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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

is a new head gasket necessary?

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john lee

01-22-2005 20:57:31




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I acquired a d2 cat from a widow her late husband had the head rebuilt and replaced on the d2. it never got ran got water in the cylinders and rusted stuck. I took the head off and freed up the pistions. the head gasket looks brand new. my question is does it always need to be replaced when removing the head? thanks in advance.




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Roy in UK

01-23-2005 11:19:52




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
An old British expression :-
"Why spoil the ship for the sake of ha'penny*
worth of tar?"

*Half-penny



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buickanddeere

01-23-2005 08:34:20




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
The only reusable head gaskets that don't leak are made of soft unanealed copper.



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TomTX

01-23-2005 07:14:21




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
Use New gasket.



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VADAVE

01-23-2005 05:59:41




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
On diesel engines there is a crushable ring around each cylinder. Once that is crushed you cannot reuse it.



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oliver green

01-23-2005 03:34:57




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
I've had good luck doing this. on gas engines. I wouldn't try it on a diesel or even a high compression gas engine. I've did it on ford & chevy6&8 cyl. Flatheads & overheads. Never did try a blowen or torn one. A good untorn headgaskit was always put in stock tank right away. Stayed untill reassembly. Dad allways liked to use gun grease on head gaskits.



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Missouri Boy

01-23-2005 02:38:05




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
First consideration should be to find why it leaked after the first replacement. If the cause has been corrected it just might work to use the old one.Best I remember the Cat engine head uses some "O" rings with the head gasket.



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RAB

01-23-2005 01:55:46




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
The old flat-head petrols of the 40s and 50s, which probably recommended a decoke every 4000 miles or so indicated to re-use the gasket two or three times unless damaged.
I have never seen an OHV engine manual which advises other than fit a new gasket.
I have done it in the past when a new gasket was unavailable and I just wanted to see if the engine would run OK, before investing in an expensive new gasket.
These low compresion engines can possibly be sealed satisfactorily, but I can not recommend it.
I would not contemplate re-using a head gasket on a multi-cylinder diesel engine. The risks are too great and the chance of success is soooo low.
With the old flat heads, the head would be pulled down tighter and tighter onto the gasket to make a seal on subsequent re-fits, but on a diesel you can not do that and sealing can be so much more dificult - even with a new gasket.
Regards, RAB

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billyiron

01-23-2005 00:55:37




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
My grandpa overhauled lots of old model Ts and 10-20s ,wallaces etc back in the 20s-30s,,and times were tuff and money tight,Dad said grandpa would runa blow torch over the head gasket lightly and reuse it,,, my cheap input,,,billy



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polaris diesel

01-23-2005 00:52:52




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
Replace the head gasket Im retired from heavy equipment
Like my dad use to say if you squeeze that buffalo nicket hard enough it just might ****



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Mark - IN.

01-23-2005 00:46:07




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
Once a gasket has been sealed, never break it lose and then try to re-use it. You will never get the same compressed fit again. What's the cost of a new gasket as compaired to the cost of the damage that it can cause if and when it fails?

Don't ever re-use gaskets, and never put on the same pair of underwear after taking a shower. If prefer to take baths and set in dirty water, then put on the dirtiest pair you can find. LOL.

Mark

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Mike Burdick

01-22-2005 23:17:46




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
With all the work involved - is it worth using the old one? I wouldn"t think so.



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dr.sportster

01-22-2005 21:43:37




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
Yes its been done succesfully Im sure .You have to be the judge of that.If its all metal it would work well again likely.But its your labor.



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old

01-22-2005 21:29:41




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-22-2005 20:57:31  
You might get by depending on what its made from, if its a metal one you can heat it in an oven, better do it when the wife is gone and some times that will make them expand enough to use again



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37 chief

01-22-2005 22:25:15




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to old, 01-22-2005 21:29:41  
I have herd of mechanics soaking copper gaskets in water overinght, this will puff up the material inbetween the copper. Then again when it is all together and it still leaks the money for a new gasket might not seam that much.



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UncleTom

01-23-2005 04:21:30




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to 37 chief, 01-22-2005 22:25:15  
I have reused them on small engines many times. Honda 70 when the kids were little. If it were worth very much moeny i would go new. I know a oval racer that reused the headgasket on a alcohol burnning 360 mopar 6 times on the same gasket. Just my .02



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James2

01-23-2005 12:51:19




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to UncleTom, 01-23-2005 04:21:30  
Are you sure the cylinder head had not been grooved for individual cylinder ring seals and he was just using the "head gasket" for coolant passages and oil gallery sealing?



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john lee

01-23-2005 13:34:12




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to James2, 01-23-2005 12:51:19  
i am not sure about anything i touch when it comes to diesel. the gasket looks really knew? I plan to spray it with copper gasket and reuse it. as if i were mocking up a motorbike or train before painting. just hope their is nothing different about a diesel other then high compession



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RW

01-23-2005 15:26:36




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to john lee, 01-23-2005 13:34:12  
John lee,
reuse it if you want and do it all over again. Its your choice. I can't see being "sooooo o" cheap about a critical item. A Forrest Gump movie saying comes to mind.



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John Lee

01-26-2005 21:08:25




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 Re: is a new head gasket necessary? in reply to RW, 01-23-2005 15:26:36  
it is not being cheap but availabity of the gasket? where do I find a head gasket fot a 75 year old tractor? i just want to get it to run! my conceren is my not knowing diesels and damage that may happen? i would not hesitate re-useing the haed gasket on my 1917 model t depot hack...



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