Head and base gasket question

[brs127s]

Hey all,

I got my cylinders honed this past Tuesday, and my buddy and I ground the valves, heads and seats, milled the head, and put the head back together last night, so I am just about ready to put the bike back together (aside from a little more cleanup work). While looking at everything, I have a question about the gaskets. Do I need to put anything on the gaskets before putting the top end back together. The base gasket is a normal gasket. I wasn't sure if I need to put it on dry, or put a light coating of silicone on it. Also, the head gasket is a stamped metal gasket. My buddy thought it should be sprayed with a tack spray that they use on race engines with metal gaskets to get a good seal. Should this be done, or should it be put on dry also?

Thanks,

Brandon

[Motorcyclemodeller]

Base gasket dry.
Head gasket dry, the head gasket is usually stamped head or top.........this side faces up or towards the head.

8) Andre 8)

[Anonymous]

You better ask around about your valves. I read here that you do not grind these valves because of a heat treating or coating.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Silicone is insurance, you don't need it in most cases. If you have 3 or more parts meeting in one place that is a good place to use it. Definately don't put it on your valve cover as you'll need to take it off in 2 weeks (500 miles for first tuneup after rebuild right?)

Steve

[sharpy]

Gaskets

If it is a 2 valve motor use a drop of glue to hold the teardrop o-rings that sit in the grooves on top of the engine cases to stop them collapesing onto them-selves. (can't remember what the 4 valve motor has) Otherwise have everything CLEAN and bonedry and just use a smear of gasket goo on the rubber o-rings, oil gallerys(the two rear/outside bolts) and the o-ring that sits between the head & barrel and . Did you remember to replace the barrel sleeve o-rings as they go hard and crack.

[Anonymous]

Be careful, if that's not a stamped COPPER gasket, you should coat it with copper gasket spray. I talked to a tech at work about my engine rebuild and he asked if it was a metal gasket, I said yes, and he said dry, but then it failed after 50 miles, and he asked if it was a COPPER gasket, I said no, and he tossed a can of copper spray at me and said, you were supposed to use this, go buy a new head gasket. so if it's silver in color, go get a can of copper gasket spray, or you're taking chances