What is this?

[Lunchbox88]

I got 4 of these in my vesrah gasket kit for my 79' GS850 and Im not sure where they go or what they are for. Im assuming they go along the head studs at some point maybe under the copper washers but I really have no idea so any help would be appreciated. It seems to be a rubber o-ring/washer with a thin metal core.

[mike_of_bbg]

That looks like one of the crush washers that goes around the corner studs to seal the oil passages through the head gasket. Mine were orange but that was also an Athena set. Later I would replace that with an OEM head gasket with integrated seals.

[mike_of_bbg]

Notice in the picture, looking at the head gasket, that the four corner holes look "different" - that's where the crush seals go. Check your gasket to see if those are just larger holes (which would accommodate said seals), or if there are seals already built in. I've only seen integrated seals on the OEM gaskets (but admittedly haven't seen very many!).

[Lunchbox88]

That looks like one of the crush washers that goes around the corner studs to seal the oil passages through the head gasket. Mine were orange but that was also an Athena set. Later I would replace that with an OEM head gasket with integrated seals.

Looks like you nailed it. Im attaching some picture to double check but those washers should go under the head gasket on the cylinder side right?

[mike_of_bbg]

Yes, those crash washers go in those holes. Set the gasket first, then put them in.

[Eli69]

there isn't a locator pin there is there? just a thought.

[DanTheMan]

Hey, no fair! Mine came with those too, but they were the wrong size for the gasket, so I had to find o-rings that would work. They're not leaking yet, and I've put 40k miles on it since then.