Help me sort out my head?????

[SMR610]

Hi,
I`ve got to strip the top end on my 81 GPZ1100 due to leaking
gaskets, what I`d like an opinion on is whether it is worth
spending the extra on a Comectic one piece head gasket or
just going for a standard gasket set, the engine is in standard
tune.
What do you reckon.
Cheers

Allan

[Pasc]

Personally on a stock engine I'd go with the stock gaskets. But do replace the rubber O ring that surrounds the cam chain tunnel. I think Debben have got a few head gaskets left for only a few quid, but it might be more cost effective to buy a top end set.

[SMR610]

Cheers Pasc, anyone else?

[Pigford]

Cometic is A1 top-notch kit.
Pay ur money & make ur choice
Personally, I'd go Cometic to be 100% sure

[london calling]

Allan,have a word with Big Green Bus.
The lad's done a few cylinder heads in his time

[big green bus]

i would go with the cometic, it works out cheaper in the long run, forget about the o rings on the end studs the cometic doesn't use them. contact debbens and steve will give you the crack

[paul doran]

all good advice

Cometic are perfect
worth that little bit extra

[Ed Z1-R]

I had to have the Z1-R head skimmed due to age went for the cometic gasket option,no worries there.With the advise of Deb Pef use the copper goo goo muck as well

[Pasc]

Cometic is definitely pukka kit. If we were talking high comp big bore then go for it. I can't actually see the need for one on a stock engine. Sledgehammer to crack a nut. Never had a stock one let go yet or have I just been lucky.

[SMR610]

5-1 to Cometic then, drop of Wellseal and it should a while.

Cheers

Allan

[Garn 1]

Allan, not stealing your thread, and still on the topic, does anyone know, if I should use any gasket-goo, grease or some compound, when replacing an early Z1 head gasket with a full copper gasket. I usually just use moly grease.

Also, what do you fill the O-ring groove in the centre tunnel on heads with that particular groove. (eg Z1A.Z1B Z900-Z1000)
RegardZ.

[debben1]

Hello Garn & SMR610, regarding the Copper head gasket, we use Gascacinch, we have used this for a few years now although last year we struggled to source this product and so resorted to other products with varying degrees of sucess but we have managed to get the Gascacinch back on the shelf and it is our preffered choice
http://www.debben.co.uk/acatalog/Click_here_to_view_race_spares_and_tools.html#a49
Regarding the Cometic gasket, there are 3 main reasons for choosing Cometic over std, the first and main reason is that it does away with the awfull O ring that sits around the camchain tunnel, this fits badly if from a pattern gasket set and is v. expensive if genuine, it also is normally the reason behind the leak in the first place due to the rubber becoming hard and brittle due to heat. The second advantage over stock is tht the gasket itself is made from a CFM20 compound that is impregnated with glue, when heat is applied to this gasket (when the engine is run) the gasket seals itself to both surfaces, this provides better sealing properties than the stock gasket, no doubt if this gasket technology was available to Kawasaki 30 years ago they would have used it. The other reason for Cometic over std is the price. We never use the O ring but I think it is getting on for over ?20, which makes the Cometic gasket a better propersition on price.
Regards, Steve

[debben1]

Permatex Ultra copper No. 89101 is idela for filling/sealing the camchain tunnel O ring groove. Steve

[Pasc]

I've seen the light and will now try the cometic. That camchain tunnel 'O' ring has always left a bad taste regarding price.
Thanks for the info Steve. Good stuff.

[chrisNI]

Steve thanks for your replies - succinct and informative as usual - it's informative stuff like this that makes this Technical Help section a useful resource for all of us.