Reuse head gasket ??

[contaucreek]

Hi guys, is it possible to reuse the stock head gasket on my Lister 6 ? I want to do a complete head workover incl injector and valve seating but dont know about using the gasket again. Anyone ever down this road and can advise ?? Thanks !!  Paul.

[Stan]

That depends!  What kind of gasket is it?  Copper?  What sort of shape is it in?

Normally I don't reuse head gaskets.  The reason is that it's too much trouble and time to "try it" and see if it will leak.  On a Lister, that's not the case.  You can take your head off and put it back on in less than an hour so I'd say try it and see,  if it's in good shape.  It's pretty simple on a Lister to tell if it's leaking or not, look, listen & feel etc.

The guy in S.E. Asia is pretty fast getting them out to you and they look to be good gaskets and aren't too pricey. 

YMMV
Stan

[contaucreek]

Hi Stan. I will be able to answer your questions soon. We just bought a house with a garage so I will be able to get my engine from storage and start work on it. My Honey brought me back Whitworth sockets from the UK last fall !!

[t19]

She is a keeper

[contaucreek]

Her Cousins hubby is a mechanic and he even had a hard time rounding up "odds and ends" to get me a set. She was worried about luggage/customs etc so they wired them all together  and she was going to wear them as jewelery if req'd LOL. She has a set of Whitworth wrenches on order for me as a late xmas present too.

[Shadow]

Getting back to the original question, I often use the same gasket over again. You can buy a spray can of Copper-coat at Napa. I clean off the old gasket good with brake clean and sometimes use a fine emery cloth in places. Then spray both sides with copper coat, let dry. and they look like brand new. Havent had a problem yet .

[lendusaquid]

I have used the same gasket 4 or 5 times now.I clean it up and spray it with aluminium paint.Works good.

[contaucreek]

Great info guys thanks !!

[Stan]

Lend....I have heard of using aluminum paint (I don't care how you pronounce it) what the heck is it?  Do you have a manufacturer, model, brand etc?
Stan

[craig c]

Hi , Just use VHT copper gasket cement in spray can , part number SP-21 , just spray gasket with a light coat of it and let dry and fit gasket , CraigC

[lendusaquid]

Just the cheapest aluminium (aluminum) spray paint i can find.Or use what Shadow or Craig use.I was using aluminium anti-seize spray until it ran out.

[Eadie McCreadie]

The last couple of times that I've had the head off and replaced the gasket, I have applied silicone sealant around the gasket - and no leaks.

This time around the head leaks. 

[compig]

Hi Stan. I will be able to answer your questions soon. We just bought a house with a garage so I will be able to get my engine from storage and start work on it. My Honey brought me back Whitworth sockets from the UK last fall !!

If any of u guy's are interested I have a vintage Britool Whitworth socket set from back in the day !!  It's a pro mechanics type set in a metal box. All complete , has seen some use but all good. Actually , I have 2 identical sets but I'm keeping 1 for myself !!

[oliver90owner]

Britool is one of the best quality tool manufacturer/supplier.  My large set of sockets A/F, metric, Whit. cost me 70 quid at a farm sale, many moons ago.  I have twisted cheap socket extentions, broken cheap sockets, and generally thrown away most of the cheap tools I have ever purchased.  Not so the Britools, they are superb quality.

Head Gaskets for a CS - always have a spare handy.  You may need it.

Paul, BTW, the last set of tools I bought were from Canada.  So much cheaper than the UK.

Regards, RAB

[rcavictim]

I have used aluminum paint on head gaskets quite often with good results.  I use it on the flat copper disc head gasket in my Petter PJ-1 because I cannot find a new head gasket for this engine and also on the DIY copper gaskets I make that go between the injector and the head.  I even used it on the pressed metal head gaskets from a SB Chevy engine when I had no parts suppliers within range.  It worked!

I have used spray can paint as well as brush type.