• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Head Gasket: reuse or replace??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Homie
  • Start date Start date
H

Homie

Guest
Putting the top-end of the blue bike's engine back together after having a valve job done. Installed the head and did a leak-down test to check the seal. To my surprise and disappointment #2 outboard exhaust valve was leaking. Removed the head, lapped the valve and reinstalled the head. Had to do this a total of two times as the first try didn't completely seal the leaking valve. So the head has been torqued a total of three times on the same head gasket. The engine hasn't been started yet, but I'm wondering if I should replace the head gasket because its been torqued three times. Thoughts and real life experiences on this one??
 
I would replace it, because if it leaks after you're back together you'll be wishin' you did.

Did you replace the base gasket too? It will leak if it's been even slightly disturbed...
 
Old guys use silver high temp paint to seal a used gasket
permatex "spray a copper gasket" is very good.
marc
 
I have never understood why anyone would tear down any engine...lawn mower, car, boat, snowmobile...whatever and not use all new gaskets. The friggin thing is ALREADY APART SO FIX THE FRIGGIN THING RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Try it and see. NO heat cycles on it yet, so it may work. If it doesn't, you tear it down again, no big deal after three training runs.
 
Not the same, he has a new gasket, just torqued it down the noticed a problem and had to take off the head again. It's a good $100 question to ask. Can you use it even though you have not started it?




chuck hahn said:
I have never understood why anyone would tear down any engine...lawn mower, car, boat, snowmobile...whatever and not use all new gaskets. The friggin thing is ALREADY APART SO FIX THE FRIGGIN THING RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Yes it can be reused..BUT WHY????? Why try to reuse an already CRUSHED DOWN gasket and throw wrenches and curse for 3 hrs when its crap. That just doesnt add up to any kind of logical sense in my mind...sorry.
 
It removed and retorqued the head gasket on my 80 850 twice with no ill effects.
 
Well maybe its just me, but theres no way in he!! Im gonna ever do all that work and throw in a used gasket in anything Glad it works for you though Dale..
 
Three torque cycles is one more than I've ever done; but I have done two on my cb750 without any problems.
 
Chuck, it came off nice and clean, they aren't cheap, so back on it went and it worked just fine.

Was I lucky? maybe, maybe not. All I know is I had nothing to loose and it worked out just fine. Had it heat cycled and stuck to the cylinder and head, I would have found another one for it.
 
I have a rubber one on mine, been on and off a few times, no issues that I can see...

.
 
Roger that Dale. My thing is that if i am investing all the time and such to rebuild it or repair it, then im not gonna use used stuff. I know they arent cheap, but then again spare time is at a premium most days too..as you fully can conceptualise!!
 
Guess I should clarify that its a brand spanking new Wiseco head gasket that went on when I installed the head following the valve job. It looks and still smells like new. Its just been torqued three times.
 
OldSkool said:
Guess I should clarify that its a brand spanking new Wiseco head gasket that went on when I installed the head following the valve job. It looks and still smells like new. Its just been torqued three times.
Click to expand...

BTW, Cometic makes the gaskets FOR Wiseco. ;)

Eric
 
GateKeeper said:
I have a rubber one on mine, been on and off a few times, no issues that I can see...

.
Click to expand...

I think mayhaps you're thinking of the valve cover gasket?
I've never seen a rubber head gasket. I've seen multi layer steel, and that waffle fiber like material they used on the early 8v from the factory, never seen a rubber head gasket though.
 
rustybronco said:
Chuck, it came off nice and clean, they aren't cheap, so back on it went and it worked just fine.

Was I lucky? maybe, maybe not. All I know is I had nothing to loose and it worked out just fine. Had it heat cycled and stuck to the cylinder and head, I would have found another one for it.
Click to expand...

This! If you're using OEM head and base gaskets and pear shaped orings on your 8 valve model like ya should, darn right I'd at least try and see if it seals. The OEM head gasket alone costs as much as some of the full Vesrah gasket kits. If I can save $150 in exchange for the posibility that I might have to put another two hours into it to change it out for new if it doesn't work, that's worth it to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top