HondaCB650

Title of ebay listing for gasket set
"Complete Gasket Set Full Honda CB650 CA-SC Custom S.O.H.C. 1980-1984"
The trouble is the head gasket is different to the one on my bike. The one on the bike has a separate tin framed rubber gasket that goes around the camchain tunnel but the one in the kit doesn't. Also the one from the kit doesn't line up with the front cylinder head bolt holes. Any suggestions as to why it is different? Anyone know where I can buy the correct one from?

I have found the correct gasket (I hope). It should be part number 12251-426-306 just in case anyone else has the same problem. I have no idea why the head gasket from the NE set is different to the one on the bike. With my bike being imported to the UK from the US, surely a different head gasket wouldn't be used for a different market? I'm just clutching at straws here and I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about Waits for the more knowledgeable to arrive

Hmm, I think the head bolts should be in the same spot for every engine in a cb500, cb550, cb650. The bores are all different so head gaskets aren't really interchangeable and the castings don't all line up seamlessly. But the point i'm getting at is the gasket sounds faulty if holes clearly miss their mark. Or possibly a 750 gasket? 1985+ cb650 DOHC gasket?

Hi tario, nobody was more surprised than I was that the gasket in the kit was different to the one on the bike. Check out the differences in these two links, the first one isn't the actual item I bought as that was only shown inside the packet, this listing is for the identical set though.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FULL-GASKET-K ... 1325282623

This one is identical to the one that came off the bike, if I could work out how to post pictures here I'd photograph them side by side.
https://www.cmsnl.com/products/gasket-c ... Zngzfh94nQ

You can clearly see the steel frame around the camchain tunnel in the second link.

The gasket at the top is the same as the one taken off the engine, the bottom gasket is the one supplied in the kit. There are more differences than just the camchain tunnel and the front bolt holes being out of line.

Be careful when buying a head gasket for your bike, the top gasket in the picture in my previous post is a genuine Honda part with a part number 12251-426-306 ,some sellers are selling the bottom gasket in the picture with the same part number. My advice would be that if you are gonna take the head off an unknown engine then do it before you order a head gasket, chances are the base gasket won't be the same either. CHECK the gasket on your engine against the sellers pictures before buying a new one.

i am doing the top end on my 1980 cb650 and the head gasket doesn't fit very good ( NE ) it will work but i don't like it and can't find a oem hora one posting.php?mode=reply&f=4&t=14167#:cry:

Hi hoops and welcome. As far as I was able to work out the differences between the gaskets is down to the carburetor types used on the engines. A cylinder head from a 79/80 engine with slide carbs won't fit on an 81/82 engine with CV carbs. I'm presuming (by my own theory ) that the gasket for your head should "resemble" the bottom gasket in my picture?

Links to both types below, both stated as genuine Honda.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-CYLINDER ... 3291325711

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1979-Honda-C ... Sw4aBaK32l

what would be the best aftermarket one lol i don't really like the idea of getting a 30+ year old gasket

hoops wrote:what would be the best aftermarket one lol i don't really like the idea of getting a 30+ year old gasket

Be sure to let us know when you find out You've already tried one aftermarket gasket and that doesn't fit properly . You don't want to use a 30+ year old gasket on a 30+ year old bike In that case I'd suggest you buy a newer bike .

Have you tried your local Honda dealer (or this link)? They seem to be still available new.

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda ... 3f9c91cbd0

Folsoml wrote:Have you tried your local Honda dealer (or this link)? They seem to be still available new.

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda ... 3f9c91cbd0

Folsoml, that link is for the base gasket

This is for the head gasket but they are unavailable
https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda ... inder-head

Now why do you reckon they make the base gasket but not the head gasket? If you take the engine down far enough to get to the base gasket, you're gonna need a new head gasket.

Here's one. It say there is only one available, so hurry:

https://www.cmsnl.com/products/gasket-c ... jByDFWnG00