Best Base Gasket?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 23
From: Summit, Mississippi
Best Base Gasket?
Most of the stuff you see over in the tech section concerns those....."newer" motors. I'll ask it here in the EVO section where the experience is.
I am 67 and only want to do this one more time. What is THE BEST base gasket that will offer better weep-proof performance over the stock gasket. Copper....aluminum....Kevlar? what's your favorite and who makes it.
I am 67 and only want to do this one more time. What is THE BEST base gasket that will offer better weep-proof performance over the stock gasket. Copper....aluminum....Kevlar? what's your favorite and who makes it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
rivera make a very forgiving base gasket i use when all else has failed, they only come in .020 thick - they are made of a soft alloy on the out side and on the inside of the gasket is a rubber seal that covers the complete barrel bottom to include the oil hole and pins - in the 20 years i have depended on them to fix an issue with a block surface or barrel surface just not right from a paper gasket removal having been chewed - never had one leak i keep them in stock and use them as we see fit - dont have the number in my head but i can look it up and post it tonight
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
I have only used James and they have been good. With that said, I have a buddy with a 1986 FLHTC with somewhere around 320,000 miles on it. He has put a stack of base gaskets on that thing over the years. He says that brand just doesn't matter. He told me that in his experience they all eventually fail and must be replaced. So, he just uses the OEM paper gaskets and plans to replace them every few years. He's got that job down to a six pack now.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
base gaskets.
Most of the stuff you see over in the tech section concerns those....."newer" motors. I'll ask it here in the EVO section where the experience is.
I am 67 and only want to do this one more time. What is THE BEST base gasket that will offer better weep-proof performance over the stock gasket. Copper....aluminum....Kevlar? what's your favorite and who makes it.
I am 67 and only want to do this one more time. What is THE BEST base gasket that will offer better weep-proof performance over the stock gasket. Copper....aluminum....Kevlar? what's your favorite and who makes it.
If you are tired of weeping base gaskets i suggest you treat the oem gaskets with Permatex High Tack or some other gasket sealer to alieviate the ongoing problem . Hopefully , you will not have the same leak at the same locations as the gaskets will be not user friendly to remove . Its your choice,.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Alvin TX
I tried james in my TC 88 & blew dam near ever one out with in 200 miles ,I then put a set of cometic in & never looked back, I'am about to install cometic on my 94 evo top end jugs should be done tomorrow 
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
oil on the " James " lifter block gasket.?
Im reasembling a rebuilt Evo .
I have the new lifters bathing in oil .
I do the installation of the gaskets , lifters , lifter blocks etc.
Found it impossible to not contaminate the new lifter block gaskets with oil while assembling the components .
Question : will the oil that i spilled on the " James " paper gaskets cause any future leaks ? Or would it be better to treat the paper gaskets with a sealer before reassembly.???
I was surprised at how thin these lifter block gaskets actually where .?
I have the new lifters bathing in oil .
I do the installation of the gaskets , lifters , lifter blocks etc.
Found it impossible to not contaminate the new lifter block gaskets with oil while assembling the components .
Question : will the oil that i spilled on the " James " paper gaskets cause any future leaks ? Or would it be better to treat the paper gaskets with a sealer before reassembly.???
I was surprised at how thin these lifter block gaskets actually where .?