Head Gasket recommendations?

[Guest]

I'm gathering parts to re-do my top end after an oil passage o-ring failure at the base (vesra). I plan on using all OEM gaskets except the head. I have a 1085 kit in the bike (3mm over) and understand that I cannot use the OEM stock bore gasket. When I put the engine together, I used the wiseco gasket (fiber w/steel core) that came with the piston kit. The head was surfaced before re-install. I have experienced no leaks with it, but have only logged about 1500 miles and 16 months since the bike has been back on the road. The reason I ask is that I have heard of problems with cometics leaking around the oil passages. I don't know if wiseco sources their head gaskets from cometic, I thought I rememebered that they did.

I really really don't want to do this again, so what are my head gasket options based on the imense collective knowledge on this 4M?

BTW at assy I applied either gaskacinch or yamabond 4 on the head gasket around the oil passage holes because I was nervous about the gasket design with no o-rings.

[Nessism]

What about a stock 1100G head gasket? It has a 73mm bore so that would be the same as your bike I think, or close enough.

For my 1000S engine rebuild I went with an Athena 1000G gasket kit. The head gasket must be universial between the 1000 and 1100 since the bore is 73mm.

[TeamDar]

The 1100g has a 72mm bore, but that is close enough. However the 1100g has no cam chain tunnel o-ring so the head gasket has a smaller opening for the cam chain tunnel. In other words you can't use the GS1000 o-ring with the 1100g head gasket. The other drawback is the price, around $80-$90 for the oem GS1100g head gasket. Use the graphite gasket it works fine. Just my opinion. Dar

[posplayr]

Do your self a favor and avoid the Cometic MLS gaskets. Graphite ones seem to work fine.

[chef1366]

Do your self a favor and avoid the Cometic MLS gaskets. Graphite ones seem to work fine.

You mean you don't recommend days of hard work to end in oil squirting everwhere and hating life???

[BlackStar]

Thanks for the replies.
As I stated above, I don't want to fix and oil leak at the base, and end up with one at the head.
I guess the good news is that Cometic does not list a MLS (multilayer steel) for the GS1000 2V. They only list a CFM-20, which according to their literature is:

A perforated steel core with an elastomer surface is ideal for head gaskets allowing heat to be drawn evenly across the gasket surface while providing maximum sealing characteristics when exposed to coolants and oils.
AKA the graphite one.

[49er]

You mean you don't recommend days of hard work to end in oil squirting everwhere and hating life???

Geez, stop your sniveling. The English have put up with oil leaking parrell twins for time and eternity. I'ts sort of expected. Part of their culture, even.

The MLS gaskets are ok as long as your sealing surfaces are true. I've got a GS1100G one on the 850 at present. Only 600 kms so far, but not a sign of any oil leaks. I did re-torque after 100 kms ( 5 heat cycles).

Composite gaskets are good, but you pay the price at strip down time by having to scraping the old material off the ali surfaces.

[posplayr]

Geez, stop your sniveling. The English have put up with oil leaking parrell twins for time and eternity. I'ts sort of expected. Part of their culture, even.

The MLS gaskets are ok as long as your sealing surfaces are true. I've got a GS1100G one on the 850 at present. Only 600 kms so far, but not a sign of any oil leaks. I did re-torque after 100 kms ( 5 heat cycles).

Composite gaskets are good, but you pay the price at strip down time by having to scraping the old material off the ali surfaces.

It has been confirmed that MLS gaskets will work and that the butt surface preparation has to be sufficiently pretty (as per APE's own Big Jake recommendations) .

Unfortunately the exact science of prettiness determination is still apparently an art form. However it is anticipated that if the installation is performed on the space station in near zero gravity the seal will hold.

Else wise you need to be a national record holder engine builder to use MLS.

I reserve the right as an American ande 1/2 of a pair of bimbos to continue to snivel.

[49er]

It has been confirmed that MLS gaskets will work and that the butt surface preparation has to be sufficiently pretty (as per APE's own Big Jake recommendations) .

Unfortunately the exact science of prettiness determination is still apparently an art form. However it is anticipated that if the installation is performed on the space station in near zero gravity the seal will hold.

Else wise you need to be a national record holder engine builder to use MLS.

I reserve the right as an American ande 1/2 of a pair of bimbos to continue to snivel.

As 1/2 of the bimbos, you have put forward a pretty sound case for the right to keep on sniveling.

Hell, it would be a rather sound environment to prep butts on the space station! You probably would need to be a national record holder engine builder to gain access to this perfect atmosphere though.

Prettiness is definately in the eye of the beholder! However, most of the serious contenders for longevity appear in the range of 30-50 microns.