Gasket removal

[Derwood]

Looking for all advice on best method for removing old/baked on gaskets.

 

[VonYinzer]

"Goo Gone" or some kerosene and a razor blade. Just be careful to not gouge the Aluminum.

 

[Redliner]

There's a gasket remover in a can. It's often called "gasket remover" Just helps break it down. Hell, break cleaner often works too.

You can use a razor blade, but watch the angle. Never angle forward. Must be 90º or pointed away from the direction you're pushing. As if I'm not stating the obvious, you can slice aluminium like cedar.

Best solution? 3M roloc bristles ;D If I recall, the green is the roughest you should use on aluminium. You end up with a mirror finish, but not great for buffing and polishing...

Whatever you use, if you're going to be working with the engine assembled, cover the openings.

 

[mg42gunner]

Fine steel wool or a plastic blade and acetone has been my weapon of choice on aluminum items. I used to use those plastic 3m things that were suggested until I watched someone damage a transmission case with one. Now I stick to solvents and plastic.

 

[SONICJK]

Soda blaster is my method of choice.

I clean it up as best I can with a. Razor blade, then blast off whatever I can't get.

 

[DeanJ]

Soda blaster is my method of choice.

I clean it up as best I can with a. Razor blade, then blast off whatever I can't get.

+1 on the soda or fine glass bead if you working on something stripped down or just with a case cover. If you are talking about the case of an assembled engine you are just doing some "behind the cover " maintenance or replacing a leaky gasket... acetone works just fine

 

[Redliner]

Fine steel wool or a plastic blade and acetone has been my weapon of choice on aluminum items. I used to use those plastic 3m things that were suggested until I watched someone damage a transmission case with one. Now I stick to solvents and plastic.

The colors of the 3M discs denotes the grit. One is safe for aluminium and the other is too abrasive.

As for steel wool, steel is too abrasive and will leave fine particles imbedded in the aluminium which could rust.

 

[SONICJK]

Soda is the greatest thing that ever happened to cleaning motorcycle parts

 

[Derwood]

So, as for the SODA blaster method. How can I go about this? I'm not a shop, just a dude with a garage and enough skills and balls to try to do this CR project.
Do I need a blast cabinet?

 

[Redliner]

As far as I know, you won't need a cabinet if you're not making a mess and...well...it's just baking soda.

There should be a simple "media blaster" attachment for air-compressors at Harbor Freight.

http://www.garagenight.tv/diy-soda-blasting-build-your-own-rig-cheap/

 

[bradj]

There's a gasket remover in a can. It's often called "gasket remover" Just helps break it down. Hell, break cleaner often works too.

You can use a razor blade, but watch the angle. Never angle forward. Must be 90º or pointed away from the direction you're pushing. As if I'm not stating the obvious, you can slice aluminium like cedar.

Best solution? 3M roloc bristles ;D If I recall, the green is the roughest you should use on aluminium. You end up with a mirror finish, but not great for buffing and polishing...

Whatever you use, if you're going to be working with the engine assembled, cover the openings.

and no! when I was a machinist a 3m rep came to the shop and told us that those roloc pads were not ment for gasket surfaces due to the amount of alum or steel they move even the softer color ones so once again redliner your wrong there also picky about rpm. A simple gasket scraper and sand paper has served me well I guess soda will cut gaskets after a while