Need help: GS1000 head gasket o-ring questions on Vesrah gasket set

[wottenad]

I'm in the home stretch putting my 79 1000L motor back together and I'm a little confused with the four o-rings for the head studs that come with the Vesrah VG-352 gasket set. I can't find any info on this anywhere, so I'm hoping someone here has used this set before and can guide me in the right direction so I don't have oil spurting out of the head when I start it up!

The head gasket has the copper rings molded in and o-rings that (I guess) are supposed to fit inside of them, but the o-rings are too big to fit (.78" OD on o-rings vs .75" ID on copper ring), and their construction makes me uneasy about the way they are supposed to be used.

The o-rings have a metal sheet sandwiched in them and are taller on one side than the other, with a gray stripe on the tall side. Here's a photo of all the parts in multiple views:



I have multiple questions:

• Are these even the right o-rings? It doesn't seem like it, because no matter which way they are assembled, since the metal washer inside the o-ring will not fit inside the copper ring, it looks like it will prevent the copper ring from sealing completely on the side the washer is on.
• If they are right, in what order do they assemble (Cylinder/o-ring/gasket/head) or (Cylinder/gasket/o-ring/head) and which way is "up" (gray "tall side" or black "short side")? Also, what do you do to insure they are absolutely centered when lowering the head - there's no positive way to center them as-is and it seems really risky to cinch it down if any one of these is not PERFECTLY centered in the copper ring.
• If these are wrong and there's no way of centering them, can I cut or grind the circumference to fit inside the copper rings? Or what can I use instead and what's the P/N? I'd rather not have to spend another $90+ for the factory head gasket.
• Have I labeled this head gasket correctly - (smooth "rounded" side UP/rough "flat" side DOWN)?

Any guidance is appreciated!

 

[GregT]

Doesn't matter which way up you use them, just hold them in place with a dab of grease when you offer the head on.
The copper ring around the hole in the head gasket is a crush ring and will happily absorb any minute size difference in the OD.

These seals work very well indeed in my experience.

 

[Guest]

That has got to be the most detailed photo I've ever seen on the site, well done.

 

[BadBillyB]

I would recommend turning/filing down the O.D. of the insert "O" rings until they fit nicely inside the copper crush ring of the head gasket. This will in effect give you a double seal. Be careful not to over heat them while doing so......Billy

 

[wottenad]

I decided to hand file down the o-ring metal flange to fit inside the copper ring and add a dab of grease to keep them stuck down while I dropped the head:



Although I appreciate the input on just throwing them on and letting the copper rings soak up the thickness of the flange, it just seems really risky to add the thickness of the rubber coated flange to the top of the copper ring and hope that it doesn't have an issue.

On a separate note regarding the Vesrah VG-352 gasket set: Every gasket in this set were oversized by at least 2mm, which although it doesn't hurt the install (and I'd rather it be oversized than undersized!), I have excess gasket material hanging out of every cover and the base of the cylinders. It's not going to be a show bike, I have painted the case and polished the covers, and these gaskets will probably end up looking a little ragged a few years down the road. I'm not going to trim the excess for fear of gouging the new paint, so I guess I'll leave them, but grrrrr...

The head gasket was another matter. The locating pins on the outside of the cylinders positively locate the head gasket, and on the head gasket, the pin holes were off by 2-3mm on both ends. When I laid the gasket down on the cylinders, it bowed a good 3/8" upwards in the center! I had to take a round file to the gasket and open up the holes inward to allow the head gasket to lay flat.

Combined with the o-ring issue, I'm a little surprised that Vesrah doesn't have their act together on a gasket set that has been out there for almost 40 years!

I guess that compared to factory gaskets that cost MUCH more, maybe you get what you pay for...

 

[Grimly]

At one time, Vesrah were the go-to gaskets. Not any more, it seems.
Of course, there's no knowing just WHERE these 'Vesrah' gaskets actually originated.

 

[fastbysuzuki]

There was a thread a good while back when VESRAH gaskets were being copied I did buy a set a while back and those washers/seals were as described. As Grimley says who knows were they are made the packet says Japan but that's no guanetee these days.
personally I chickened out and bought suzuki seals and gaskets dammed expensive though and soled the VESRAH kit.

 

[Brendan W]

I used NE gasket set when I did the job in 2015. Base gasket sticking out 2mm at back corners, head gasket needed filing to sit down flat, fire rings not concentric with cylinder bores but oversized at least, stem seals a bit fragile ( could have been my fault) , replaced them with Athena.
No issues so far. Top cover gasket replaced a few months back but in fairness it had been off three times for poking at valve clearances.

 

[jdion81]

I ordered the Vesrah gasket for my 850, it looks like it is for the 850 and the 1000, but it didn't come with the rubber o rings that you mentioned. Are they required or are they only for the 1000?