Valve cover gasket removal, help

[Guest]

I'm doing all the maintenance on a church members 85 650 Nighthawk and he had some leaking at the valve cover so I'm replacing his gasket. Well it's petrified and fused to the head. I've been using a safety razor blade, but it is really hard to remove the gasket near the cam chain areas. Has anyone found a way to soften the gasket to make it easier. I have an 90 degree angle die grinder with a scothbright type of pad that will clean up the residue, but it not easy to get that in those areas either and I don't want the flying debris to get into the head and the cams. Anyone with magic solutions that may soak in and soften it?

[Nessism]

Gasket remover sauce. Let dwell and repeat several times. Various types on the market. Just don't get the "low VOC" type Permatex because it doesn't work.

[Guest]

Thanks,have you tried this product?

[Steve]

I have not (yet) tried any of the chemicals that promise to remove the gaskets. What I have is an old wood chisel that I rescued from the trash. It had a broken handle, so it was thrown out. I use it to scrape gaskets now, but still have not replaced the handle. It fits into smaller areas without it. I keep it reasonably sharp, which helps to lift the gasket, but you do have to be careful not to put too much angle on it when using it, it WILL dig in to the aluminum and create gouges very easily.

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[Guest]

+1 on the wood chisel, works better than a razor blade, imo, and easier to control AND less likely to do damage

[LAB3]

Looked over the material safety data sheet on the gasket remover and it looks like the working ingredient is MEK. If you have some paint stripper or something for general paint cleanup already on hand that should do fine, it'll save a trip to go get the CRC.

[Guest]

I know have some Naphtha, that my upholsterer told me to get to clean my white seat in the '55. Do you know if that has MEK?

[Nessism]

Naphtha is nothing like MEK. I tried paint stripper before and it didn't work very well. The old Permatex formula was decent, but required several applications. The LOW VOC stuff is crap. No clue about that CRC version. I do know though that this is a common topic so you may find more ideas by digging up some older threads.

[Tom R]

I find a small piece of oak or whatever other hardwood I might have in my scrap bin works well and will never damage the aluminum. Just keep cutting a fresh 45 on the wood....

[Tom R]

And I’ll second an old wood chisel.

[Guest]

I have used a stiff putty knife for scraping gaskets off, you can get under the gasket pretty well with it and it won't gouge the aluminum unless you really are ham fisted. I like the idea of an old wood chisel, too.


Mark

[Guest]

Have not tried this yet, but on a Ford forum a few people recommended using brake cleaner.

[aclaytonb]

I use Xylene to penetrate and soften stuff like this. Naaaasty stuff but it can be had at Lowes. Get the good gloves because it goes right through latex/rubber.

Keep the extra and mix it 1:1 with wintergreen oil for softening hardened rubber bits. Got a Captain Morgan bottle full of the stuff for carb boots.

[Guest]

It took a couple of hours, but i finally got it all off with a razor blade. This is an 85 650 Nighthawk that has hydraulic lifters, so I think this was probably the original VC gasket. I didn't feel comfortable trying a torch on a customers bike.