Do you always use gaskets?

[yamaha guy]

what do you guys think of buying gasket material and making your own? is it alright or should you just buy the actual gasket?

[Mr_RPM]

what do you guys think of buying gasket material and making your own? is it alright or should you just buy the actual gasket?

as i said before I do this often on side covers and things like that and its great, but on things that hold pressure or need to be a certain thickness buy the actual gasket (like important components need real gaskets)
the only reason to make your own gasket is when you have an unexpected need for one and dont have the time or money to order one and wait for it to come in or if the gasket is unavailable to buy individually and only available in a expensive kit on ebay. (happens alot) or if you already have a sheet of gasket to use, but other than that buy the proper gasket.

[Grizzlypeg]

Do you find that you can walk into your Honda dealorship and pick up the gaskets you need? Or do you have to order them and wait several days for them to come in?

[yamaha guy]

alright thank you, got that cleared up =)

[Mr_RPM]

Do you find that you can walk into your Honda dealorship and pick up the gaskets you need? Or do you have to order them and wait several days for them to come in?

well for my 110 most are not available anymore and can only be bought on ebay in kits, and things that are available normally need to be ordered and have a 4-10 day wait. thats how my dealer/dads work is.
thats 90% of the time on any machine too (not the unavailable part but the waiting part)

[Tecate250]

Well Im no pro. Sometimes I can get into a jam but i use both. Id like to know what people use for crank case gaskets. Silicone I use all the time for exhaust gaskets. No more leaking around 2 strokes anymore. Works so well I can but havent removed the springs that hold it on. Sometimes you get a bike that something is cracked or broken but jb weld and rtv works great. I always use rtv on my cark flange and reed cage to completely eliminate any air leaks. When you live in an area where your local deales cant get you nothing and if they can you wait a year for a ststor gasket. Ill silicone and drive for a year then wait for it to hopefully come in. Ive used pop can card borad for a few gaskets in my time. One more thing. How can silicone clogg a 2 stroke?

[Dirtcrasher]

I oil up both sides of gaskets that are commonly removed ( side covers) It keeps them from sticking and ripping when taken apart. I dont do the silicone thing, I wont even buy a bike that has silicone globbed out of something that should have a gasket. In my opinion its lazy and makes me raise the question of what else was skimped out on if they cant even buy a $5 gasket.

I'm the same way...... Grease or oil will often allow the gasket to come off without it's layers coming apart/sticking to either side, then you HAVE to replace the gasket.

Like some others have said, some applications don't call for a gasket. Others, if you leave it out, whatever is between it may bind or at the very least wear on the 2 side surfaces it rotates on........

When I use 3bond/Yamabond/Hondabond on something like a rocker box because often they do not use a gasket - I use a tiny acid brush and stay clear of cam journals etc etc.

I little silicone in a depressed are doesn't hurt if it's put on correctly. Plenty of surfaces are gouged up a bit and you have to fill the void with something.

But, like Jeff, anytime I see stuff covered in red silicone oozing off the sides, I stay clear away from them.

I know we can't own EVERY service manual but they can usually be found for free and they tell you what and where needs a gasket or not or some other type of sealant. Even if it's not there when you buy it, it doesn't mean there shouldn't be a gasket there, it means some knucklehead put it together...........