Head gasket - reusable?

[Scubareubs]

Hi guys, I have dropped the engine out of my 1993 ZXR250 to do some work on it and need to know whether it is ok to reuse the head gasket. The old one looks to be in good condition, had to remove the head to work on the cams.

Also does anyone know whether there are any clutch parts that are interchangeable with this bike?

[DrunkenMistake]

Hi guys, I have dropped the engine out of my 1993 ZXR250 to do some work on it and need to know whether it is ok to reuse the head gasket. The old one looks to be in good condition, had to remove the head to work on the cams.

Also does anyone know whether there are any clutch parts that are interchangeable with this bike?

Mainly the clutch basket right?

[bsasuper]

Should be ok as long as the viton isnt peeling off.

[Subike]

toss the head gasket and get a new one.
they are only designed to be used once, being a compression gasket.
use the old one and you will risk doing more damage to your motor.

[Woodman]

toss the head gasket and get a new one.
they are only designed to be used once, being a compression gasket.
use the old one and you will risk doing more damage to your motor.

+1

Why take the risk?

[Brian d marge]

Should be ok as long as the viton isnt peeling off.
quite true , though they are as has been said a crush gasket , crushed into all the little vallys and holes ,

best practice , flat and clean , new gasket

me

flat clean , and anneal the old one ,,,whoops its jap we are talking , then a touch of sealant around the leaky areas , and a quarter turn plus a tweak on the bolts ...

remember a gasket is there to hide poor machining .( yes I know ) ..

Stephen

on saying the above , i have loads of experience to know what works and what don’t , so if you are unsure , and cant afford to repair if it goes south ( most likely wont but ) ,,,then new ,flat and clean ..would be my advice

[hayd3n]

Hi guys, I have dropped the engine out of my 1993 ZXR250 to do some work on it and need to know whether it is ok to reuse the head gasket. The old one looks to be in good condition, had to remove the head to work on the cams.

Also does anyone know whether there are any clutch parts that are interchangeable with this bike?

so the head had to come off? to change the cam chain? what a fuct up engine

[tigertim20]

so the head had to come off? to change the cam chain? what a fuct up engine

bit of work being done while the engine is out.
He was trying to point out that the head gasket was going just fine prior to removal, and asking if it would be OK to reuse given that there were no prior issues with it.

[MSTRS]

Is it a copper gasket? I understand them to be re-useable. Anything else, and I'd say replace with new.

[tigertim20]

Is it a copper gasket? I understand them to be re-useable. Anything else, and I'd say replace with new.

steel.

Ive seen people re-use the steel ones, and add a bit of engine-suitable sealant on both sides before, and have no issues.

Also seen people reassemble their engine with new head gasket, run it a day or two, and have to pull it off again (timing out) and re-use it.

[MSTRS]

Also seen people reassemble their engine with new head gasket, run it a day or two, and have to pull it off again (timing out) and re-use it.

The slight springiness of the gasket material will not normally be destroyed in such a short time. But one that's been on for ages...well, better to replace. Besides, adding a bit of sealant just adds thickness, which increases the chamber capacity. Which in turn drops the compression rate slightly.

[imdying]

steel.

Ive seen people re-use the steel ones, and add a bit of engine-suitable sealant on both sides before, and have no issues.

Also seen people reassemble their engine with new head gasket, run it a day or two, and have to pull it off again (timing out) and re-use it.Same deal here.

If it were mine, and I was keeping it, new one no doubt. If I were flogging it, I'd at least try reusing it. Course depends on how many hours to drop it out again should it not work.

[tigertim20]

Same deal here.

If it were mine, and I was keeping it, new one no doubt. If I were flogging it, I'd at least try reusing it. Course depends on how many hours to drop it out again should it not work.

Tis the line of thinking. He IS keeping it. Suggested that we can slap it together, run it, check for any leaks etc. If it aint a goer, then fuck, its really only a 3 bourbon job (thats a couple hours for you AA members) to whip the cunt back out and slap a new fucker on if she goes tits up.

[imdying]

Keeping it, then replace it, no question.

Whilst you're there, get the valves refaced or at least inspected at the very least. They're tiny, have to shed an awful amount of heat, and correctly cut seats gain (or at least retain!) HP.

[tigertim20]

Keeping it, then replace it, no question.

.

Ha, Im the other way around. If I was flicking it off, Id make damned sure it had a new one. If I was keeping it, Id give it a crack, as Im not going to put some poor unsuspecting sod out if she goes wrong, only costing myself some extra time!.

[imdying]

Ha, Im the other way around. If I was flicking it off, Id make damned sure it had a new one. If I was keeping it, Id give it a crack, as Im not going to put some poor unsuspecting sod out if she goes wrong, only costing myself some extra time!.Fuck em. It's a 20+ year old 4 cylinder 250cc engine, they should be grateful it runs at all. Caveat Emptor.

[hayd3n]

bit of work being done while the engine is out.
He was trying to point out that the head gasket was going just fine prior to removal, and asking if it would be OK to reuse given that there were no prior issues with it.

get a new one why risk farking around?
do the head bolts have to be replaced aswell?
what other work is scerbrubs gonna do to the engine?
if it was just replacing the camchain couldn't you just split the old one and attach new one and wind it thru the cam sprockets?

[tigertim20]

not without the right tools.

[tigertim20]

get a new one why risk farking around?


keep costs down where possible. Not wanting to leave it in pieces in someone elses shed for ages while waiting for parts to turn up, the fact that it isnt that much effort to yank it out and replace IF its needed. Twas just a question of whether it was suitable or not. Looks to me like the surfaces have been planed before and are in great nick, as was the gasket.
Worst case, you lose a few more hours, and have to spend a few extra hours in the shed drinking bourbon with ya mate while ya work on it - no biggy!

I think I asked you the same thing when you re-used yours. granted yours hadnt been in long, and was less likely to fail upon re-use, but none the less...

[imdying]

I gotta say, real bikes don't use head gaskets! :D

[hayd3n]

keep costs down where possible. Not wanting to leave it in pieces in someone elses shed for ages while waiting for parts to turn up, the fact that it isnt that much effort to yank it out and replace IF its needed. Twas just a question of whether it was suitable or not. Looks to me like the surfaces have been planed before and are in great nick, as was the gasket.
Worst case, you lose a few more hours, and have to spend a few extra hours in the shed drinking bourbon with ya mate while ya work on it - no biggy!

I think I asked you the same thing when you re-used yours. granted yours hadnt been in long, and was less likely to fail upon re-use, but none the less...

nope i REPLACED MINE as in took out original one and then put in new one than had to replace that as they are one use items\

[Yow Ling]

I gotta say, real bikes don't use head gaskets! :D

Minimotos arent real bikes

[hayd3n]

Minimotos arent real bikes

but they crash just awell

[imdying]

Minimotos arent real bikesDumb arse, they don't even have cylinder heads.

[thehovel]

quite true , though they are as has been said a crush gasket , crushed into all the little vallys and holes ,

best practice , flat and clean , new gasket

me

flat clean , and anneal the old one ,,,whoops its jap we are talking , then a touch of sealant around the leaky areas , and a quarter turn plus a tweak on the bolts ...

remember a gasket is there to hide poor machining .( yes I know ) ..

Stephen

on saying the above , i have loads of experience to know what works and what don’t , so if you are unsure , and cant afford to repair if it goes south ( most likely wont but ) ,,,then new ,flat and clean ..would be my advice



Sounds all good UNTIL you see that he rides an Indian tractor

[Brian d marge]

Sounds all good UNTIL you see that he rides an Indian tractor

and have more experience in my knob, that you will ever have

Stephen

[Jay GTI]

Cardboard Weetbix box, hole punch, steel ruler and a hammer, that'll sort that shit out.

[tigertim20]

Cardboard Weetbix box, hole punch, steel ruler and a hammer, that'll sort that shit out.

Im more of a rice bubbles kinda guy - keeps my tender arsehole from getting cut by sharp edged rouge weet-bix flakes on exit.