Gasket removal

[Matt]

Hi all,
I'm cleaning up a few casings ready for new gaskets at the moment which is proving to be very time consuming to say the least. They're probably the originals. Can anyone suggest a good gasket removing product?

Cheers,
Matt

[superlite]

A gasket scraper?

[Matt]

Yeh thats what I'm doing at the moment but as the gaskets are in a bit of a mess it's taking forever!

Just wondered if anybody has used any of the solvent based gasket removers and whether or not they actually work!

[Adrian89]

Depending on which part you are removing the gasket from, I tend to carefully use a stanley knife blade parallel to the casting so as not to score it, Sometimes when very stubborn lumps are present I have got a large piece of wet and dry paper and placed it on a perfectly flat surface, with plenty of water, and light rubbing of the casting on the wet and dry the gasket can be removed a treat. Be extra careful not to remove any of the metal although with great care this can have the advantage of 'skimming' the casting perfectly flat.
I have heard of 'skimming' cylinder heads in this way (constantly checking with a staight rule) however I imagine this would take forever!

Hope this helps (water alone tends to help soften some gaskets)

from Adrian