Head gasket - reusable?

**imdying** · 5th December 2011, 16:13

Originally Posted by tigertim20

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** · 5th December 2011, 16:16

Originally Posted by tigertim20

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** · 5th December 2011, 16:28

not without the right tools.

**tigertim20** · 5th December 2011, 16:38

Originally Posted by hayd3n

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** · 5th December 2011, 16:47

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

**hayd3n** · 5th December 2011, 16:54

Originally Posted by tigertim20

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** · 5th December 2011, 17:38

Originally Posted by imdying

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

Minimotos arent real bikes

**hayd3n** · 6th December 2011, 16:29

Originally Posted by Yow Ling

Minimotos arent real bikes

but they crash just awell

**imdying** · 6th December 2011, 16:36

Originally Posted by Yow Ling

Minimotos arent real bikes

Dumb arse, they don't even have cylinder heads.

**thehovel** · 6th December 2011, 16:42

Originally Posted by Brian d'marge

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