Greetings, I have picked up a GS500 not to long ago and it has a small oil leak coming from the head gasket. I'm looking to replace it this month and I'm having a slight problem. The previous owner did a top end rebuild on the bike which is a 1992 GS500E and while he was doing this he put a later model head and barrels on it which I do not know what year they are.

Now my problem is I'm not sure what year head gasket to order as I have no way of knowing the year of the head and barrels. Has the head gasket design changed at all over the years or am I ok to just order one from any year?

Thanks in advance.

The 89-96 are the same.  I'd be willing to bet that'd be the one you need. Here's the OEM part number so you can double check before finalizing your order.  11141-01D02

Sorry I forgot to mention that this head is off one of the newer bikes with no cutout for a tacho, so I think around 2004 when they went to digital? is there any way to tell

Quote from: cloud2692 on February 22, 2017, 05:58:21 PM
Sorry I forgot to mention that this head is off one of the newer bikes with no cutout for a tacho, so I think around 2004 when they went to digital? is there any way to tell

where this brass plug is in this photo, it is not drilled out at all in the later models, its just cast. sitting on the bike, this is the right side of the engine. I have a 1995 head on my 2005. Also what do you mean by the "head gasket" the gasket between the cylinders? below them? or the one in this picture, the stupid rubbery flexy one that likes to spit out oil. [mine is new too..]

The leaking gasket is between the barrels and the head. And I really just need to know if Suzuki ever changed the head gasket design at any stage with these bikes so I know I'm ordering the right thing before I waste $50 and a couple hours pulling apart the engine to find I have the wrong part.

Quote from: cloud2692 on February 22, 2017, 08:38:20 PM
The leaking gasket is between the barrels and the head. And I really just need to know if Suzuki ever changed the head gasket design at any stage with these bikes so I know I'm ordering the right thing before I waste $50 and a couple hours pulling apart the engine to find I have the wrong part.

for the rubber flexy gasket I'm assuming you're talking about. its all the same part number from 1989 to 2009.

I am not referring to the valve cover gasket.

Quote from: cloud2692 on February 22, 2017, 08:59:34 PM
I am not referring to the valve cover gasket.

The ONLY thing I know that's a different gasket between years, is the oil pan gasket. that is it.

the gasket I think you're talking about is the  11141-01D11 gasket, and its also the same between all the years. so have at it, and order away.