I heard an unusual noise this afternoon.  Sounded a bit like shaking a large sheet of thin metal.  Looked around a bit but didn't find anything out of order, so I continued wrenching.

A few hours later, I noticed a dark mark on my fuel tank, which was sitting on my work bench.  Upon closer inspection, I could see a chunk of paint was missing.  The clutch cover gasket was laying next to the tank.

It's always good to have a spare. On my 3rd re-use, massive amounts of oil pumped out across the top 3 mounting bolts. The gasket goo in that section was falling off, and even applying a new thin coat didn't help. A new gasket saved the day. I did hate paying $35.00  and waiting a week.

I bought an Athena gasket of eBay about two years ago and it came with some damage, probably still usable but they replaced it. However I've never used I've had my original on and off about half a dozen times at least and it still seems brand new and now I know why.

This is good info, I just checked my replacement gaskets and they have no metal in them. I think when it finally goes I'll put an OEM on.

Hmm.. no answers on why there are 2 different kinds?

I am going to order a 11482-24B20 to see what I can see.

Not that I  have money to throw around, but I am going to have to open up the clutch side soon and want to see if there is a definite reason to use one gasket over the other (as far re-use-ability goes).

I believe you are going to be very pleased with the performance of your new gasket.

When I said "The gasket is magnetic", I didn't mean it is magnetized, I meant that the base metal is some sort of iron base (ferrous), like steel. This picture shows a new gasket suspended by a magnet, so the base material must be magnetic.

I think that as these gaskets age and get used over & over, the coating will deteriorate.  Looks to me like they could be easily reconditioned by cleaning thoroughly with mineral spirits and applying a uniform coat of gasket cement, like Gaskacinch, Permatex, or silicone sealnt (non-acitic acid type).

I bought one of those a few months ago. It is indeed magnetic, I had no idea.

It is a when I need it item.

Interesting stuff on gasket types.  My clutch cover gasket was paper only, and my magneto cover was RTV with no gasket what so ever.  The cylinder base gasket had three metal layers to it.