Correct head gasket for '83 850gl D

[Guest]

Ok, I have decided to tackle replacing the head gasket (and various other gaskets) on my bike. I will have the help of my brother and another good friend of mine, and I am hoping to tackle this job this weekend. However, I have read on here, that there are two different gaskets for the 850, and they changed sometime in 82-83. I plan on ordering the Vesrah VG377 gasket set. I have an 83GL D. Can someone on here confirm that this kit will have the correct head gasket in it?

[Nessism]

It's not the head gasket that changed, it's the valve cover gasket which has a different number of bolts on the later bikes.

Regarding that Vesrah gasket you plan to purchase, there have been quite a few people around here that have experienced problems with Vesrah gaskets, or more specifially, the rubber O-rings. Apparently Vesrah has either changed O-ring materials, there are counterfit gasket kits in circulation, or they are just simply having quality problems - possibably related to a facility change (move to China?). At any rate if you want to use the Vesrah gaskets I suggest you supplement the kit with OE rubber O-rings on the base gasket. Another option is using an Athena gasket kit from partsnmore.com These pieces seem decent quality but please be aware of the need to follow up diligently on your susbuquent head gasket torque checks, particularly if the kit has an MLS head gasket. I used an Athena kit on my 1000 engine rebuild and noticed torque fall-off after each of the first few heat cycles. I retorqued the head each time and now it's stable so I expect that it's good now.

[toejams1]

Good information! Thank you. Maybe I will go with the Athena kit then.

[toejams1]

Thanks again

Ed,
Thanks again for your help. The gasket set from partsnmore was about $30 cheaper than what I was going to pay.