Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 17 November 2021 - 04:41 PM
Hi All
Ive acquired an engine that someone has reconditioned, and has not run since reassembly. Ive taken the opportunity to have the head converted to unleaded. Now I come to reassembling it I have the copper and composite gasket that was installed when I got the engine - is it ok to reuse this? The engine hasn't been installed or run so its effectively a new gasket. Im inclined to use it but wondered what the experts think?
Thankss
Ben
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 17 November 2021 - 04:45 PM
I don't know what the "experts" think, but I would never re-use a head gasket. They're designed to be compressed into place. Once that's done I wouldn't think it would seal properly again 2nd time around.
I dunno......it might be fine but I don't take the chance, it's too much work and the fact that it could leak water in and hydraulic lock and break something - all for the cost of a gasket - just doesn't seem like a good bet.
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 17 November 2021 - 05:08 PM
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 17 November 2021 - 05:17 PM
what do you mean " copper and composite gasket" ?
i have a cometic head gasket on my volvo engine, thats been on and off 5 times now !! lol
Crazy About Mini's
Posted 17 November 2021 - 05:35 PM
always use new as once compressed its Knackered
Edited by mk1leg, 17 November 2021 - 05:35 PM.
Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 17 November 2021 - 06:11 PM
what do you mean " copper and composite gasket" ?
The gasket is in 2 parts - one side is copper, the other side appears to be a composite material.
Looks like the costs are gonna continue to grow...
Thanks guys
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 17 November 2021 - 06:12 PM
I'm actually going to go the other way here and say you'll be fine to re-use it as it hasn't been through any heat cycles. The Gasket will be compressed and a new one will only do the same to the same amount, however, most gaskets are coated with a vanish that once is heated seals the gasket. Once that's occurred, the gasket can't be re-used.
i have a cometic head gasket on my volvo engine, thats been on and off 5 times now !! lol
Yes, but that's 'cheating' ! They can be used over and over until you're sick of seeing it !
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 18 November 2021 - 09:21 PM
I'm actually going to go the other way here and say you'll be fine to re-use it as it hasn't been through any heat cycles. The Gasket will be compressed and a new one will only do the same to the same amount, however, most gaskets are coated with a vanish that once is heated seals the gasket. Once that's occurred, the gasket can't be re-used.
i have a cometic head gasket on my volvo engine, thats been on and off 5 times now !! lol
Yes, but that's 'cheating' ! They can be used over and over until you're sick of seeing it !
I'm not an expert but I reused one on a Jaguar many years ago, it was a 3.8XK and I had run it once to find the machinest had messed up the valves and they hadn't been shimmed correctly because they couldn't be (valves ground too far into the head).
It was fine afterwards but I probably wouldn't do it again, especially on a mini where the cost of a new gasket is fairly low.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 19 November 2021 - 07:02 AM
I reused one once when I was a poor student, it was on a standard 998 and I got away with it. (The head was torqued down, started, but only ran for 10-15 seconds, no water in it)
I’d be too scared to do it now.
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 19 November 2021 - 07:23 AM
Super Mini Mad
Posted 19 November 2021 - 02:44 PM
I'm sure many years ago there was a method used with copper head gaskets where the gasket was baked in an oven to 'bring it back to life' after which it could be re-used, I've no personal experience of this though.
The reality though is that having spent money having a cylinder head converted to unleaded, a new gasket is a minor cost and pointless skimping on it.
You can do that if its a pure copper based gasket, you need to get it to glow red hot and then quench it in cold water. I've done it for years now with any copper sealing washers and they have always been fine, even on Diesel injector sealing washers and they take massive pressure.
Never seen a pure copper A Series head gasket though!
One Carb Or Two?
Posted 19 November 2021 - 07:09 PM
I'm sure many years ago there was a method used with copper head gaskets where the gasket was baked in an oven to 'bring it back to life' after which it could be re-used, I've no personal experience of this though.
The reality though is that having spent money having a cylinder head converted to unleaded, a new gasket is a minor cost and pointless skimping on it.You can do that if its a pure copper based gasket, you need to get it to glow red hot and then quench it in cold water. I've done it for years now with any copper sealing washers and they have always been fine, even on Diesel injector sealing washers and they take massive pressure.
Never seen a pure copper A Series head gasket though!
Yes, that is called annealing and is a common practise on old school motorbikes for copper sealing washers and even head gaskets. But, with readily available new gaskets and reasonable costs, not worth it these days.
Moved Into The Garage
Posted 19 November 2021 - 07:14 PM
You can do that if its a pure copper based gasket, you need to get it to glow red hot and then quench it in cold water. I've done it for years now with any copper sealing washers and they have always been fine, even on Diesel injector sealing washers and they take massive pressure.
Never seen a pure copper A Series head gasket though!
For some A Series Engines, I've used solid copper head gaskets, I can get them in various thicknesses to adjust CR if needed, but I prefer to run the thinner types as it's not the ideal way to resolve CR issues. There's a firm not far from me (that's a first !) who make them for me.
As long as they are anealed every time, they can be used over and over. I find they are every bit as good as an all steel Cometic but without that price tag, only they can be re-used with nothing more than a cleaning..
Mini Mad
Posted 20 November 2021 - 07:24 AM
The Cometic MLS, Multi Layer Steel, can be reused up to five times. At least they say so on one of their promotion films on UTube.
Edited by r.tec, 20 November 2021 - 05:32 PM.
Up Into Fourth
Posted 21 November 2021 - 09:56 AM
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