questions about Yamabond

[GLoweVA]

Alright, some of you swear about this product, but which one?
I googled it and went to the yama site and saw that there are at least 4 different kinds.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/yamalube/categories/adhesives/27/yamabond/1

4, 5, 6B, & 7
So which one for which purpose?

[motoman]

Well, I swore AT it some 15yrs. ago puttin' a yammy YZ250 back together. Had case 'weeps' everywhere creating dirt attraction around case halves. Had it used on cam end-plugs when i had valves shimmed. Couple monthes later, pulled valve cover and end plugs. Cleaned everything and applied very thin film of HighTempGrey silicone to mating surfaces and a heavier 'dob' on corners where valve cover meet end plugs like one would do on the four corners of an intake manifold for a cage. Dry as a bone and no more 'weeps'. Even having new pan, valve cover and shifter cover gaskets(still), since being machined mating surfaces I did the same 'thin film' on all these with no gasket, and some 7yrs. later, still no 'weep'. Just givin' you a maybe better option, as I have little use for Yamabond and its different numering applications. Have seen many others XS11's at rallies that had been apart and put back together with Yamabond, and have yet to see one that didn't have a dirty 'weep' area in some area that it was put back together. Guess I'm a bit anal when it comes to that, but that issue didn't exist when it was new from the factory, so no reason it should now as long as the mating surfaces are not scored and scratched up. I can tell you that dealers, both Yamaha and Honda use their corresponding manufacturers' version of this, but just because that's what the dealers will allow used. Maybe for liability reasons or who knows, but those i know who wrench at these places do NOT like the stuff.

[650mark]

sealer

fwiw, i've used yamabond 3/4 and threebond 1194 brands on many engine rebuilds and never had a leak with either. i believe they're the same stuff, but i could be wrong. regardless, the key to this stuff is to spread it as thin as possible on the mating surfaces. it will NOT fill in gouges or scratches in the metal, not designed for that. if all metal surfaces are very smooth you should have no problems with either brand. also, this stuff is thin and really sticky right out of the tube. if it's coming out like toothpaste then it's old and won't adhere well. toss it, and go buy a new tube. it's cheap insurance against leaks.

[Rasputin]

Personally I use "The Right Stuff" for everything and it works great on scratches too. Best stuff I have ever came across for gaskets. It is a wee bit pricey but worth every penny and more to me.

[bikerphil]

Personally I use "The Right Stuff" for everything and it works great on scratches too. Best stuff I have ever came across for gaskets. It is a wee bit pricey but worth every penny and more to me.

+1 The best gasket maker I've ever used is the right stuff. This is 35+ years of wrenching. If you read the back of the can, it is the stuff the auto makers use on engines coming out of the factory. A lot of fiber gaskets aren't used anymore but gasket sealer, the right stuff or equivalent is used instead. Only time I have ever used Yamabond 4 was on the XS11 upper/lower engine cases.

[crazy steve]

Some swear by Yamabond, some swear at it....

I've had great success with the 4. I have found that too much is bad, it won't 'fill' big defects, and works best without gaskets. Like Mark said, a thin, even coating so you get just a bit of 'bead' works great. As an adhesive, it's not, so for some items you're better off to use silicon or your 'other' fav goo.

One thing I really like about Yamabond is it 'flows' at the seams. Rather than having a 'silicon string' left hanging out when cured, Yamabond will flow onto the non-gasket surfaces, leaving a nice bead once cured. You do have to have the mating surfaces clean and dry, it doesn't tolerate contamination well.

[Mathh]

you don't need to go with Yamabond, just buy any threebond 1194 on Ebay, or 1207 or 1215 as used by Suzuki and Ducati. Loads cheaper and just as effective.

[Courtney]

Haha, EXACT same question I was going to post yesterday GLoweVA !! I got lost in the type to use as well. I just finished doing my clutch cover and putting it back on. It got GE grey, Hi-temp silicone seal, because that's what it got years ago when I took it off last time, and it's lasted perfectly this long. Cheap too, like me.