Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

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Dr. Frankenstein
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Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#1

Post by Dr. Frankenstein »

I'm finally at the stage where I can reassemble the top end of my '75 GL1000 with a Vesrah VG-159 gasket set, but given all the previous discussion about head gaskets, I thought I would ask if there's anything critical I should know before putting the head gaskets on.

I DO have some copper spray, as I've seen recommended in this forum, but I've also seen threads where some have installed them 'dry' - - for the record, I checked Randakks and the gasket set through them was Out Of Stock, so I went with the Vesrah, which seems to have high marks in here as well. Which is the best way to go?

So far I have religiously cleaned both head surfaces, and they are silver and smooth to the touch with no material left on them, but they are not shaved. Both heads lay flat on a piece of glass and do not appear to be warped anywhere, which is good; I put in new valve oil seals, and all appears to be fine with the heads as I get ready to button them up and put them on, but I want to check in here before I put them on. Any advice...?
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Track T 2411
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Re: Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#2

Post by Track T 2411 »

If you have any doubts about the gaskets sealing, use the copper spray. Done properly, it can't hurt, and will give you a little extra peace of mind. My 2 cents...
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Re: Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#3

Post by Rat »

You’ve done the hard part .... cleaning ....

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Re: Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#4

Post by Oldewing »

Most say dry, but a shot of copper can't hurt either.


Member' to put lube on the threads and under the head's of the bolts too.
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Re: Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#5

Post by pidjones »

Running a tap down each head bolt hole, blowing them out, and lubing each head bolt and both sides of each washer with moly, torquing incrementally with an accurate torque wrench. Don't forget the dowels and oil control orifice!
Last edited by pidjones on Sun May 24, 2020 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Pre-Assembly Gasket Advice

#6

Post by flyday58 »

Mike Nixon recommends two coats of Gasgacinch on both sides of the gasket: first coat, let dry 20 minutes: second coat, let dry one hour.
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