Rock Solid Engines laser-cut inlet gasket

AussieSteve

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I almost posted in General Discussion, but since this relates only to HappyTime engines.....
I bought a laser-cut inlet gasket from Rock Solid Engines a couple of weeks ago. Not only did it swell beyond recognition and sort of melt, but it looks like heaps of small pieces have gone through my engine, or, at least, into it.
Has anyone else bought these?
(I have two more new ones, one's soaking in my fuel-oil premix to see what happens.
Just checked - already after 20 minutes it's really pliable and slimy on the surface.)
... Steve

Check this out:-

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N.B. Note the very thin gap between port and stud on the 'before' shot, then how much it swelled in the 'after' shot. (Candidate for Jenny Craig?)
 

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Steve..Never used them, looks like I won't. As far as material between the port and stud wouldn't make any difference if there was none at all. I have had issues with aftermarket head gaskets, where the gasket trashed both a piston and cylinder.
 
I have had issues with aftermarket head gaskets, where the gasket trashed both a piston and cylinder.

Hi Al. I'll have to watch that. I'll stick to stock head gaskets.

The RSE gasket that I soaked in fuel overnight didn't exactly swell, but after 15 hours it has the consistency of modelling clay. When they're bolted on and fuel-soaked, the gasket oozes out in all directions.
I only bought these through laziness to avoid hand-cutting gaskets. Bought some 0.8mm oil jointing paper and a hobbyist scalpel set yesterday - no more bought inlet gaskets for me.
At least I can use the remaining RSE gasket as a template for cutting my own.
I'm still not too sure if I should remove the head and barrel and flush the crankcase out with fuel, to remove the gasket remains, or just risk it.
I'll speak to Tony at RSE about these gaskets, but first I'm waiting for the last order to be fixed. I got a new carby with no needle or top cap. He promised to 'Platinum Express' them to me, (overnight delivery), a couple of days ago. Still no show.
I'll be writing a Rock Solid Engines review in a few days, when all this stuff is sorted. I don't think it'll be a very good review.

... Steve
 
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Howdy Steve ,
What a nightmare that gasket material is , bet the Chinaman who made up that batch forgot to add an ingredient or was trained up in the infamous Chinese quality control skills . :geek:

Don't be to hard on Tony ( RSE ) just let him know whats happened , bet he goes out of is way to rectify it .
Most courier companies are run of their feet with the postal strike at present .

Bobby .
 
bet the Chinaman who made up that batch forgot to add an ingredient

G'day Bobby, it might be a bad batch but it might be all of them, too. I'd love to hear from others who've bought them in the past.
If they're usually OK, well, they are nicely (laser-)cut to match the port and $3 isn't bad.

Don't be to hard on Tony ( RSE ) just let him know whats happened , bet he goes out of is way to rectify it .
Bobby .

I'm not aiming to be too hard on Tony at all, just an accurate description of my recent dealings, with pros and cons. First the billet head, then the billet inlet, then these gaskets. The carb top and needle aren't really a worry, I know they'll get here.

give me vtec, the stock studs are too short for the billet head and no-one sells longer ones.
The thread is 8mm x 1.0mm, not the usual 8mm x 1.25mm of std. threaded rod. Jim and Paul at Sick Bike Parts are helping me out with custom studs, but Tony provided no support and left me posted. In his last email, he suggested that I simply get the head machined to fit. It should be made to fit, not too thick for the studs. If longer studs are required, he should perhaps stock them.
His last email:-
You could also simply machine down the stud pattern so to gain the extra head stud.
Cheers
Tony


... Steve
 
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I'm not aiming to be too hard on Tony at all, just an accurate description of my recent dealings, with pros and cons. First the billet head, then the billet inlet, then these gaskets. The carb top and needle aren't really a worry, I know they'll get here.

... Steve

what happened w/the billet head???? I was thinking of buying one... how did it perform... have you had problems with it???
 
Howdy Steve ,
What a nightmare that gasket material is , bet the Chinaman who made up that batch forgot to add an ingredient or was trained up in the infamous Chinese quality control skills . :geek:

Don't be to hard on Tony ( RSE ) just let him know whats happened , bet he goes out of is way to rectify it .
Most courier companies are run of their feet with the postal strike at present .

Bobby .

Well, if "Tony" wasn't selling laser cut cow manure, there wouldn't be a problem now would there? lol What a rip off.

And people make fun of the stock parts...........
 
I'm not aiming to be too hard on Tony at all, just an accurate description of my recent dealings, with pros and cons. First the billet head, then the billet inlet, then these gaskets. The carb top and needle aren't really a worry, I know they'll get here.

give me vtec, the stock studs are too short for the billet head and no-one sells longer ones.
The thread is 8mm x 1.0mm, not the usual 8mm x 1.25mm of std. threaded rod. Jim and Paul at Sick Bike Parts are helping me out with custom studs, but Tony provided no support and left me posted. In his last email, he suggested that I simply get the head machined to fit. It should be made to fit, not too thick for the studs. If longer studs are required, he should perhaps stock them.




... Steve

Sheeze Steve ! I now see your point , all this should have been sorted out before before that billet head was ever offered for-sale .
I would be not happy :mad:

Cheers Bobby .
 
Sorry Ron, just picked it up. So it's Alabama Fisherman and not Al Fisherman.

... Steve
Yup I'm a Alabama Fisherman...boat below....The house is "For Sale" The one on the water is what the Mississippi River flow looks like meeting the Gulf of Mexico...it's called a rip.
Steve..No problem, I'd think the same. I modified my signature to clear things up, not that it was a problem. Pictures are of my head gasket problem. I running the "80"cc engine 47mm bore, and not the 49cc with a 40mm bore.


1. Damaged gasket..arrows show chewed up edges from piston
2. New stock gasket over damaged gasket
5. Used gasket over damaged gasket
You can see that the damaged gasket was cut slightly with a smaller bore. The piston (domed) came up and tried to go through the gasket, thus shredding the aftermarket.

Word to the wise...check diameter of ANY new gasket when installing on a engine with a domed piston.
 

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