Exhausts

[Smallkat]

My 1979 X7 decided to blow its head gasket last week. I managed to crawl home leaving a massive smokescreen. Someone actually shouted at me at the lights!

[johnr]

get some copper sheet and make your own, theyre simple enough and can be re used over and over again. ive done this on my bsa's

[Smallkat]

I was thinking of a copper gasket, as you can get them on ebay. Do they need some sort of special gasket goo as well? I think that was what put me off as it was more expensive than buying pattern gaskets.

[PaulD]

I was thinking of a copper gasket, as you can get them on ebay. Do they need some sort of special gasket goo as well? I think that was what put me off as it was more expensive than buying pattern gaskets.

You don't need gasket goo with copper gaskets. Heat them up until they go "cherry red" then dunk em in cold water and they will soften up a treat. It's called anealing, you can repeat as often as necessary.

[johnr]

buy a sheet of copper and make one, mark out the shape, then drill the holes for studs etc, then cut the hole for the bore, and finally cut round the outside. smooth off round the cut edges with wet and dry paper and then heat to red hot and let it cool. you dont need to use any sealant on it. if thee head ever neds to come off again, just r heeat to red hot again and cool, then re use, you can usually get perhaps half a dozen uses from a coppeer gasket before you will need to make a fresh one.

[johnr]

0.8mm thickness copper sheet.

[Smallkat]

Hi John,
That would take me about 3 hours! And look like shit, not that it matters. I can buy them for £16, so I will probably go for that. The seller does recommend copper gasket spray, but I guess it wouldn't do any harm to try without.
Thanks,
Dean

[fossie]

Is this gasket made by Athena ...if it is just but it in the bin and save the hassle of fitting it and then retaking it off!!! Vesrah are the better option.

[katscott]

I have an Athena gasket on my 650. I would use Fossie's recommendation to launch it in the bin because you guessed it! the heads got to come off to replace the head gasket . I've got a genuine suzuki one to go on. It should mean the 650 won't look like a 2 stoke

[Lexdba]

Agreed, Athena's gaskets are fine for the oily bits (if you don't mind them being dentist-green) but all the other stuff is garbo..