top end gaskets

[captain2207]

Hey guys,my 84 200 blew out head gasket right behind the exhaust on right hand side.I got looking on Amazon and found Athena kit,vesrah,and another(forgot brand).anyways what do you all prefer an/or use on your trikes?

[barnett468]

Hello captain2207;

Athena gaskets are made in China. I would not use them. I use orig, then Vesrah.

[El Camexican]

I've used Athena gaskets on a few engines. So far so good as far as base and head gaskets and o-rings are concerned, but the o-rings for the powervalve on my bike are always the wrong size.

[captain2207]

Thanks for replies.ill hit up bike bandit or rocky mountain atv etc for oem.

[barnett468]

Something else I would do is surface the head and cylinder. You can easily do it with the following method;

1. get a sheet of 280 - 320 wet/dry sand paper.

2. put it on a granite counter top or tape it to a window next to the frame.

3. clean the surface to be sanded then color it with black felt pen.

4. spray water or wd40 on paper.

5, place item to be sanded on paper and with moderate pressure rotate it approximately 4 times.

5. if felt pen mark is gone, it is flat. If not, simply sand until it is.

[ATC-Eric]

Athena gaskets are made in China.

Where are they made again?


186969


Athena has been good to me. I don't like vesrah just for the way they package their gaskets (Ive also run in to some fitment issues with clutch side gaskets). You just about tear them up getting them off the dang box.

[barnett468]

Where are they made again?Thanks for the photo, it looks like those are made in ItALY, however there are also Athena gaskets in CHINA so that confused the issue a bit.


Vesrah gaskets are made in Japan.

Cometic gaskets are xlnt and made in the US.

Cometic, $26.00 for head and base gasket only.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/81-86-Honda-ATC200S-COMETIC-TOP-END-GASKET-KIT-ATC-200S-/360375031050?_trksid=p2054897.l4276#ht_1017wt_952


Not everyone has good success with Athena’s as evidenced by the comments below, however, there are two sides to every story and if these guys here like them, with proper installation on FLAT gasket surfaces you should have no problem. I do NOT like leaks, therefore I simply prefer the best gaskets I can get when using them on the cylinder head.

“My Athena kit sucked and leaked around the cam chain after a couple weeks. The rubber piece that went around the cam chain opening between the head and cylinder looked like it was a terrible excuse for the shape it was trying to fill. Also the Vesrah kits I have ordered in the past include new valve seals. The Athena kit for my Trail 90 was too cheap to include the one needed valve seal. I would never buy an Athena kit again.”


Orig head gasket and others may still be avail from Honda.

Orig head gasket is avail in link below for around $32.00, p/n 12251-446-306, 12251-446-776, 12251-KT0-P00. They have many discontinued parts in stock.

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-atc200s-1985-usa_model7180/partslist/E++01.html#results


Also possibly avail from Partzilla for $12.17.

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/honda/HP-12251-KT0-P00.html