What is the best way to remove old exhaust gasket material from an aluminuim head. The old crap looks like a mixture of exhaust paste type stuff and something paper like (probably not paper but looks like it).

I really don't want to damage the head.

thanks

There is a spray on gasket remover on the market (can't remember the name) much safer than scrapeing...

just what I need just need the name of the stuff now or would something like thinners do the job ?.......anyone.


thanks

this looks like the stuff !! . I'll call a few motorbike shops etc in morning to try and locate some.




Rescued attachment gasketremover.jpg

Also known as chisel, made by loctite

Oh, I think its only paint stripper like nitromors btw

[Edited on 19/7/04 by gjn200]

I use the loctite chisel stuff, works a treat! Spray on and leave for 20 minutes and the gasket all bar wipes off.

Caustion: Very flammable + us in a well ventilated area.

[Edited on 20/7/04 by chris.russell]

The easiest and most time tested way is to scrape it off with a hard sharp flat surface, I usually flip the engine upside down, take 2 chains and attach them to the bottom supports of my engine hoist (to keep the engine from moving), and lift the engine upside down, and scrape from there, then gravity take over when I start to scrape, no material in the block.

If you have a stong enough table leave the engine on the stand, and lift it on the table when it's upsidedown.

Would NEVER support the use of a scraper... unless it was pespex (old trick works well.

Cheapest and easiest solvent to use (if your married) steal the wife's nail varnish remover ! as long as she doesn't catch you it's brilliant for these types of jobs and as she paid for it she can hardly say it comes off the 'locost budget'

Acetone (nail varnish remover) available by the gallon cheaply from fibreglass suppliers

I use solvent and a scraper (very carefully!) all very well saying never use a scraper but in the real world you often have to! You want something very thin to get under the material rahter than actually scrape at it. I use a stanley knife blade held as parallel to the surface to be cleaned as possible, or a razor blade in a safety holder, again held very flat to the surface, works a treat and mechanically removes the bits that the solvent struggles with.

I've been using my old mans Snap On scraper, and it is quite simply amazing. It has a reversable tungsten tip that is actually slightly curved, and it makes removing stuborn gaskets without damaging the metal a piece of cake. I suspect it's probably quite expensive though, as is everything Snap On.

Finally solved ...

Nail varnish remover and fine wire wool and off it came.

thanks