Head gasket

[slick]

Has anyone here reused a head gasket, and to what end. I know the book says not to, but mine is in good shape and I don't want to buy an entire gasket kit. I am being a cheapass I know but any input would be appreciated.

[skids]

Re: Head gasket

If you put it all together and you lose compression out of the gasket, you'll be kicking yourself in the cheapass! =8-) No offense...

Originally posted by slick
Has anyone here reused a head gasket, and to what end. I know the book says not to, but mine is in good shape and I don't want to buy an entire gasket kit. I am being a cheapass I know but any input would be appreciated.

[DiverRay]

Slick, try your local Yamaha dealer. They may be able to get a head gasket, without all the rest, for you.
Trying to reuse the old is like trying to reuse a rubber, it may work, but you WILL pay if it fails!!!

[prometheus578]

Ok, I probably shouldn't reply to this one, but I have reused a head gasket. I assembled it, found that I had done something loopy, took it apart again, and reused the gasket. Still good after three years. Now, that's not to say that everyone will be that lucky. I just wanted to get the bike back running by the next morn. Now, I don't know your mechanical ability, nor how fun you consider pulling engines apart to re-fix them....

I work at a shop, and doin' (and re-doin' if needed) my own engines at home is no big deal to me. Might not be the same for others.

[TopCatGr58]

I, too, reused a graphite head gasket, BUT, the engine had NOT been run. I had assembled and torqued it down, and then found a bent valve, had to tear it down to fix. The local performance bike shop that did my cylinder work said it was okay to reuse it since I hadn't actually run the engine. It's been fine for 4 years and several rallies, a few thousand miles.

SO....I would think that if you hadn't run the engine, then you could probably be safe reusing it. You'll be retorquing it down, once before running it, then once again, after you've had it up to operating temps and then cooled down again!

Regrettably they aren't cheap....like $85.00 from Yamaha.

[Czekus21]

Ya know.... Ya could do like my bro,.,. the "ACE" mechanic. Just go to your local parts store and buy em outta permatex gasket maker and empty all the tubes onto both sufaces. Smash the head down on it. snug tight the bolts and wonder hoa cumed it leakted.
If that old head gasket has got a few miles on her, I would defenitlly replace it with new. Trust me. It will be $$ worth spent. Ya don't want to end up like my bro..