallt sore right now. Dr says its artritic but me thinks theres more than just that going on. Specialist the VA sent me to wanted to do some test but the VA said they wouldnt cover it so Ive just been "limping" things along as it goes.

[exdirtbiker]

Are you SURE it's not this? :

https://goo.gl/photos/y4Ec1F6gU9sXKDEG7

caused by this:

https://goo.gl/photos/rD8qJiXW8iiCkdY5A

[chuck hahn]

Yeah its not a clutch basket issue as its got all new needle bearings, steels, and fibers.

[exdirtbiker]

"not a clutch basket issue as its got all new..."

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse, but new bearings, steels and fibers has nothing to do with the springs in the basket getting compressed over time...

Watch the video? When it was in the motor, it sounded like gravel bouncing around inside the engine. Worse on decelerating.
I took it to trusted local bike shop -he looked at me and said "how the -bleep- did you hurt a GS bottom end??? Those are indestructible !!" {He's in his 50s, has a few GS drag bikes.}

Out of the motor, it's a tambourine.

Or.. I may have proven (again) how I know -just- enough to make me dangerous :-)

[chuck hahn]

There are no springs in a KZ basket....this isnt about Suzuki clutches. The thread started out about opinions on if the gasket could be reused. I didnt clarify that it was for my KZ engine. I am however quite aware of what a Suzy sounds like when the springs go loose. I have replaced them and welded the gear back on the basket afterwards, so yes i am fully aware.

[Nessism]

Ed....just went to the shop and went a far as to wrap a rag around the starter clutch and hold it in the vice. Absolutely NO wiggle at all from the primary chain sprocket hub in relation to the rest of it. Did i grip the right place or should i have gripped the shaft and tried moving the sprocket hub???

Cant do too much right now as my right hip is reallt sore right now. Dr says its artritic but me thinks theres more than just that going on. Specialist the VA sent me to wanted to do some test but the VA said they wouldnt cover it so Ive just been "limping" things along as it goes.

Chuck, if money is tight and the gasket comes off clean I'd coat it and reuse. The later year KZ head gaskets come speared with RTV so...

Sorry to hear about your hip. Hope you get the help you need for that.

Those rubber bumpers are not in the starter clutch, they are in the sprocket on the secondary shaft. I encourage you to pull the snap ring and pull off the outer shell so you can check out the bumpers. After you do that you will see what I'm referring to. On my 750 with only 11k miles the bumpers were all shrunk down and there was a lot of slop. That's why I'm encouraging you to check yours. If they are fine then great. I was just taught a lesson about those bumpers and wanted to share.

[chuck hahn]

I was gonna take it apart inn the morning. I just went out there to grab it and twist it a bit to see if there was any sloppy movement. I appreciate the heads up on it.

[chuck hahn]

Found a Cometec on Ebay for 40bucks..which is about half the OEM one costs from Kawasaki so I jumped. Just got done reassembling the engine.

[JJ]

Found a Cometec on Ebay for 40bucks..which is about half the OEM one costs from Kawasaki so I jumped. Just got done reassembling the engine.

Cool. Smart move, IMO.