Base gaskets
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 859
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From: In the mountains
Base gaskets
Friend has a 107" (4.125"), recently did upper 100 miles ago, the front head has a leaky valve seal. When he pulls the head, will he need to also pull the cylinder and change the base gasket?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: san antonio
If he is careful and secures the cylinder with some 1/2" PVC couplings to the case, he can probably get by. I know he doesn't want to mess with dropping the cylinders back on ringed pistons but that's what I would do in spite of the extra work; his call.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: san antonio
I have reused Cometic MLS head gaskets in situations like this with only 100 miles. The motor hasn't seen operating temperature much at all and Cometic MLS gaskets don't crush. Once again, his call.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
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Going to be pulling my heads in a couple weeks, thought about maybe securing the cyls while I am removing the heads and then using some clippings bolting to down until I get my heads back. I definitely don't want to remove the cyls.
Novice
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 16
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From: Meridian, Ms
If you replaced the base gaskets with good steel or silicon gaskets you will probably be good to go, BUT, if you used cheap paper gaskets that come with cheap gasket kits, I would replace them with steel or silicon gaskets, as base gaskets on evo style engines have been a weak point since day one.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: san antonio
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
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You can disturb the oring on the base of the cylinder and not have any problems, you don't have to engineer any hold down items. Also I've reused cometic gaskets, I don't reccomend it, but have done it, just spray a little copper coat on it and let it eat !