Forum

[binary]

I agree with JTL. I have reused my composite head gasket again. I just put a thin layer of Hylomar on both sides and it was ok. I thought that it might leak but it did not. It had only been on for a few days though.

[Alan R]

Hi BINARY--- yes, we used to fit new composite gaskets to the Rolls-Royce Military CV8 engines at Donnington, Shropshire using Blue Hylomar exactly as you describe...

[Revband]

Composite gasket's are designed as single use, you may or may not refit them successfully?, you choice, it could well blow that's the chance you take.

[Beezabryan]

I honestly fail to understand at times, folks will spend big money on non essentials yet balk at replacing a consumable item that costs just a few quid

[Bullet Whisperer]

Beezabryan, With the money saved by re using a head gasket, say 12 times, there would be enough to put towards one of those super expensive, go faster 12 volt lithium batteries, to transform your Bullet ...

[Alan R]

Hi BEEZABRYAN-------( When's the next meeting ??) ...... Sometimes it can just be a case of}-- "Oportet necessitates" = Needs must...In my case it kept the bike daily on the road until the new gasket had arrived....That happened on Bullets No.2 and 3 over a 3 year period...Needless to say I had measured the fire-ring and reduced the head / barrel gap by some 10 thou to ensure an adequate clamping force.....I'm fortunate in that I have full machine-shop facilities similar to our good friend The Bullet Whisperer, and by that time had accrued a collection of different barrels, heads etc.....enough to give me various permutations....But for the "normal" Bullet owner I take your point....

[Alan R]

-------well that was a pure co-incidence !!

[Beezabryan]

Hi Alan if you mean the Mad Mike Gathering it is Sunday Sept 17th at the usual place.
The following Sunday 24th I will be on the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride more of that later
And I do agree that needs must when the devil drives

[Reg]

It sounded like such a simple job! The bike was suffering from a lack of compression, though once running the performance seemed good enough. I guess over time this could have deteriorated without me noticing. Anyhow, I thought it would be as well to take a look at the decompressor, and so set about removing it. Like a twit I pulled the small split pin thinking this would help get the cable out of the way. I heard the clunk and realized what had occurred. That's what led me to remove the cylinder head. I had done this job successfully a couple of years ago while attempting to cure an oil leak from near the pushrod tube. At that time I assumed the original gasket to be at fault and so got a new composite gasket from our hosts, and fitted this on re-assembly, keeping hold of the old copper gasket which was in good condition "just in case". Presumably by using the original copper gasket this time round I shouldn't have a problem with the fire ring? Or would it have compressed during it's time in service. Thanks for all the enlightening comments so far.

[Revband]

Anneal the solid gasket and it will be fine.