So my dear old bike, has ticked over the 16k mile mark, and its about time to do the suggested valve adjustment... grumble grumble... Anyway, I was wondering from other people who do their own valve adjustments, if the head gasket is a re-usable one. At 35 bucks a pop, for a stupid gasket, it better be re-usable. Considering i payed 6 dollars for the same gasket in my car.... anyway /rant. Thanks in advance

 

Not sure about an F4 but the gasket on my F2 was reusable. Not to mention, at 55k miles, I still have YET to adjust my valves, and I seriously doubt and F4 would need one at 16k.

Unless of course you are the tinkering type and don't mind ripping your bike apart. If you do mind however, don't bother yet.

 

well i would then imagine mine is reusable as well. good news indeed. yay. I doubt that it needs an adjustment right now, like you said, but its recommended that the first adjustment is at 16k, so when im feeling ambitious...

 

The valve cover gasket is re usable but I'm not sure about the head gasket. My F4 also just turned up 16k so maybe this winter when I'm bored and there's snow on the ground I'll do it, but for now I'm gonna keep riding.

 

im sure you meant the vavle cover gasket not the head gasket. and yes it is reusable. i have done 2 vavle checks so far and they are fine. when you do it dont unhook the radiator but un bolt it and let it slide down out of the way to allow easier acces to the head. and if possible get the bent gauges instead of the strait ones. makes it easier as well. and clean the vavle cover real good and apply gasket sealer wen you put it back on adn make sure the spark plug holes of the gasket seat right or you will have problems later.

 

+1 the exhaust valve's suck with straight gauges.

 

Just because you neglected to perform the proper maintenance as per Honda's recommended timeline doesn't mean that your bike doesn't NEED to have the adjusted. I read of a guy who didn't have his adjusted and his valve scorned the head, and in the end, he had to replace the entire cylinder head.

Please do as Honda recommends (Remember, they designed the bike, but the guy whom I'm quoting) and check your valve clearances. Even if they don't need adjustments, at least check them.

And to answer your initial question, $35 for a head gasket and only having to check it once every 16K, I'd replace it.

 

You read what I said the wrong way bro. I said that I didn't have to adjust my valves, not that I didn't check them. I maintain my bike very well thank you... :P

The valves WERE checked, and they weren't the slightest bit out of clearance. I have even had certified honda tech tell me not to bother checking unless I am bored because they are never out unless you fail to maintain your oil.

 

After having an f4i that's valves sunk into the head at less than 8k miles I would highly suggest checking them at every interval. I didnt have any issues with my F4. At 30k still no adjustment needed, but the dang f4i destroyed the valves. I actually put some older valves out of an f4 and they have held up better. Im putting ape SS valves in a couple of months. Basically the somewhere between '99 to '03 maybe even later than that, jap makers were using cheaply made intake valves that were not heat treated like the exhaust valves. It's a big problem with that erra suzuki ltz400 atv's too. I've heard of several other manufactured products, but the suzuki and my f4i are one's I've had to deal with myself. Also the head gasket is not needed unless the valves have to be replaced. It technically should not be reused. The valve cover gasket is reusable as previously stated.