Strange valve cover gasket fit problem...

[TLock]

My engine has been leaking a little oil so I figured it was time to replace the valve cover gasket. I have either a Suzuki 1981 GS650G or a GS650GT. The confusion on that comes from the guy who sold it to me saying it's a GT in G trim.

Either way I ordered the valve cover gasket part number 11173-34211. I double checked in the GS Parts catalogue to make sure that was the right one for a GT. According to the catalogue it is, it should also fit a standard G.

I took off my valve cover and went to put the gasket on and realized that there's an extra screw hole in the gasket that doesn't exist on my engine...

So, now I'm not sure what to do. I tried to figure out if I had a different model by decoding the VIN but I couldn't come up with anything.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue and if so if they could advise me on possible solutions.

Thanks!

 

[7981GS]

An introduction of your bike (with pic's/model/year) and a little about yourself (location) in the GS Owners section really helps.
IIRC, there was a valve cover/gasket change in '81/'82 (?)

Eric

 

[TLock]

Hey Eric,

I signed up for this forum awhile ago and just started really looking at it. I'll go ahead and update my profile and put a little intro post in the GS Owners section.

I was looking on ebay at a gasket for an 82 GT and it looks pretty similar to what I need. I'm going to take off my valve cover and photograph it so I can compare it to the picture online.

Cheers!

Tristan

 

[Guest]

It would help to order a gasket for an '81, up to frame # 3560, which has a 16-bolt valve cover. That frame # break-off point is not always accurate, unfortunately, plus, sometimes parts sources don't know the difference. Supposedly, frame #3561-on have 17-bolt patterns, with the 17th up at the front of the cover.

 

[tom203]

Some of the parts fiches are wrong.
81 and some early 82 650 shafties used cam cover gasket 11173-34200 ;this was later superceded by 11173- 201 and 202. No extra hole in tach drive area. Later 82's and 83's used 11173-34210 which had an extra hole.
Many ebay sellers get confused-if you buy there, ask for actual pic to check for existence of hole in tach drive area.

 

[TLock]

So I still can't seem to find a gasket that will fit. I called the guy I bought my bike from and he said that it's an 81 GS 650 GT. I've ordered gasket 11173-34211 and gasket 11173-34202 but neither fit. A couple of the holes just don't line up. Here's a picture of my valve cover gasket:

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to where I can find the right part? Thanks!

 

[MAJikMARCer]

Looks just like mine. According the parts fiche we use the same gasket (11173-34202). Odd that it didn't fit. How far off is it? Was it an OEM gasket or an aftermarket?

 

[Frank Z.]

Tlock, if that pic is current, you should scrape and clean up the mating surfaces on both valve cover and head prior to installing (factory OEM/NOS) gasket. You shouldn't have to use any rtv/permatex/etc. with Suzuki gasket. Good luck.

 

[BigD_83]

Can you post a picture of the gasket sitting on the valve cover so we can see the relationship? It's odd that you have the supposedly correct part and it doesn't line up.

As far as the extra screw hole goes, I'm sure you'll find someone on here with the newer style head that can use it.

BTW, as far as I have been able to figure out, the GT was a Euro only designation and badged that way over there. You have a shaft drive 650, it's a G...and that is really all that matters.

 

[Steve]

I have either a Suzuki 1981 GS650G or a GS650GT. The confusion on that comes from the guy who sold it to me saying it's a GT in G trim.

As usual, the "previous owner" is a bit confused.

If you have a 1981 650G, it is a 650GX. The Twould be a designation for the model year 1980, not '81. It is possible, though, that your bike might have been assembled in the last few months of 1980, which some people confuse with the model year. Not sure about the rest of the world, but here in the US, we only had 650s available from '81-'83, which had letter designations of X, Z and D

BTW, as far as I have been able to figure out, the GT was a Euro only designation and badged that way over there. You have a shaft drive 650, it's a G...and that is really all that matters.

Can you show any documentation to support that? The only other place I have seen that mentioned is at Suzukicycles.org. Although that is a very good place for checking stuff out, I have seen a few mistakes on it over the years. On that site, he mentions the E, the GT, the GL and the G Katana. From what I understand, they should be E, G, GL and M

650E - chain-drive model only in '81 and '82
650G - shaft-drive 'upright' model, available '81-'83
650GL - shaft-drive 'cruiser' model, available '81-'83
650M - shaft-drive Katana, only available in '83 (this was the only Katana shafty )
If you want to get REAL picky, there was another 650 available in '83, the XN85. That was the turbo model.

.

 

[tom203]

Here's a pic of my spare- marked with suzuki label 11173-34202

 

[BigD_83]

As usual, the "previous owner" is a bit confused.

Can you show any documentation to support that? The only other place I have seen that mentioned is at Suzukicycles.org. Although that is a very good place for checking stuff out, I have seen a few mistakes on it over the years. On that site, he mentions the E, the GT, the GL and the G Katana. From what I understand, they should be E, G, GL and M
.

@Steve: I'm afraid I don't have anything on hand, although I have based my comment partly on that site. There was a thread on here not too long ago where a member in England had a GT badged 650, and then there is this video:

where in running time you can clearly see the GT designation on the side cover, although I am not sure where in the United Kingdom the poster is located.

EDIT- and here is another nice image with the GT badge

 

[Guest]

@Steve: I'm afraid I don't have anything on hand, although I have based my comment partly on that site. There was a thread on here not too long ago where a member in England had a GT badged 650, and then there is this video:

where in running time you can clearly see the GT designation on the side cover, although I am not sure where in the United Kingdom the poster is located.

Suzukicycles.org is based in Europe, makes what they publish Euro-centric, indeed 650g's destined for England and Europe WERE designated as GT's, if you look at your bike's mufflers, if they're stock, they are stamped, along with all the other info, as 650 GT, to further cornfuse to issue.

 

[tom203]

...... if you look at your bike's mufflers, if they're stock, they are stamped, along with all the other info, as 650 GT, to further cornfuse to issue.[/QUOTE

Say what ? Mine appear original/ stock and are marked "GS 650 GL"

 

[Guest]

...... if you look at your bike's mufflers, if they're stock, they are stamped, along with all the other info, as 650 GT, to further cornfuse to issue.[/QUOTE

Say what ? Mine appear original/ stock and are marked "GS 650 GL"

As does my 'L', my 2 'G's, 81 and early 82, both have 'GT' stamped on their mufflers, speaking of confusion!

 

[TLock]

Thanks for all the replies. I checked my stock exhaust it says GS 65O GT. The gasket I ended up ordering is from a seller in England. I'm waiting for it to come in the mail with fingers crossed.

As far as the crud on the cover. That's mostly old gasket. I scraped a lot of it off but some of it pretty stuck on there. Anyone have any recommendations as far as some kind of solvent that might help me out?

Thanks!

 

[MAJikMARCer]

Thanks for all the replies. I checked my stock exhaust it says GS 65O GT. The gasket I ended up ordering is from a seller in England. I'm waiting for it to come in the mail with fingers crossed.

As far as the crud on the cover. That's mostly old gasket. I scraped a lot of it off but some of it pretty stuck on there. Anyone have any recommendations as far as some kind of solvent that might help me out?

Thanks!

Others may have better advice, but this is what I used and it worked well. You have to give it time if the gasket has been on awhile though. I ended up letting it sit over night. It did the trick. The gasket came off easily.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/72/22867/ITEM/Permatex-Gasket-Remover.aspx

Oh and it worked on the liquid gasket that the PO used also (and made a mess of). You can probably find it at a local store as well, rather than having to buy it online. I think I got mine at Advanced Autoparts...or ACE Hardware, I forget which.

 

[TLock]

Thanks! I'll check that stuff out. My one concern was scrapping near the actual valves. How bad is it to get small pieces of gasket in the pool of oil there?

 

[duaneage]

I collect the old style gaskets when I see them on ebay for my 16 bolt cover, I need to refill my stock. There isn't an easy way to use a 17 bolt gasket on these heads, any attempt to do so will leak.

I have a spare engine and it's an 83 with a 17 bolt head. Someday I'll join the rest of the GS650G world