[kirkn]

I need a cylinder base gasket for a '71 CB350. Bikebandit.com doesn't have it anymore. Any one have any recco's other than Honda? Maybe I'll keep an eye on ebay. I suppose I could just make my own from over-the-counter gasket paper - anything special about that gasket (embedded o-rings, metal inserts, etc)?

Thanks,

Kirk

 

[tbpmusic]

Kirk -

CRC2 in Indy has gasket kits for us - maybe not individual gaskets, but it never hurts to have a spare kit for a 40 year old bike.

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/Index_Main_Frame.htm

 

[66Sprint]

Kirk, Harbour Freight carries a "hole punch" set (cheap) that is great for cutting the guide tube , etc holes....The ones for the cylinder are easily cut with precision scissors (I use surgical ones, but good "sewing" ones or even curved "nail" scissors will work fine) I cut ALL of my own gaskets except some head gaskets, and have been known to cut/use thin sheet copper for those if no longer available..... Steve

 

[bill440cars]

Kirk, Harbour Freight carries a "hole punch" set (cheap) that is great for cutting the guide tube , etc holes....The ones for the cylinder are easily cut with precision scissors (I use surgical ones, but good "sewing" ones or even curved "nail" scissors will work fine) I cut ALL of my own gaskets except some head gaskets, and have been known to cut/use thin sheet copper for those if no longer available..... Steve

I am another one who has made his own gaskets, except I haven't tried head gaskets (not yet, anyway). I was taught a different way though. I was taught to use a piece of gasket material (cut to the approximate size and then use a small (very small) ballpeen hammer (with a head that is about an inch to an inch and a half long) to cut the gaskets out. Steve probably knows the way I'm talking about. I have seen head gaskets reused, after coating them with "Coppercoat" (or a suitable substitute).

Take care, Bill

 

[kirkn]

Thanks for the feedback!

I, too, usually make my own gaskets. I've never used a genuine gasket hole punch, but typically I use a hand-held single hole punch (as used in an office setting) to 'nibble' out a circular hole. Good enough for bolt holes and oil passages, anyway.

I also use the ball peen hammer to 'mark' the edge of the gasket. Then, I use either a very good pair of scissors (I have a very fine, heavy steel set that was given to me, years ago) or a set of aviation tin snips.

This gasket was / is for my brother who is doing a cylinder hone & re-ring on his. He, too, was intending to make the gasket himself, but seemed to think it was some special very thin, semi-brittle material and not just 'ordinary' gasket material. I told him that 'very thin, semi-brittle' is just another way of saying 'old clamped-together-for-37-years'.

We've tried a couple on-line places and each has come up "discontinued - no longer available". Looks like he may be going the home-made route, yet...

Kirk