Exhaust gasket replacement

[Paul Musser]

Since the pipes have to be removed tilt the engine in order to do a number of engine maintenance tasks, do the header/head gaskets need to be replaced each time, or will they work two or three times? If they're the standard asbestos with aluminium coil crush gaskets like I'm use to on the GSs, they'll need to be replaced every time the headers are pulled off.

Thanks

[Don]

These last a long time

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB ... ccessories

I've had my pipes off and back on the bike 5 or 6 times over the past 15 months and I've not had to replace one of them yet

Don

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

The copper gaskets can be used at least 3 times, in my experience.

[Paul Musser]

Thanks, I appreciate the info.

So, are the stock Honda parts solid copper? I see two types on eBay - the ones on Don's link which look like what I'm used to with the GSs, and these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-82-HO ... 5d26830999 , which look like solid copper.

Thanks

[Don]

The copper ones are 'crush washers' and once 'crushed' they don't bounce back. You can tighten them down a time or two but once they don't have any crush left in them, they're pretty much done

The asbestos looking ones can be used and reused and they can be flipped over and used again and again

They're only a couple bucks apiece - Buy a set of each and see which ones you prefer

Don

[EMS]

The original equipment Honda asbestos, wire wrapped gaskets are no longer available from Honda. If you find any, they are leftover stock. Can you spell a-s-b-e-s-t-o-s?

[Don]

Needless to say (I thought) that the aftermarket 'asbestos looking ones' contain no asbestos . . . . which is why I referred to them as I did

Don

[EMS]

The ones that are sold by tasclassic and performanceintl and look solid are crush gaskets also. They have a corrugated design and give a little when pressure is applied. I don't like them as well as the hollow copper crush gaskets because there is a danger that you may pull the studs out of the cylinder heads. They do not seat as much as the hollow ones and before you think your exhaust header sits properly, they stopped collapsing and the stud moves.

[Don]

The ones I use have a chrome looking ring inside and out and inbetween the two rings there's exactly 3 wraps of something that looks kinda like foam doublestick tape . . . . complete with the green backing - I guess you could say that it looks like asbestos as well ;)

Anyway, they smush down some and if you're only tightening the nuts until the header pipe quits moving around and feels firm, you can reuse them many times - As I said, 5 or 6 times so far with I assume several more to go. I bought 3 sets of 6 so I have plenty of spares, but so far, no leaks so it looks like I'm set for quite awhile

When I got the bike from Dave, it had the copper ones. I know he had the Kerkers on and off the bike twice and then he installed my Pipemasters. When I removed and reinstalled them the first time, I had a leak with the copper ones, so it looks to me like the composite ones last at least 2X as long - Your personal experience may vary, of course

Don

[Paul Musser]

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate all the info. I'll probably get some of each and see how it goes. Although the bike was reportedly given a 'full service' (whatever that means) not too many miles ago, it wasn't ridden much the last few years. I need to go through it and make sure everything is adjusted properly, so those pipes will be off and on a few times.

Thanks, again, I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get into things...

[Louis]

TIMS sells the copper ones and seem to work the best for me as well.

[alimey4u2]

I use solid copper gaskets & anneal them every time I refit. Stick them on the pipe flange the night before with high temp silicone, makes the job a bit easier the next day...

[kbart1]

I use solid copper gaskets & anneal them every time I refit. Stick them on the pipe flange the night before with high temp silicone, makes the job a bit easier the next day...

can anybody shed any light on just how to "anneal" the copper gaskets? whats involved and whats it mean?

thanks!
kent

[zxbob]

Just FYI for the guys who don't know -

The Kawasaki 900 / 1000 exhaust gaskets fit our bikes. That's what I use in my X.
You can find them cheeper on eBay (cause they don't say CBX)

Bob

[NobleHops]

Just FYI for the guys who don't know -

The Kawasaki 900 / 1000 exhaust gaskets fit our bikes. That's what I use in my X.
You can find them cheeper on eBay (cause they don't say CBX)

Bob

Nice tip Smuggo!



(How's my buddy Bob!?)

N., not bitter at all about the Halloween snowstorm, no, no, no.