Hi everyone, I'd originally put this on the "Blown head gasket . . . sigh" (http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42263) topic, but roachb wisely suggested I start a new thread, I think that's a good idea.

I have been following that "Blown head gasket . . ." thread with interest. I think I may be coming due for a head gasket replacement on my 1977. I occasionally get a little smoke from the left side, but today it seemed like more than usual, and smelled sweet. Plus, a couple drops of oil dripping out of the joint between the header and my pipes.

So far, no oil in the coolant or vice versa. But if something is up, I'd like to stay out in front of it so I've been thinking about parts.

Just to prepare, I have been researching the parts I'll need if I go the OEM route and order piece by piece. Starting with this Whiskerfish post from 2008 (viewtopic.php?p=105333#p105333) I grabbed those Service Honda part numbers and started making my own list. Some of it was a little hard to read, but I tracked everything down.

Here's what I've come up with so far. Sorry if the numbers aren't lining up, I tried and failed to make this an HTML table . . .


Does this look like a pretty complete list? What else should I have on hand?

Once I start this project, I'd rather not have to stop and wait for parts to arrive. I'll be doing this work a couple hundred miles from home with some backup from a friend who's a real mechanic . . . so I'll be stranded there if I'm not able to get things back together in a timely manner.

Another question: I'm thinking of getting the exhaust crush gaskets from georgefix on ebay, his are a little cheaper. I like the idea of using OEM parts, especially with things like head gaskets, but are any of these other parts good candidates for aftermarket/ebay?

On a related note, does anyone else think these kinds of complete "project parts lists" would be a useful addition to the How-To or ShopTalk sections? Sometimes I feel like I spend more time tracking down part numbers to get started . . .

Thanks in advance.

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--1977 GL1000, red--

I saw a wino eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait!" --Mitch Hedberg

I think this is an excellent idea. Too many jobs are put off because this kind of information isn't readily to hand.

You might also consider timing belts if they haven't been done recently; not expensive and worth doing when you are this far in.
Rocker box gaskets 12328-3271-000 might be a good idea too.

After market stuff like crush washers from georgefixes are just fine, as are aftermarket timing belts and Viton valve seals.

Even head gaskets from reputable makers like Athena will be good, but generally they come in complete gasket sets.

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'The Swan' complete rebuild album - See the result here!

ENGINE REBUILD TIPS - Stuff you won't find in the manuals!

"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..." Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them!

I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

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Great idea! This looks like a good list. I would get extra water tube o-rings in case one gets pinched during installation, since you don't want to be hung up waiting on parts.

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RoachB
'75 GL 1000
'79 CM400T

"If you're going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool."

- Robert M. Pirsig

I accomplished a water pump r & r on my '76: below is a list of parts I used:

90441-028-010 Aluminum crush wash 3
91305-KT7-003 sm o-ring on W/P 1
91207-580-003 Waterpump seal 1
91345-580-000 Seal around w/p seal 1
91356-706-000 O-Ring w/p 1
91333-KE5-003 oil passage block to cover 2
91352-SA5-952 Collar around Cover to case 1
91312-371-013 Water seal cover to block 2
91305-426-003 Water pump housing seal 1
11396-371-306 1

I used all the above parts plus Waterpump was omitted, as were the prices.

I piece mealed everything, yes, a trip to the dealer for every other piece, but tried to keep all parts packaging from the task.

Any parts missed feel free to comment and thrash me soundly about the head and shoulders. PM me and I'll edit this post.

I'm planning a head R & R on a GL1100. Is the above list, for a '77, the same as for an '80?

I am sorry this sure came out like a mess! I can't seem to correct it. Can anyone help me ojut?

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Terry
1976 GL1000

Forgive my ignorance, but isn't there a complete engine gasket kit? Is there a reason not to use these? I'm just about ready to start my '77 projects and was planning on going through and replacing everything...

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The need for speed is just another form of greed
1977 GL1000 - my project
1977 GL1000 - wife's project

Yes of course but not, as far as I am aware, from Honda.
What the guys above have done is list all the Honda parts, numbers and prices. This is good if you want to go totally OEM, which is no bad thing, but as I said earlier there are quality gasket sets available from the likes of Athena which will have pretty much every thing in them except for the dowels and water pump crush washers.

You will also not find a kit with all the oil seals in it. Separate aftermarket oil seal kits are available.

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--------------------------------------------------------
'The Swan' complete rebuild album - See the result here!

ENGINE REBUILD TIPS - Stuff you won't find in the manuals!

"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..." Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them!

I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

click the banners below:

quoted <Forgive my ignorance, but isn't there a complete engine gasket kit?>

That's a good question. I've seen them on eBay, but I'm not sure if there's such an animal as OEM gasket kits. I'm sure someone else will know.

On a related note, I did a flush of the cooling system yesterday and found that the inside of the radiator cap had some oil on it and also saw a little "oil sheen" in the coolant. So I guess my timing was good, head gasket parts are supposed to arrive today from Service Honda.

@terry208: thanks for the list of water pump parts. What got me thinking about this to begin with was a classicwingclub post I found through a Google search: http://classicwingclub.org/gallery/finn/index.htm

At the end of the post, the guy has a table listing all the parts he uses, including part numbers for bolts to replace the Phillips head screws on the transmission cover! Very nice.

@Old Fogey: thanks for your addition of rocker box gaskets suggestion. Timing belts are about 4 years old, with maybe 15K miles, so they're probably OK for now?

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--1977 GL1000, red--

I saw a wino eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait!" --Mitch Hedberg

Ha, I didn't realize "rocker box" gaskets are the same as "valve cover" gaskets (which a quick online search revealed).

It's like that saying about England and America . . . two countries separated by a common language . . .

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--1977 GL1000, red--

I saw a wino eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait!" --Mitch Hedberg

Moving this to the Parts reference Forum

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"I prefer the abstract concept of incoherence in the face of great feeling to beautiful, full sentences that convey little emotion." DDL
1978/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Georgefix sells vesrah complete top end kits which have had positive comments in the past. I need to do some work on my 79 and have been considering ordering a set from him.

$99 vs $172 from mother Honda.

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1983 Honda Goldwing Interstate - sold
1979 Honda Goldwing with Sportster mufflers
1986 Pontiac Fiero soon to have performance 3.4L engine
1978 Yamaha XS1100 - Sold

Vesrah gaskets are another of the good after-market ones.

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--------------------------------------------------------
'The Swan' complete rebuild album - See the result here!

ENGINE REBUILD TIPS - Stuff you won't find in the manuals!

"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..." Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them!

I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

click the banners below:

ditto on the Versah top end gasket set. You will have to get the gaskets for the water tube flange to the top of the head tho, as those aren't included.

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'78 GL 1000
'06 Triumph Speedmaster
'77 GL1000
'78 CX500

I just added a couple more parts to this list:


These both were damaged some during removal of cam pulleys/heat shields/cams. This may have been partly due to over-enthusiasm on the part of my buddy who was doing most of the work.

In any case, while Googling the part numbers, I came across a head gasket parts list on the Steve Saunders site, maybe for an '82, that also included these gaskets.

In the meantime, Permatex to the rescue. But does anyone know how crucial these gaskets are, or what they do exactly?

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--1977 GL1000, red--

I saw a wino eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait!" --Mitch Hedberg

I believe they just seal the timing gear back cover to the head so you don't get oily blow-by on the outside of the engine. Not exactly critical but will save a mess in a hard to clean place.

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'78 GL 1000
'06 Triumph Speedmaster
'77 GL1000
'78 CX500

@cfox: thanks for the explanation. I suspected something similar but you explained it better than I could have. I have them on order and will replace if and when I get around to it . . .

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--1977 GL1000, red--

I saw a wino eating grapes. I was like, "Dude, you have to wait!" --Mitch Hedberg