Reusing head gasket

Hello -

Can anyone tell me what I have to do to re-use a copper shim head gasket? I'm almost done restoring a Reo, and I have not been able to find a new head gasket, so I have to use the old one. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks...

Chris

there use to be sealer called indian copper seal, came in a bottle with a brush in it,color was copper.if you find it it may help,and was made for sealing head gaskets.hope this helps. tom

Just clean it off real good and spray it with the copper gasket sealer. I have done it and it worked for me. Either that or make your own gasket, that is what I do most of the time.

Good luck

Tanner Remillard

If it is copper covering gasket material, we used to soak them in hot water for a while to make the material inside soft so it will re-seal. The copper gasket sealer is good stuff. I have used to also.

Dave in KCK

i have used just plane old aluminum paint on used head gaskets. use two or three heavy coats. work for me.

DICK BROWN

I have been looking for a copper o-ring (I call it) for the head gasket for my Fuller Johnson 2 HP NB . Without measuring it I think it is about 3.5"OD X 3.125" ID and about .0625" thick and is copper covering something like aspestos. If anyone knows where to get these new, or some new old stock I would also like to know. I have been using a cut gasket but it has developed a leak because it is so narrow due to the small surface area provided.

Thanks

Chris

If it is a solid copper gasket, heat it to a cherry red and throw it in a pail of cold water. This will soften the copper, like a new gasket, and it will reseal nicely.

If it's a copper laminated composit, use a good gasket sealer and do not heat it up.

Jim

Starbolt has copper gaskets like that but I don't know if they go that big. Brian

I agree with you, Richard. Two or three coats of aluminum spray paint is cheap and works as well as anything you can buy.

Had the same problem with the Spence I just did and needed gaskets just like that. Found out that Starbolts had copper gaskets and they are the type with material inside the copper and I think they go up to 4 inch. Hope that helps.

Tom Winland Ohio

If you need a new gasket, there are many gasket shops around industrial plants that can cut exactly what you need. Look in the yellow pages. On old gaskets you can use grafoil tape on both sides and trim with a razor knife.

I get the copper o-rings for my F&J's from Starbolt. Off hand I don't know what the size is without measuring it but if you measure yours and look at his list there is one that is very close and it works fine. Paul in Mn.

I would add that, when re-using a head gasket (or any other gasket), try to get it oriented the same way it was when it came off. The same side up and, if it can be rotated, in the same rotational position it was originally in.

When the gasket is replaced in the same position and the same side up, any little bumps, rust pits, etc. will fit back to the gasket surface.

Take care - Elden

Use of a good sealer (Silicone will work fine on old engines and won't glue the gasket in place) is optional.

Soak it in water as EngineNut said. I did that 45 years ago for a head gasket for a 1927 Oakland. Put it back on and had no problems.

Chris; i have had good luck with a coat of grease on both sides. GUY.

GREASE! That's the method which my uncle used to say that he used on old cars, way back when. He always said that if you didn't tear up the head gasket on an old car when you took the head off, you could re-use it. He said that you needed to clean everything well, then apply a coat of grease to both sides of the head gasket. Then bolt everything back together, using the greased gasket, and it would work fine.

I can say that I have a Fuller & Johnson farm pump engine, and re-used the old copper O-ring, after cleaning it and applying a coat of grease. I've had the head back off a time or two afterwards, and always used the old gasket. So far, no problems.

Thanks. I no longer have the old gasket so I'll take some measurements and try to get a new one.