The subject is a 1340 EVO 1998 RK. I am in the process of a top-end rebuild and I swear when I pulled it apart...there were no O-rings over the dowels. I have poked around a bit and read some discussions concerning the use or no-use of the O-rings. I am very certain this motor had not been violated before I got the bike, so I think it left the factory this way. Was there some change MOCO made along the way? Does it depend on what type/brand of head-gasket you use? I'd like some advice on using the O-ring or not.

The gasket kit I have contains the O-rings.

 

Check here if its the dowels on the cylinder for the head yes it looks like it has them if I picked the right bike and motor. http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....ADS-AND-VALVES

 

cometic & other MLS gaskets don't use O rings,even some non MLS gaskets don't use O rings.best way to find out if a mistake was made,is to look if the gasket fits right around the dowl,tight with no gap.if so,its not ment to use a Oring.if theres about .050-.070 space between the gasket & dowl,somebody forgot to put the O rings in

 

had same problem james didn't and old gasket did