Best gasket kit for 1984 200x?

[3Wheelers4Life]

im building my 1984 200x motor and i am looking for the best gasket kit available (possibly high performance kit would be best?). my friend and i both have the complete vesrah gasket kits on our 1984 200x's and they both leak all over but especially at the head gasket under the CDI. they mainly leak the worst when the engines are hot. both of the engines are torqued down and silicone was used. my friends bike only has about 10 hours of riding time on it. if possible i would like to get a metal head gasket, do they make these, where can i get them? best gasket kits? high performance kits? inputs? advice? help? thanks in advance.

[riverrat]

Your scaring me, I just bought one of those gasket kits......

[3Wheelers4Life]

Your scaring me, I just bought one of those gasket kits......

sorry:( maybe its just my luck like always lol. or i forgot something :wondering. our bikes are not gushing oil, just some small leaks. maybe you'll have better luck.

[84honda200s]

i try to use oem but ive used moose gasket kits and i havnt had ant problem with them. ive used the same moose kit up to 3 or 4 times. but thats only if i can get it off in one piece. ive also used vesrah kits and mine always leaked on the bottom clutch cover side and up top.

[3Wheelers4Life]

i try to use oem but ive used moose gasket kits and i havnt had ant problem with them. ive used the same moose kit up to 3 or 4 times. but thats only if i can get it off in one piece. ive also used vesrah kits and mine always leaked on the bottom clutch cover side and up top.

thanks, moose gaskets had no leaks at all, not even 1? did you use a full moose gasket kit or jus the head? with the vesrah gasket did yours leak at the head, right under the CDI. thats were it leaks the most on both bikes.

[84honda200s]

i used a full moose kit and i didnt have any leaks at all. yes min leaked at the head. pretty bad too. thats when i went to moose kits.

[riverrat]

Well, at least I can still get a moose, and sell the other.

[tbirdscott]

both of the engines are torqued down and silicone was used.

That is your problem, silicone is a temporary fix at best, a seal with silicone will ALWAYS leak after a short time.

I use versah gasket kits all the time at work, rebuild usually two engines a week and never have leaks, find and use loctite 515 sparingly and you wont have a problem. I'll admit they are not the greatest gaskets out there as far as fitment goes but they're good enough for a stock to lightly modded engine.


Scott

[84honda200s]

maybe thats my problem mine isnt exactly a lightly modded engine. well either way i like the moose gaskets they serve me well.

[Solid Snake]

Never had a problem with Vesrah gaskets, make sure none of your gasket surfaces are warped and also make sure they are very clean, like spotless. When you tighten stuff down, use the pattern that the service manuals recommend as well. And never use silicone except for the cylinder head cover where it doesn't use a gasket but calls for a semi-drying gasket sealer.

[Dirtcrasher]

Vesrah makes a good kit, let me give you my building SECRETS.....

I was a machinist, so I am ANAL RETENTIVE. I try to be meticulous and I don't get leaks.

Zippy any aluminum part apart causes it to warp, everything should be removed and installed in steps and a crisscross pattern.

I inspect every single gasket mounting surface like crazy!! I file large blemishes and then I finish with a hard stone and WD40 which shows ANY imperfections from razor blades and or screwdrivers.

I also run a 6mm - 1.0 tap through every hole and then slightly deburr the holes beginning.

I clean my bolts spotless, put a dab of grease on them and 3 step torque them down.

No silicone and I do the above and I don't get leaks......

[Rookie]

I just got done redoing my 83 200x, split cases and all, and I used a vesrah kit except for the o-ring that goes on the dowel pin where the head meets the cylinder. That was a honda part. No leaks. I agree with dirtcrasher and solid snake, follow the manual.

[3Wheelers4Life]

i'll try doing what you guys said, and use the manual, thanks a lot. hopefully no more leaks.

[Bustos82]

this is some good info. im going with Vesrah........

[200XMichigan]

Vesrah is great. I have used their kits on a few street bike engines and they have been fantastic. Used a Athena kit on a Trail 90 (pretty much the same as an ATC 90) and the rubber piece that seals the cam chain was leaking within a couple weeks. It had a terrible fit to begin with. But Vesrah has been great. I am sticking with them, huge company, made in Japan, great customer support. I just picked up one of their kits for the 250ES.

[mullet_boy]

I used the cheapest gasket kit ebay had to offer on my 200x build aside from the head gasket (i opted for copper). No leaks whatsoever, and surprisingly it fit well.

[WIkid500]

That is your problem, silicone is a temporary fix at best, a seal with silicone will ALWAYS leak after a short time.

I use versah gasket kits all the time at work, rebuild usually two engines a week and never have leaks, find and use loctite 515 sparingly and you wont have a problem. I'll admit they are not the greatest gaskets out there as far as fitment goes but they're good enough for a stock to lightly modded engine.


Scott



Thats the post I was looking for. Silicone should NEVER be used with a gasket set. I used the vesrah gasket set with me 10.8:1 compression piston and had no head gasket leaks. All the seals are holding tight too.

Avoid silicone at all costs. When you put the rocker cover on use loctite anaerobic sealer, it's in a red tube. That's the good stuff for sealing the metal to metal areas up.