partsnmore gaskets

[fredbail]

A company called partsnmore lists gaskets for an 850. I have a gs 850 L ...they list for a gs850g (round cam cover end caps) not shure if they will fit. I also wonder are they athena gaskets? I have emailed them these same questions, but if anybody has any first hand...it would be appreciated. thanks ,Dan B.

[Nessism]

Photos and price suggest Athena.

[Steve]

What year is your 850?

From '79 through '81 there were 16 bolts that held the valve cover to the head. I am nost sure if it started with or during the '82 model year, but they started using 19 bolts to do the same job. The valve cover gasket will be different.

There is another difference with the clutch cover. '79 through 81 had a shape that still accomodated the kick start lever that only appeared on the '79 model. The '82 and up clutch covers were a different shape and therefore require a different gasket.

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[Flaggo60]

Photos and price suggest Athena.

This company lists a gasket kit for the 650-do you know anything about Athena?

[Nessism]

Their reputation is as a cheap gasket maker. I suspect most of the gaskets are fine but not sure about head gasket.

[psyguy]

same period bikes ('79-81 & '82 and up) "g" and "gl" are the same motors/gaskets

[fredbail]

Stupid me ,1980...thanks

[fredbail]

I'm doing this on the cheap. I have never taken a motor apart before.....well, not that I can remember. The first car was a '39 plymouth, and I pulled the motor and took it to a shop and had it rebuilt for about $200 bucks..anyway, thanks

[Matchless]

This company lists a gasket kit for the 650-do you know anything about Athena?

I have used a full gasket set from Athena via Partsnmore for a GS1000 G 1980. I can just say that I found them of good quality and they were up to Suzuki's latest OEM spec. The label shows that it was Num. Lotto 20060525, made in 2006. The head gasket is the latest MLS type and require no additional o-rings like the older types.
The other gaskets allready have some sort of wax layer on the outside and requires absolutely no additional gasket sealer or oil or grease as grandpa did!!! (No offence meant)

If your head gasket is an older type or from old stock it will most likely be made from some single layer of thick compound pressed together and have a crimped metal lip around the piston opening, it will also require seals on the outer head studs and the rectangular o-ring rubber to be used around the cam chain opening. More people are familiar with the older type gaskets and as such advise on using them.

If you want to be safe buy Suzuki OEM, but remember NOS OEM parts are made in the technology of the day!! There may be new spec OEM out that is even betteras per todays technology!!!
Hope this helps.

[Nessism]

Suzuki has updated the manufacturing technology of many of these head gaskets over the years to eliminate some of the rubber stud seals. Not sure if this is accross the board for all part numbers though.

[Matchless]

Suzuki has updated the manufacturing technology of many of these head gaskets over the years to eliminate some of the rubber stud seals. Not sure if this is accross the board for all part numbers though.

Nessism you are right, I would actually like to physically compare the latest spec OEM headgasket to the latest spec aftermarket headgasket from the most common suppliers, say all of them actually manufactured in 2007, not what they tell you is the latest.

I think the changes are also kept as a closely guarded secret and they do not advertise what changed and why, there could be claims forthcoming.

The parts lists in some way do indicate various part numbers, but if the list does not show the latest part number it does not necessary mean we are looking at the latest list! It is very difficult to determine what gasket you are buying unless we had a list with all the superceded numbers to date and a note on the changes and someone selling a NOS gasket as OEM may have you thinking you are buying the best on the market, which it may have been in 1980, but may not be true for 2008?

That is why this forum is so important as the members report on changes others can learn from it as I have.