Got my new Athena Head Gasket today - question

[GLoweVA]

I will also add to make sure you clean up the seating surfaces before reassembly.
Pulling that old gasket off has definitely left some of the old gasket on the head and jugs. scrap all that crap off then the 'reused' 'painted' gasket will have a smooth surface to seal on.

I didn't do this and I think it's why mine failed and I ended up with two holed pistons.

[Courtney]

Absolutely true, you can see the little bits of the old gasket on the cylinder top and on the head, so those will be coming off with a good scrub from a 3M scotchbrite pad. I'm going to buy the Permatex Copper Coat, I like their def. of it on their website; specifically for head gaskets and fills in small imperfections. Sounds like just the ticket.

[ViperRon]

That permatex copper seal is great stuff but i suggest you just put a thin smear on the gasket part because it bonds like a weld after heat hits it. If you plan on never taking it apart then put a lot.

[Courtney]

That permatex copper seal is great stuff but i suggest you just put a thin smear on the gasket part because it bonds like a weld after heat hits it. If you plan on never taking it apart then put a lot.

Maybe the K&W brand of copper coat is less adhesive? I don't really want it to stick, I want it to just take up any imperfections etc.

[Courtney]

UPATE -Got my new headgasket today

The company from UK that originally sent me the bad head gasket sent me a new one today that has the correct steel inserts around the cylinders. They sent it rush, at no cost to me, and no charge for the gasket itself. I think that is pretty darn good service to make up for a mistake! Too bad I put the old one on 3 days ago. :-/ They are called bitzforbikes on Ebay.

[GLoweVA]

Now you have a spare ready to go next time you decide to pull your head off.

[Rasputin]

Now you have a spare ready to go next time you decide to pull your head off.

Or when he has to replace it if the current gasket is not properly made. Wonder why the replacement was sent so quickly if the original was good.

[trbig]

He put in the original.. as in the ORIGINAL head gasket that was there when he took the bike apart, not the original new gasket.

I've re-used the old head gaskets a lot if they haven't de-laminated. Never had a problem leaking, and after you torque them, you don't have to do it again after a heat cycle. They're already pre "Squished". I check them again anyway, but have never had any loose.

[Courtney]

TRBIG is right, I re-used the original gasket because the first one they sent me was a dud with NO metal sealing rings around the cylinder holes in it. Weird. Anyway, they refunded me all my money at the time, and this new one with the correct metal rings in it arrived yesterday at no charge from the UK. Pretty good service I'd say, as well as an apology. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

[Rasputin]

TRBIG is right, I re-used the original gasket because the first one they sent me was a dud with NO metal sealing rings around the cylinder holes in it. Weird. Anyway, they refunded me all my money at the time, and this new one with the correct metal rings in it arrived yesterday at no charge from the UK. Pretty good service I'd say, as well as an apology. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

Most likely I did not re-read the thread before replying . Good for the seller to make good on that.