To replace barrel gasket or not to?

[Mrlimeedk]

Good day fellas, i currently have my bikes head off to replace the headgasket because it had a bit of a leak on the front where that one bolt comes up from the bottom, in the timing chain channel. I did a full rebuild of the bike about 10k km's ago and havent had any other leaks, but now the head is off it has started leaking around the lower barrel gasket. I'm assuming its because theres no longer pressure on it and that i will stop again once the head is back on and retightened. But at the same time i'm a bit worried that it might not stop because the gasket has had oil seeping around it, and that i will have to take it all apart again to change that aswell. What do you guys think? will it be okay or should i bite the bullet pull the cylinder off even tho its a pain and change that gasket aswell... Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[fastbysuzuki]

If you do not replace the base gasket it will leak buy a Oem gaskets and the tear drop orings that seal the oil feeds and my preference is to use a light coating of blue hylomar on both the crankcase and barrel face if you don't it will leak maybe a couple of years or later down the line but it will eventually.

[jsandidge]

I wouldn't risk it. It's a little extra work and expense now. It would be a lot more work and expense later if it were to leak.

[Grimly]

From the moment they leave the factory, the base gasket is trying to leak. Don't encourage it by re-using it. Rip it out and replace.
Anyway, forty years of heat and pressure have pretty much guaranteed that gasket will never seal again.

[Rob S.]

It's a little extra work and expense now. It would be a lot more work and expense later...

That says it best. You're already in there...

[Mrlimeedk]

Thanks for the tips guys, i might not have been clear enough in my original post, but the gasket is only about 1,5 years old, i rebuild the engine completely when i got the bike, and i have not actually taken the barrel off yet so the gasket has not been ripped or disturbed in any way. But with that said you are probably right i should just change it. You guys would'nt happen to have som advice on how to easily compress the rings so they can slide into the cylinder? last time i did it just using my fingers and that was a bit of a pain to say the least..

[salty_monk]

Yep do it now... They leak even if you do not remove the barrel...

[Grimly]

Thanks for the tips guys, i might not have been clear enough in my original post, but the gasket is only about 1,5 years old, i rebuild the engine completely when i got the bike, and i have not actually taken the barrel off yet so the gasket has not been ripped or disturbed in any way. But with that said you are probably right i should just change it. You guys would'nt happen to have som advice on how to easily compress the rings so they can slide into the cylinder? last time i did it just using my fingers and that was a bit of a pain to say the least..

Not worth the gamble. If you re-use it and it leaks you'll wish you'd taken the extra time and trouble to do it right.
I'd only risk it if it were a brand new install that had to come apart again and even then... probably not.

[alke46]

I used large clamping type clamps to hold the rings compressed while going back into the barrel. I can't think of the proper name for this type of adjustable clamp, sorry.

[phydeauxmutt]

If you do not replace the base gasket it will leak buy a Oem gaskets and the tear drop orings that seal the oil feeds and my preference is to use a light coating of blue hylomar on both the crankcase and barrel face if you don't it will leak maybe a couple of years or later down the line but it will eventually.

I think I know what you are saying. Might even agree, if there were some punctuation spread throughout.

... the gasket is only about 1,5 years old, ...

It does not really matter if the gasket is 1.5 years or 1.5 days old. If it has been compressed, then released, it is compromised. Especially if there has been a heat cycle or two.

[1978GS750E]

I used large clamping type clamps to hold the rings compressed while going back into the barrel. I can't think of the proper name for this type of adjustable clamp, sorry.

Are you talking about HOSE clamps there Larry? That's what I used!

[alke46]

Yes, hose clamps. Thank you for interpreting old people speak.

[Mrlimeedk]

Hose clamps.. i suppose that could work 😅 thanks for the tip. And yes you guys are right, I'm going to change it. Thanks for talking me out of being lazy

[oldGSfan]

I used hose clamps with strips of plastic cut from an old spray bottle or similar as a smooth glide surface. To support the pair of pistons from below I used some leftover PVC pipe taped into place to stay put.