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how do I remove a burned on headgasket? #1065111
08/29/11 03:51 PM
08/29/11 03:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,233
petaluma,ca. u.s.a.
west Offline OP
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west  Offline OP
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petaluma,ca. u.s.a.
I have a 4 cyl head that the gasket is baked on and I am having a hard time scraping it off. Any suggestions or tips?
I am almost ready to put aircraft stripper on it but I am not sure about that.

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065112
08/29/11 04:07 PM
08/29/11 04:07 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 295
Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline
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i use a really sharp wood chisel, and be really careful if the block or head is aluminum. Then i hit it with some 150 grit sand paper to take off the little bit thats left. Honda's are really bad about this.

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065113
08/29/11 04:30 PM
08/29/11 04:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,039
Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
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Lincoln Nebraska
need one of those round green discs that chuck onto your drill, forget what they are called/havent used one in years/hardware store would immed know


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065114
08/29/11 04:37 PM
08/29/11 04:37 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
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Posts: 15,487
Florida
scotchbrite disc with the mini air angle grinder

i also like to use a stright wire brush thats about 1" round and very stiff in the mini grinder.

I use the brush to de-carbon the combustion chambers and valves before R&R them as well.

when the scotchbrite wont cut it then its to the wire brush or wire wheel.

use air to blow cyls clean or a shop vac them out.

they do make a spray gasket remover also,you can find it at napa for a few bux.

good luck and ez on the loony-um


Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1065115
08/29/11 04:40 PM
08/29/11 04:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,233
petaluma,ca. u.s.a.
west Offline OP
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west  Offline OP
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I have scotchbrite pads and a wire wheel but was worried about keeping the surface flat.
I guess I'll just be careful. should be a fun day

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065116
08/29/11 04:44 PM
08/29/11 04:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,039
Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
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Lincoln Nebraska
I would not use the wire wheel, it will take off material. What Scratchn said they are scotchbrite sanding discs & are non metallic & do work well/fast. The gasket remover spray works fairly well if you let it set/work for 5 minutes but is nasty stuff 2 deal w


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065117
08/29/11 04:59 PM
08/29/11 04:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
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Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Is it iron or aluminum?

First thing I'll try with a cly head is to use my heated pressure washer on it out in the parking lot. You get wet but the head get's clean.

I like to use these also if need be, got to be careful.

Some guys will come on here and tell you how they will screw things up?
Moderation works for me.


Last edited by Challenger 1; 08/29/11 05:26 PM.
Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: Challenger 1] #1065118
08/29/11 05:21 PM
08/29/11 05:21 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
RodStRace Offline
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Chino Valley
Ship it out to the machine shop, have them deal with it, check the surface for flatness and pressure test it all at once!

Really, how much is your time worth?


P.S. Oven cleaner for short periods of time gets tough stuff off. Do not leave overnight!

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: RapidRobert] #1065119
08/29/11 05:45 PM
08/29/11 05:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,350
Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
hemi71x Offline
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Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...
Quote:

need one of those round green discs that chuck onto your drill, forget what they are called/havent used one in years/hardware store would immed know



6800931-3MPads.jpg (41 downloads)

RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: hemi71x] #1065120
08/29/11 06:09 PM
08/29/11 06:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,043
Niles , Ohio
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therocks Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks  Offline
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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Niles , Ohio
The green ones are made for aluminum.The regular disc can remove metal quick if you arent used to them.Ive seen a few guys grind aluminum parts deep trying to clean them with the reg discs.Use some green ones and be safe.Rocky


Chrysler Firepower
Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: therocks] #1065121
08/29/11 07:26 PM
08/29/11 07:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 964
Nanaimo, B.C.
GwaiiEagle Offline
Mannix
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Posts: 964
Nanaimo, B.C.
Quote:

The green ones are made for aluminum.The regular disc can remove metal quick if you arent used to them.Ive seen a few guys grind aluminum parts deep trying to clean them with the reg discs.Use some green ones and be safe.Rocky




I had a thread about this a few months back.

Use the plastic bristle ones for anything to do with aluminum heads.

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065122
08/29/11 07:38 PM
08/29/11 07:38 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,543
chicagoland,usa
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buildanother Offline
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chicagoland,usa
Just remember, you CAN screw the surface up when using the roloc "cookies", on iron or aluminum. Don't go nuts, and keep all the debris clear of crankcase as you grind.

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: RodStRace] #1065123
08/29/11 07:42 PM
08/29/11 07:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,233
petaluma,ca. u.s.a.
west Offline OP
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west  Offline OP
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Posts: 4,233
petaluma,ca. u.s.a.
Quote:

Ship it out to the machine shop, have them deal with it, check the surface for flatness and pressure test it all at once!

Really, how much is your time worth?


P.S. Oven cleaner for short periods of time gets tough stuff off. Do not leave overnight!



my discs were not cutting it,I even tried aircraft stripper to no avail. I took your advice and am going to let the machinist deal with it.Thanks to you and everyone else that offered some help.

Re: how do I remove a burned on headgasket? [Re: west] #1065124
08/30/11 08:32 AM
08/30/11 08:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336
South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1 Offline
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South-Central (Sebring), FL
Quote:

I took your advice and am going to let the machinist deal with it.Thanks to you and everyone else that offered some help.



Give it one last shot soaking it with acetone and using a real gasket scraper. Cheap enough where it's dumb not to try.
It worked for me.







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