Can head gasket be re-used

[james hitchcock]

My copper head gasket is only a year old and engine has not been run in that year other than to try to adjust carb (just haven't had playing time or money ). I need to pull the head and my question is can the head gasket be reused or should I just get a new one ? Probably sounds like a dumb question but I don't want to get a new one if not needed.

[CarlG]

I wondered about the same thing when I had to take mine off after only a couple hunderd miles. I finally decided to put a new one on and keep the other one in my road spares. I'm sure it would get me home if necessary.

[Wick]

Stock head?
You have a 50/50 chance it will work again. spray the gasket with copperkote or paint.
I do save my old ones....the reason is when I have a unknown motor that I want to fire up and see if it runs/knocks/smokes . If I have to pull the head thats when I use them.
Wick

[Ice man]

We used to reuse them, worked for a drilling co. and all the old 4 bangers had gaskets reused. We soked them in a water vat over night and they worked again for years. Especially the copper ones. Iceman

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've reused some head gaskets and never had a leak. The first one I did when I was 11 and didn't know you weren't supposed to reuse them. At eleven, I also didn't know What a torque wrench was or that I was supposed to use it on the 1950 Studebaker.

You probably haven't done the retorques on this gasket yet, so it's even a better chance of working fine. Spray both side with Copper Coat, as mentioned.

[Special Coupe Frank]

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Depends on whether the guy who installed it used copper-kote or similar adhesive...

If you can get things apart without damaging the gasket, then you may be able to re-use...

Worth a try, in my estimation...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I've reused some head gaskets and never had a leak. The first one I did when I was 11 and didn't know you weren't supposed to reuse them. At eleven, I also didn't know What a torque wrench was or that I was supposed to use it on the 1950 Studebaker.

You probably haven't done the retorques on this gasket yet, so it's even a better chance of working fine. Spray both side with Copper Coat, as mentioned.

Please consider that it has already been "SQUISHED!!"

[85930tudor]

I also like Tom have reused head gaskets. the one on my Tudor is reused and run every day. just inspect it good...Dave

[james hitchcock]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll give it a try.

[Kurt in NJ]

The headgasket on my Smiths compressor is on it's 3rd reuse ---a little hylomar and back on it went.

There is a risk.

If it was leaking before you removed it ---don't expect it to be better.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

The headgasket on my Smiths compressor is on it's 3rd reuse ---a little hylomar and back on it went.

There is a risk.

If it was leaking before you removed it ---don't expect it to be better.

Sound advice...

[Mikeinnj]

Depends how much your time is worth to remove the head again or have to be towed home if it gives up the ghost.

If it leaks antifreeze into the crankcase you could damage the babbit or cylinders..

[Terry, NJ]

James, Two years ago, I would have said yes! Since then I'm a little wiser. I have removed and replaced heads on a lot of engines, overheads and flatheads, Never any trouble! I often used the Head gasket twice. One Chris Craft I had was powered by a 4 cyl Chrysler UMC ( An early plymouth engine converted to marine use) Head Gaskets are a little scarce for this model. And Continental 4s. (Greymarine) Not to mention the 6cyl Hercules 105s. So wht's so difficult about a mod A? Well not really that much, but they have me spooked. I took my head off and could't get it leakproof after that. And that was with a new gasket. These things have to be treated with a lot of respect. I don't even want to put the head on the new engine, I'll leave that for someone else, but if I were to remove the head, I woiuld use a new gasket with a little sealer.
Terry

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by james hitchcock

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll give it a try.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't re-use it. There's a great chance it will come back to haunt you.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

Depends how much your time is worth to remove the head again or have to be towed home if it gives up the ghost.

If it leaks antifreeze into the crankcase you could damage the babbit or cylinders..

Why would you have to be towed? I have driven many miles with the head gasket blown between 2 cylinders. I re-use head gaskets to run some motors in my test stand and have never had one to fail. If the gasket does fail, it will most likely fail between 1/2 or 3/4 where there is no way antifreeze can get into the oil. The motor will sound like it is going to explode driving with a blown head gasket but, it won't hurt it. I have not had to re-use a head gasket for some time but don't think it is a bad thing to do unless, the gasket has been on a motor for several thousand miles or years.

[Ray With]

Good soft copper head caskets can be used several times. I use K&W copper coat and make sure all surfaces are clean then spray both sides and let tack a few minutes then install and torque to proper specks. If the gasket has a gouge or damaged part then replace it. When I use a head gasket for the second time i put in the a 350 oven for 30 minutes then let cool as this anneals it close to the original hardness.It has always worked for me with out problems.

[George Miller]

Like the others I have had good luck reusing the old head gasket. I just reused one on my flathead V8. With that said I would never reuse one for some one else. If it fails you would get the bad mouth.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by james hitchcock

My copper head gasket is only a year old and engine has not been run in that year other than to try to adjust carb (just haven't had playing time or money ). I need to pull the head and my question is can the head gasket be reused or should I just get a new one ? Probably sounds like a dumb question but I don't want to get a new one if not needed.

Maybe, but you won't know until you have spent the time to put it back together. How much is your time worth?

Charlie Stephens

[Raven53]

All I have to say is thanks for the memories Hitchcock, I read the question and man a ton of memories flooded through this old head of mine that I hadn't thought about in a lot of years.When I was a little boy my dad worked a lot so my buddy was my grand pap and let me tell you this guy seen it all, he went from horse and buggy to seeing man land on the moon. I remember holding wrenches for him as we worked on his model A's and his 37 ford w plate. He used to smear wheel bearing grease on both sides of the gasket and install them. I remember laughing and commenting on how messy it was, he said well if something would happen and he had to remove it he could always use the gasket again. I can remember he even had extra ones hanging in the stable. All I can tell you is that his stuff always ran even when other peoples didnt....lol so thanks Pap for spending time with me and thanks to all of you guys for reminding me of special times in my life with your posts.

[dumb person]

Wheelbearing grease on a head gasket? would that really work? Because i have a used head gasket and importing them can get expensive..

[[email protected]]

I remember a professional engine rebuilder telling me that a fresh engine rebuild would have had the block desk machine milled to flat and it then had minor machining "scratches". He advised his customers in greasing up a copper head gasket to allow it to "float" around during the torquing down process. The scratches on the block / head would eventually act as tooth and lock it in to the gasket making a good seal. I also believe that spraying on the copper gasket sealer during install of the head gasket probably lubricates it in the same way.

[Will N]

Question: How many of you guys who said ok to reusing the old gasket either grew up during the depression or were raised by parents who lived through the depression?

[Cool Hand Lurker]

I prefer a new gasket but have reused gaskets. First soak it in water so the water gets into the fiber material between the copper sheets. Then put the gasket in the deep freezer and when the trapped water freezes it will re-expand the gasket so it will compress again when installed.
I also put a light layer of grease on both sides of the gasket.

And yes, my parents lived through the depression.

[Jerry Parr WI]

I have reused head gaskets many times but only on the same engine with the same head. As in your example if I pull the head to do valve work I reassemble with the same gasket.

[85930tudor]

yes and im still depressed

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

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Originally Posted by Ice man

We used to reuse them, worked for a drilling co. and all the old 4 bangers had gaskets reused. We soked them in a water vat over night and they worked again for years. Especially the copper ones. Iceman

Thats the way its done Ice Man, right on. Herm.

[Kohnke Rebabbitting]

Originally Posted by dumb person

Wheelbearing grease on a head gasket? would that really work? Because i have a used head gasket and importing them can get expensive..

Don't know if it would work, but it should'n Squeak. LOL