re-use a torqued head gasket?

thadley55
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TWO WEEKS!!!(Money Pit the movie)

17 Jul 2010 14:15 #383366 by thadley55

re-use a torqued head gasket? was created by thadley55

As I was putting my '76 kz900 back together I found two little black holdowns for my cam chain tensioner,that's good.Only after I had already torqued the head gasket,that's bad. Of course I had not run the engine yet. Do I still need to replace the gasket?BTW I have run it since and there is no evidence of a leak,my main concern is damage to the engine.

1975 XL125 Honda first bike
1993? VTR 250 Honda gone
1983 LTD 440 Yammy gone
1988 CBR 600 Honda gladly gone!!
1976 KZ900 daily driver

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otakar
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17 Jul 2010 14:19 #383369 by otakar

Replied by otakar on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

The only time you ever can reuse a head gasket is if it is a copper one and the cylinders are "O" ringed, AND you have it annealed. If it is a fiber gasket the answer is NO.

74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000

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mark1122
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Keep twisting it

17 Jul 2010 14:22 #383370 by mark1122

Replied by mark1122 on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

did u put the cam roller rubers back in? if so run it.
after a couple of heat cycles, retorque the head. then again after about 1000 miles.

the worst thing that can happen is an oil or compression leak. it is normal to have to retoque anyways.
Good luck:)

76 KZ, frame gusset work,1200CC.Ported by Larry Cavanaugh, 1.5mm.over intakes, Carron Pipe, ZRX12 rear end, and seat,96zx9 front end.
01 CBR600F4i Track bike.
Cobourg, Ont. Can.

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thadley55
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TWO WEEKS!!!(Money Pit the movie)

17 Jul 2010 14:28 #383371 by thadley55

Replied by thadley55 on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

Yes I did put in the rubbers,and I do believe I have the cylinders o-ringed. Are those the o-rings that go at the base of the cans?

1975 XL125 Honda first bike
1993? VTR 250 Honda gone
1983 LTD 440 Yammy gone
1988 CBR 600 Honda gladly gone!!
1976 KZ900 daily driver

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otakar
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17 Jul 2010 14:40 #383373 by otakar

Replied by otakar on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

"O" ringed cylinders are machined groves in the top of the sleeve that has thin copper wire installed to prevent compression blow threw on the head gasket. If you have not had any custom machining on the cylinders than you do not have "O" ringed cylinders.

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thadley55
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TWO WEEKS!!!(Money Pit the movie)

17 Jul 2010 14:48 #383375 by thadley55

Replied by thadley55 on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

Okey Dokey! I will order a new gasket, but It won't hurt to run it long enough to break in the new rings?

1975 XL125 Honda first bike
1993? VTR 250 Honda gone
1983 LTD 440 Yammy gone
1988 CBR 600 Honda gladly gone!!
1976 KZ900 daily driver

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mark1122
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Keep twisting it

17 Jul 2010 14:57 #383378 by mark1122

Replied by mark1122 on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

no it wont hurt.
if u dont notice any leaks,or compresion dif between cylinders (check with a compresion guage) dont change the gasket, it is obviously working.

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zed1015
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17 Jul 2010 16:17 #383394 by zed1015

Replied by zed1015 on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

If there's no oil leaks etc you'll be ok.
Can't do any damage to the motor it'll just run sh*t if it leaks etc.
Have done a similar thing myself with a fibre gasket, That was EIGHT years ago and its still running ok now.
Only gonna cost you a new gasket and some time if it don't work so don't throw money away unless you HAVE to.

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Mark Wing
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17 Jul 2010 16:31 #383399 by Mark Wing

Replied by Mark Wing on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

I've done it too with no problems. If it doesn't leak run it.

Mark

Jesus loves you Everyone else thinks your an ***

77 KZ650 C1 with ZX7 forks, GPZ mono rear, wider 18 police wheels and Yoshimura motor.

Yorba Linda Cal.

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bountyhunter
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17 Jul 2010 17:03 #383417 by bountyhunter

Replied by bountyhunter on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

thadley55 wrote:

Okey Dokey! I will order a new gasket, but It won't hurt to run it long enough to break in the new rings?

I ran my head gasket about 200 miles then had to pull the top off. I used copper spray and reused the gasket. Been working fine for three years now.

1979 KZ-750 Twin

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Tony
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17 Jul 2010 17:20 #383425 by Tony

Replied by Tony on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

I've used the same head gasket 4 times in the last month or so. I have a base gasket leak I've been trying to sort out. It wasn't until the 4th time it started to leak oil. At 60 bucks a crack for a new oversized head gasket I'm going to use it all I can.

1979 KZ1000 MKII

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Old Man Rock
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17 Jul 2010 17:35 #383435 by Old Man Rock

Replied by Old Man Rock on topic re-use a torqued head gasket?

You'll most likely be fine especially since you haven't run the engine... As mentioned, on a new build after 50 miles or so you'll be re-torquing them down even further @ 35-40 ft/lbs so chances are (99%) you'll be fine....

Outside 1%, after initial start up she leaks and re-torquing doesn't work... pull the top off and get another gasket...

Hell, only a Saturday job to swap out and put back together....

1976 KZ900-A4
MTC 1075cc.
Camshafts: Kawi GPZ-1100 .375 lift
Head: P&P via Larry Cavanaugh
ZX636 suspension
MIKUNI, RS-34'S...
Kerker 4-1, 1.5" comp baffle.
Dyna-S E.I.
Earls 10 row Oil Cooler
Acewell 2802 Series Speedo/Tach
Innovate LC1 Wideband 02 AFR meter

Phoenix, Az

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re-use a torqued head gasket?

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