Difficult exhaust manifold gaskets!

[motoman]

I'm sure someone here has had the unexpected experience of trying to remove the old exhaust manifold gakets with difficulty. Is there a neat trick in doing that without damaging the exhaust port of head. I have both new OEM replacements and aftermarket................guess either should work fine, unless others here have had bad experiences with one or the other. Appreciate a good word on this as I need to change them. Thanks, Brant.

[Hired_Goon]

Nope, but once when I changed headers the pipe length in the head was different and wouldn't seal. All four headers leaked like a seive.
I just put the new set on top of the old set. Double the thickness helped as I didnt end up with the flanges butting against the head.

Could always spray some penetrating goo in there and leave them for a day if you really want them out.

[trbig]

A small dentists pick with a 90 degree bend works well. If you don't have one, I used a big nail, hit it with the grinder to make it similar to a common screwdriver, then bent the tip of it over 90 degrees in a vice. It plucks them right out. I initially tried to bend an old screwdriver, but it snapped. If you get it good and sharp, you can tap it in right behind the gasket and pull it out.

Tod

[Ken Talbot]

I have used a small, slender cold chisel to hack the old gaskets out. It wasn't pretty, but they do cut fairly easy.

[xschop]

free gasket tool

I just had the same problem working on the bandit header mod/install. I used the "FREE" paint can pry tool that HOME DEPOT gives out for free...worked perfect....