Triumphrat

flyrodder · 09-20-2006

Which brand and type of head gasket sealer do you recommend? Or do you just use the gasket without any sealer?
Thanks,

jimballard · 09-20-2006

No sealer, but get a good quality gasket, one that's all copper if they're still available. It's best not to use any sealer that hardens on any of the top end components. I used Gaucinch on the base of my cylinders once and it was nearly impossible to lift the jug later.

Anyone with better knowledge, speak now: Jim

drummerboy · 09-20-2006

No sealer needed, just use a good quality gasket with correctly torqued head bolts!

OzBloke · 09-20-2006

I concur with Jim and Drummer - just the copper gasket and torque down correctly. I use Hylomar blue on the paper cylinder base gasket, only because I've had a few problems with leaks there. The rest of the paper gaskets I use without any sealer.

Mecchanica · 09-20-2006

Most modern composite gaskets available today, outside of the solid copper headgasket, are made of "Klinger" material, which has sealer encapsulated in microballoons in the gasket. Make sure the surfaces are clean and then just snug down the parts, once the engine heats up, the balloons burst and the sealer does it's thing. These gaskets have a shelf life and may get brittle from sitting exposed to air. Keep spares in a sealed bag with as much of the air pressed out as possible.
The solid copper headgaskets can be reused if annealed.....heat to orange-red for 15 seconds or so and quench in water. This softens it up and makes it able to seal when the head is torqued. Retorque until there is no change in the bolt tension, usually once or twice. Readjust valves each time, if necessary.

flyrodder · 09-21-2006

Thanks! I appreciate your helpful comments.

Mecchanica · 09-21-2006

Yer welome. Good opportunity to post some general information that most people can use.