OK folks...especially you engine builder gurus...

[MyMistress86R]

Share your tips and tricks for removing gaskets from case halves/side covers.

I'm rebuilding a 250 air-cooled 4-stroke Honda engine and I've got more time into gasket removal already than in the rest of the entire project.

Or am I just stuck at my bench for hours with a razor blade and a scotch-brite pad?

[200XMichigan]

They make a product the is an aerosol that dissolves gaskets. Never tried it myself. I just use a brand new blade, they should come off pretty quick, its in the technique. The scotchbite can actually remove case material, and make the surface not perfectly flat. I would be really careful with that.

[MyMistress86R]

Yeah, the scotchbrite pad is used very lightly by hand and only for small residue removal...and no power tools are used. I might just have to pick up a can of the gasket remover while I'm at my cycle shop later today.

[inv3ctiv3]

Yea I hear you on that, I hate removing gaskets but I always just use a razor blade and time...Take your time and the areas between the bolt holes should be pretty easy but damn those bolt holes.....

[MyMistress86R]

+1 on those bolt holes...that's my main beef so far...ggrrrr

[mopar_man]

For machined surfaces such as case halves, I only ever use razor blades. It's time consuming but at least it won't leak.

[oldskool83]

razor blades, dont scrape to hard, somtimes ill use an axacto knifee or a pocket knife with a nice plate. i WD40 them 1st to soften them up.

[250sx25]

i find a razor blade and spray starting fluid on the gasket. the starting fluid also works great to get off the sticky stuff that graphics leave on your plastics

[SWIGIN]

I like brake clean/carb cleaner to soften up the gaskets if they are old and hard. Then i use my super secret garage knife on them or my gasket scraper. If need be then I go for the razor blade.

[Dirtcrasher]

I use a chisel or razor blade, if you see bits of aluminum, your to high and need to drop the angle just a bit.

I use a fine hone stone and WD40 to get it all perfectly flat. I also run a metric blind hole tap through all the holes and just barely countersink them......

The gasket remover does help, but it eats the paint too for anyone that cares.

[WIkid500]

A good sharp razor blade and aircraft stripper. Paint stripper is the best for softening gaskets to the point you can easily scrape them off.

[tecat-z]

When i build motors, i completely strip cases, high pressure solvent clean everything then carefully remove remaining gasket with a NEW razor blade. After they are completely washed in hot soapy water and 100% dry, they get media blasted, and blown down afterwords. Then apply my favorite paint. After all of this, the threads are then ready for cleanout with a bottoming tap and compressed air. Then the reassembly begins. Media blast makes the surfaces perfect for paint retention and the mating surfaces of cases hold onto the yamabond better. I prefer a "bit" of texture.

[3wheelmecca]

+1 with Dirtcrasher, Indian oilstone and aluminum oxide stones work well, 80 grit is good for the heavy stuff. I use essentially a ultra heavy duty steel wire pipe cleaner on the bolt holes, it gets it nice and clean. Threebond 1104 liquid gasket and Permatex Right stuff work good for gluing cases as well as red anaerobic gasket maker. IMO.

[Mr_RPM]

besides the razor blade technique, another way is a dye grinder with a rubber flapper wheel. works great. but i still like the razor for most things

[MyMistress86R]

besides the razor blade technique, another way is a dye grinder with a rubber flapper wheel. works great. but i still like the razor for most things

Funny you should mention the rubber flapper wheel. When I got back to the shop, I was rooting thru my scotchbrite pad assortment and found my dad's rubber finger gasket wheel. I thought he had used it up and pitched it. Tossed it in the die grinder and away we went. Shot some brake cleaner on the gaskets and was done with both case halves, both side covers, cylinder and head in no more than 1/2 hour.

Thanks for all the great input everybody!

[max]

They make a product the is an aerosol that dissolves gaskets. Never tried it myself. I just use a brand new blade, they should come off pretty quick, its in the technique. The scotchbite can actually remove case material, and make the surface not perfectly flat. I would be really careful with that.

Todd. This stuff works. We used it for valvebody gaskets at work. Its made by Permatex.