Got my new Athena Head Gasket today - question

[Courtney]

So the new gasket (top) is interesting, it has NO copper crush ring around the cylinders like my factory one (bottom) does. Anybody used one without the crush ring? I'm a little leary, but Athena quality is topnotch and they have their rep to keep up. Partsnmore sells their complete kit. Comments?? Note that it is cut out from 1.20MM gasket material. Hmmmm, being retired I can see that making up some head gaskets could be a good waste of my time.

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[XS1100 Newbie]

For myself, that just doesn't look right. Looks like a manufacturer defect without the combustion chamber sealing rings. Don't think i would trust it. JMO

[BA80]

There should be 4 large O-rings that came in the kit that go around each cylinder. The original assembly doesn't have those.

Just something that was upgraded.

That is the gasket for the lower end of the jugs correct?

[BA80]

Disregard...........my mistake.


Yeah, that head gasket should have the steel sealing lip on it.

[trbig]

Hmmm.... Yeah, I'd be leery also. I think I would try contacting the company and discuss this with them. Maybe it's some new high temp/ high strength material where they feel it's not needed? (The steel rings)

[650mark]

non oem gaskets

fwiw, last year I used an aftermarket headgasket on my sr500. bought it from a company that specializes in thumper stuff and it was recommended by him. put about 300 miles on the bike when that lousy headgasket failed and ruined my motor. had to rebuild the motor but I used oem Yamaha gaskets. price difference for the oem vs the aftermarket was about $15.00. cost of the motor rebuild was about $400.00. learned a valuable lesson. be careful.

[Rasputin]

The Athena I have here does indeed have steel rings on it or some other metal that is shiny and magnetic. Maybe there is a reason it was so cheap. I would be very sure before I went thru the install process. I an take a pic of mine if you think it would help.

[crazy steve]

So the new gasket (top) is interesting, it has NO copper crush ring around the cylinders like my factory one (bottom) does.

I think those rings are called 'fire rings' and they're there to protect the gasket material from combustion heat/fire. I can't recall ever seeing a head gasket that didn't have those, so yeah, I'd be leery too....

[Courtney]

Here's the company and the ebay picture of the head gasket etc.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=180920351832

So look at the picture and see what I was SUPPOSED to get. You can clearly see the compression rings and the fact it's an Athena.

Here's the message I sent them over Ebay.

Dear aughacashel,

I received my xs1100 head gasket today in the mail, and am very disappointed. The picture in the ad CLEARLY shows steel cylinder rings in the gasket, yet the one I received has no rings and does not say it is an Athena product. I have attached a picture of the gasket sent. The top one is YOUR gasket, the bottom one is a factory gasket. You can see there are NO steel sealing rings around the cylinder holes. What is going on? This has cost me 2 weeks of wasted time!!!

[BA80]

That picture shows the metal lip on the cylinders.

That's cheap. The cheapest I could find is $60 separately.

[Courtney]

Yeah BA80 but you saw the pic of what I got. NO compression ring on that gasket they sent me.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Courtney,

Here's a statement from their eBay ad:

It is advisable to visually check your existing cylinder head gasket against the product image in this listing before committing to buy. The product you see in the image is the exact product you will receive.

Back in 2000 when I did my rebore, I used a Cometic one that came with my Wiseco kit, but it was a GRAPHITE sandwich type one, and it didn't have the cylinder rings, some of the images of graphite head gaskets also don't show the rings.

Your new gasket doesn't LOOK like it's Graphite, nor thick enough for graphite!?

Cometic seems to have moved onto MLS (Multi Layered Steel-embossed), and regrettably they don't show photos on their website for the XS11 version! Good Luck!

T.C.

[MaximPhil]

I think those rings are called 'fire rings' and they're there to protect the gasket material from combustion heat/fire. I can't recall ever seeing a head gasket that didn't have those, so yeah, I'd be leery too....

Hi Courtney,
What they sent is definitely not the picture i their ad.
As Steve points out "Fire Rings" are required for a head gasket. I do not recognize that material brand either. I would not install it.
Greg it is not the lower gasket either the camchain gallery is much smaller in the bottom location.
Phil

[Courtney]

Hey Courtney,

Here's a statement from their eBay ad:


Back in 2000 when I did my rebore, I used a Cometic one that came with my Wiseco kit, but it was a GRAPHITE sandwich type one, and it didn't have the cylinder rings, some of the images of graphite head gaskets also don't show the rings.

Your new gasket doesn't LOOK like it's Graphite, nor thick enough for graphite!?

Cometic seems to have moved onto MLS (Multi Layered Steel-embossed), and regrettably they don't show photos on their website for the XS11 version! Good Luck!

T.C.

This one is highly magnetic so is steel inside, the outside has a thin layer of something over it. It actually looks closeup like multiple layers of steel with the dark material over them. I'll wait and see what these guys have to say, but I think I'll be reusing the old one so I can get on with this.

[Courtney]

Hi Courtney,
What they sent is definitely not the picture i their ad.
As Steve points out "Fire Rings" are required for a head gasket. I do not recognize that material brand either. I would not install it.
Greg it is not the lower gasket either the camchain gallery is much smaller in the bottom location.
Phil

Yep the old bait and switch routine I reckon. I'll just be reusing the old one I think, can't wait forever. Just waiting till LoHo mails me an intake valve and I'm good to go.