Would you use this head gasket?

[hannibal]

Bought a gasket set off Ebay from a shop I've seen mentioned on GSR. I asked whether any of the gaskets were folded or creased and was told they weren't. Then I get this in the mail. (Pics taken through the plastic bag.)





The layers seem to have separated a bit and that really scares me. Would you guys use this or send it back?

Also, the manual says the rings come in "N" and "R" varieties. First, I couldn't find any markings on the oil ring spacer, but if this is the N type, I must have the R type.



But please tell me what type these are. Looks like R H on the middle ring (top of the pic) and R N on the top ring (bottom of pic). All the others are R type. These came together in the same box.

[Nessism]

That head gasket is the Multi Layer Steel variety. It's fine.

The rings are most likely fine too, but I'm not sure what's going on with the lettering. The chrome ring is the top one.

[Rijko]

good buy, original Suzuki gasket sets are getting hard to find
and are the best ones to use.
Head gasket is fine, they are supposed to look like that.

[fastbysuzuki]

With the MLS gasket they do recommend that the head is flat and the finish on both the head and Barrels/jugs is a good fine finish and you do not use the cam tunnel oring

[jdion81]

With the MLS gasket they do recommend that the head is flat and the finish on both the head and Barrels/jugs is a good fine finish and you do not use the cam tunnel oring

Good information. Where do you find something like that out at?

[hannibal]

Thanks!

With the MLS gasket they do recommend that the head is flat and the finish on both the head and Barrels/jugs is a good fine finish and you do not use the cam tunnel oring

Could you explain this a bit more?

[fastbysuzuki]

Thanks! Could you explain this a bit more?

have a look here if you look around for surface finish for MLS gasket there are many write ups.

when you use the MLS gasket on the 850 May be orders as well there is no need to use the cam tunnel oring as the gasket covers the area where the oring sits as recommended by suzuki.

[hannibal]

Thanks for the additional info.

I also found that one of the O rings on the head gasket around the outer studs is missing. Time to return? I see a few on Ebay with just 3 out of the 4 while others have all four like the gasket I removed.

[Tom R]

If you want to go through the hassle.... personally I'd just just get another o-ring. Probably just nitrile/ Buna-n - or maybe viton. But then again I'd just have to go through my garage to find one.

[Agemax]

If you want to go through the hassle.... personally I'd just just get another o-ring. Probably just nitrile/ Buna-n - or maybe viton. But then again I'd just have to go through my garage to find one.

Those O rings should be Viton, nitrile will not take the heat.

[hannibal]

Thanks. Found some O rings on Amazon.

[fastbysuzuki]

Early in the thread it was stated this was a MLS gasket the last MLS I fitted was Oem and had no provision for orings.
is this a fibre compound gasket? if so you need to use the cam tunnel oring.

[hannibal]

From what I've read, this is an OEM MLS gasket. I've read about them before, but this is my first time changing a head gasket on any engine. The gasket looks just like the one I took off so I'm not to concerned with fastbysuzuki's comments about the mating surfaces. With that said, I had the rectangular O ring on the motor with the MLS gasket. There's an indentation on the jugs to fit the O ring and the gasket sits on top of this. I plan to use both the O ring and gasket.

I am a bit concerned about the missing O ring on the stud. The O rings included with the gasket are less O-ish and more flat rubber disc. Found one of similar size so fingers crossed it compresses to similar shape and does the job.

My goal for the day is to do a final wash of the head with simple green then rinse with water and dry with compressed air, then lap the valves into the head and set aside as ready to go. I'll pull the jugs off and do a final cleaning, then hone the cylinders when my flex hone arrives on Tuesday.

Again, this is uncharted territory for me. I just half to use the forum's advice along with what common sense applies to a motor and go for it. We've all heard "measure twice, cut once" and I have read and watched vids several times and now I'm ready to act. I'm just afraid of using an incompatible part (head gasket), which is the source for these seemingly simple questions.

[fastbysuzuki]

I was not sure if the cam tunnel oring needed to be fitted when using the MLS gasket so I contacted suzuki GB technical and they said the tunnel oring was not needed. But hay the choice is yours. Having said that the one I fitted did not have provision for stud orings/seals