Kawi2strokes.com Forum

Thoughts on KAWASAKI H1 500 Copper Base Gaskets vs NIPPON MACHINES brand gaskets or OE gaskets.

Are you trying to change port timing from stock by using a non-stock base gasket thickness?

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

No. Repairing a vacuum leak. Just want to order good parts.

I use stock type paper base gaskets, with a little sealer on one side and EZ Turn fuel-resistant grease on the other. That way I can remove a cylinder and not have to scrape and replace its gasket. I've also used anti-seize grease on the non-sealer side and it works fine too.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

What's the thickness of the OE paper gasket?

I don't have one to measure, but they're thin... like 10 or 15 thousandths.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.

Although it's not a H1 spec I would imagine it is close to the same dimension. I found this while fishing around for information. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/kawasak ... t6715.html "The darn paper gaskets are well known to seep/blow out. When I used these (H1) I would apply Permatex Aviation form-a-gasket to them. (keep it away from the oil injection hole though). This would more or less glue them in place, but they would be destroyed upon the next cylinder removal.

A better solution is use copper base gaskets from here:

http://coppergaskets.us/

The stock thickness for your H2 should be .020in. Anneal before install and used Permatex copper spray (again keep it away from any oil holes). These gaskets can be re-annealed and re-used several times too.

Regardless of type of base gasket, the heads should be re-torqued (cold) after each of the first few heat cycles, until no movement of the bolts during re-torque is observed."

Outstanding, thank you

Dimple the surfaces to help lock the gasket in place!

old sckool trick