Waking Donna; a '75 GL1000

[gltriker]

Yes.

[Chainman]

Yes.

Thank you.

[Chainman]

I think I'm ready to install the heads on Donna.

I am apprehensive about a couple of things:

Is it recommended that a beginner, such as myself, use a liquid sealer when installing head gaskets?

I did purchase a thread tap intending to clean out the threads in the block. I tried by hand and it didn't start to wind in as if it were one of the head bolts; it wanted to cut right away. The bolts do simply wind in normally. Is it necessary to run the tap in, or, common practice to only clean the threads with solvent and compressed air.

[rcmatt007]

I have not used a sealer on head gaskets

[CYBORG]

It is not necessary to use a sealer on Honda gaskets, but I have always used a spray coating of "copper coat". Never had a failure

[robin1731]

The Honda manual does say to use a sealant.

[CYBORG]

The Honda manual does say to use a sealant.

Guess I'm doing it right. Have taken apart a lot of them that had no sealant.
even re-used old ones with coppercoat applied, that worked fine. Not something I would do normally, but was on Winstons salt flat bike, and had to do a gasket replace to make a run the following day. No time to get new ones

[robin1731]

I use coppercoat on mine too.

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[Liam]

Coppercoat to me is an anti fouling compound that is applied to boat hull areas that are below the water line. Is this the same?

[heli_madken]

Me too on that one Liam but I think its a copper spray like this Permatex version - https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1016335549?iid ... ZVEALw_wcB

Its designed to help dissipate heat and fill in small irregularities, I guess it wouldn't do any harm but for a composite type head gasket I shouldn't have thought it would be needed.

[gltriker]

An interesting professional discussion about Mahle head gaskets and sealants!

https://youtu.be/3R-w_ONnKew

[robin1731]

Well, there are some "professionals" also replying on here. The gaskets they show for examples on the table are nothing like the head gaskets we use. (yes they talk about paper and corks style too but even those aren't what we use) And as Honda engineers do tell you in the manual to use a sealant, and the OEM gaskets are the same design as used in the 70's. I think I'll stay with the way I've done numerous engines.

.

[CYBORG]

As will I. Years of experience has taught me what works. Hard to change what works.

[Chainman]

I picked up some copper spray today.
Thank you for your replies and sharing your experience.
This is a great forum.

[ericheath]

An observation, the newer head gaskets from Honda are not like the old gaskets. The old gaskets had a mesh of wire sandwiched in paper. I am not sure of its material, aluminum or steel, but it connected the fire rings?

The newer ones are just goo impregnated paper. They appear to be just like aftermarket gaskets from several years ago. It is probably why Mother Honda’s price came down so much. Proper preparation and torque and they’re probably just as good.