Discontinued Gaskets for 1984 VT700c. Necessary? AMP?

[Science.Dan]

I've got some issues running lean on my 1984 Honda Shadow Vt700c. Irreparably Lean: I'll try anything!!. Given that and I have some significant oil leakage, I've decided to rebuild the cylinders, check the pistons and check the valves. However, I just got off the phone with the honda dealer, and apparently they don't make the piston rings for my bike anymore or "Gasket kit B" for the bottom end.

They do still have the Gasket Kit A for the "top end" which seems to have most of what I need.. I don't know that I even need the bottom end which has gaskets for the crankcase and clutch case. I'm going to go study some diagrams to see how far apart I actually need to take this thing apart.

Three questions:
1) How important is it to replace piston rings on a bike with 35k miles. I may have gotten some metal shavings in the cylinders when I broke off a spark plug. Reusing Used Spark Plugs Although I'm pretty sure I got everything out. I believe most of the wear has come from rusty gas New Rider/Old Bike/Soon to Be Ether Junkie - Choke Cable and overheating. I did have a close call one time in the desert when my radiator hose came out of the reservoir tank. I was already running hot because of the lean a/f mix, plus I was in 90 deg F temp, plus I had two people and a ton of camping gear on the bike. I had to ride slow for about 60 miles and until I could fill up with water and more oil (most of it had burned off). The temp gauge never crossed into red, but it did get really close before I'd pull over and let the bike cool. I did an immediate coolant flush and oil change when I got home, but I'm sure the damage was done. So piston rings?

2) If I need to replace the rings where can I find a good aftermarket set since I can't find a place that carries OEM?

3) How far do I need to tear down the engine? Does anyone know if Gasket Kit A will be enough or does that depend on whether or not I need to pull the pistons?

There is an AMP Gasket Kit by Vesrah that was recommended to me by the dealer. It has ALL the gaskets but no piston ring. I usually shy away from non honda gaskets, but the guy said he's used these on his dirt bike rebuilds.

[Schattenreiter]

Bear with me on this. Gonna get long winded. Go to this site.



Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Honda, Motorcycle, ATV, Power Equipment, Watercraft, Scooter, Dealer, Used, Parts, Service, Financing

Verify that this is you bike and the parts you need. Copy the part # for the rings. They don't list the standard but they appear to be listing .25 oversize. Then go to this site and plug the part number in the search feature on the left side of the page.

Search

That should give you a price for the parts you need.

The first site only says call for a price but they seem to list parts for older bikes better than the second one does. The second site will give you a price online.

[Science.Dan]

Originally Posted by Schattenreiter

Bear with me on this. Gonna get long winded. Go to this site.



Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Honda, Motorcycle, ATV, Power Equipment, Watercraft, Scooter, Dealer, Used, Parts, Service, Financing

Verify that this is you bike and the parts you need. Copy the part # for the rings. They don't list the standard but they appear to be listing .25 oversize. Then go to this site and plug the part number in the search feature on the left side of the page.

Search

That should give you a price for the parts you need.

The first site only says call for a price but they seem to list parts for older bikes better than the second one does. The second site will give you a price online.

It was a good try. I called up both places. Unfortunately it was the same story. The parts are discontinued. Thanks though!

[Schattenreiter]

What part did you ask for. The second site had a price listed for 13021-ME9-771. This was a .25 over size ring set. They usually don't list a price for discontinued parts. The search I did for standard rings came back with nothing listed. The oversize set showed a price of $44.26.

[Science.Dan]

Originally Posted by Schattenreiter

What part did you ask for. The second site had a price listed for 13021-ME9-771. This was a .25 over size ring set. They usually don't list a price for discontinued parts. The search I did for standard rings came back with nothing listed. The oversize set showed a price of $44.26.

Yeah my dealer usually doesn't list the price for discontinued parts too, but they did. That's why I called your guy. I gave him the exact part number you just listed and he told me "Sorry man, that's discontinued." And then I told him, "I need some piston rings for my 1984 Honda Shadow vt700c. Can you give me any recommendations of where to look or AMP substitutes?"

...nada

[Schattenreiter]

Sorry. I tried.

[Science.Dan]

Much appreciated.

I believe I'm going to go with the vesrah kit cause I do need some gaskets that are in kit b. As for piston rings, well I guess I'll need to reuse mine or find some used ones.

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