84 Spree - adding kick start gasket question

[breaze]

Hi all,
Recently had some problems with my crankshaft and have been shopping new bottom ends to swap out. Got one from an 85 that is perfect. While looking I got a free one from an 86 but it is mostly trashed. I was able to salvage the left side cover, kickstart, and drive pulley however, with the thought of using it on the new bottom end so I'll have kick start.

I read the guide in the tech docs section and apparently I need the gasket - checked with Honda and discontinued.

Any pointers on how to acquire the gasket or any work-arounds?

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Autoparts stores sell gasket paper in sheets. Use your cover to trace a template, then get busy with those new sharp Fiskar scissors, X-Acto knife and maybe a paper punch. Alternatively, a collection of 1mm washers around each cover bolt will shim it out approximately the right amount to avoid pinch-binding the Bendix. A little rain must fall, but with the heat in the belt cavity it's seldom a problem unless you live in Seattle. Or ride in Deepinnaharta during hurricane season with 400,000 barrels of crude floating on the surface of the Gulf. And counting.

[breaze]

Amazing - post question, get answer, have gasket in a few hours

$4.00 and the world's ugliest (yet functional) gasket is born - thanks again

[oldrock]

that pic got me thinking I peeked under my side cover and don't have a gasket at all. So the dumb question would be is that gasket critical? Mine seems to be running fine and I don't ride in rain so do I still need to make one of those?

[Bear45-70]

that pic got me thinking I peeked under my side cover and don't have a gasket at all. So the dumb question would be is that gasket critical? Mine seems to be running fine and I don't ride in rain so do I still need to make one of those?

The answer is maybe. On some scooters, without the gasket the starter shafts lack room and can get locked up.

[RZRob]

I just did the same conversion on my '85 and I didn't have a gasket. Everything was fine. I did buy a new bushing and clip though - and the spring since it was only $10 (all yet to be installed as everything's fine as is).

RZ Rob

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Quoth Breaze:

$4.00 and the world's ugliest (yet functional) gasket (Emphasis added, Ed...) is born - thanks again

Hey! That title belongs to ME! Evidently I never posted my attempt at carving a tranny-cover gasket. Even in Kindergarten, I never paid attention...

[Bear45-70]

I just did the same conversion on my '85 and I didn't have a gasket. Everything was fine. I did buy a new bushing and clip though - and the spring since it was only $10 (all yet to be installed as everything's fine as is).

RZ Rob

What part of "The answer is maybe" didn't you guys understand. It is known that on some scooters with different tolerances it is a problem.

[PimpinSpree]

the gasket is not needed on our motors. It just keeps grease and grime out. I don't have the gasket on any of my motors

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

About a year ago someone - maybe Captain Dan? - posted a starter problem he was having on a Spree. It turns out that on his specific scooter, running without a gasket was pinching the Bendix shaft so hard the starter couldn't turn over the engine. The Bendix shaft end clearance was so tight that the 0.2mm gasket thickness was needed on that engine. Slacking the cover bolts a half-turn solved the problem. A gasket was his permanent fix.

Perhaps in different model years or even certain serial number ranges - there is more than one mold you know - this isn't a problem. However if Honda-san ordained a gasket there may (or may not...) be a need for one.