I know I should but...

[Comfy Old Boots]

Just wondering if it's strictly necessary to replace the gasket on my left cylinder head? Getting a new head later this week and would rather not buy a new gasket if necessary...

If I oil it up and keep it clean, it'll be ok right? Or is it acase of suck it and see? Cheers.

 

[frank1200]

if it was me i would get a new gasket,a gasket costs a lot less than a head and are cheap enough anyway,
why are you changing the head,there is a chance of the old gasket being damaged or worn
as a friend of mine would say why ruin the ship for a hapenny of tar

 

[electric_monk]

why are you changing the head,

Ask no questions and we'll tell you no lies.....

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I like your holistic approach mr monk.

I'm not trying to be tight but I'm broke. The bike has been serviced twice in duffys without a change of gasket.

The worst can expect is an oil leak right?

 

[Brendan]

Any chance you mean the rocker cover gasket ? Just wondering cause, why would Duffy's have had the head off twice?

Items 2 & 3 in the first picture.
Or Item 8 in the second.

 

[Tarka]

With your mentioning of servicing,it sounds like you`re confusing rocker cover gasket with head gasket.

Rocker cover gaskets can usually be reused,even if technically you *shouldn`t*, but never ever try to reuse a composite head gasket.

Pure copper ones can be annealed and reused though.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Jayzus. Lads, terminology issue here, on my phone here, need to replace the rocker cover only. Valves done twice in duffys and gasket not replaced. Didn't expect it to be replaced. Didn't wantitreplaced.

Only changing rockercover. I dropped the bike and It's currently plugged with putty.

Thanks grumpy and daithi for thatbtw.

I'm gonna chance it ladsz

Put another way, if you do the valves do youchange the gasket?

I'll check in tomorrow on a laptop so I can see the pix posted. Cheers, thanks for helping this eijet.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

With your mentioning of servicing,it sounds like you`re confusing rocker cover gasket with head gasket.

Rocker cover gaskets can usually be reused,even if technically you *shouldn`t*, but never ever try to reuse a composite head gasket.

Pure copper ones can be annealed and reused though.

Reread all this. Thanks. That's the confirmation I needed. Moneys tight and petrol is expensive. Providing I do everything properly, you have saved me a couple hundred km.

 

[Tarka]

Put another way, if you do the valves do youchange the gasket?
.

You are indeed suffering with terminology,matey.

By 'If you do the valves',do you mean when you check the valve clearances (as in old school 'tappet gap' ) ??

If so,we`re talking about the rocker cover gasket.

 

[patzx12]

Rocker cover gasket (black plastic): No
Head Gasket (Copper): Yes

 

[Corporal Punishment]

If you had to buy a full headset, for one rocker cover gasket, I wouldn't bother, just carefully remove old one and re-use along with a light smear of sealant. If it's possible to buy a new gasket on it's own I would, their very cheap.

This reminds of when I was a young fella and myself and my dad we're at the parts counter of PJ o Hea ( Leyland Dealer ) on a saturday morning. This guy comes in. Country life type, tweed jacket, flat cap and trousers, looking for a head gasket for a landie. Kid behind the counter couldn't sell him a gasket on it's own as they came part of a head set. The price of the set was only a couple of bob more than the copper gasket anyway, but the guy wasn't having it. Lost the rag in a big way and stormed out.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Thanks advice folks. I'm going to reuse the gasket and hope for best. Btw. I am a skin Flint! I'll put up a pist as to whether it works or not!