sealant on head gasket???

[podfish]

I'm reassembling the top end on an '87 air-cooled KDX 200. The gasket kit that I purchased has a flat copper head gasket; along with it came instructions to use Gasgacinch or some other comparable sealer when installing it!
I've never heard of using gasket sealer on a head-gasket before. A long time ago, I -did- hear that you could apply a propane torch flame to the copper gasket before installing it (heating, then cooling, before installation). I can't remember what the point of that was, though - and I don't typically do that either.

Does using sealant on the edges of the combustion chamber make sense to you??

thanks,
Peter

 

[2strokerfun]

I only heat and quench (drop in cool water) a copper head gasket if I'm reusing it. It anneals it soft again.
I have never used any sealer on a copper head gasket, but I've never rebuilt a KDX engine, so I'm probably not the proper person to be typing here. So I'll stop.

 

[Tom68]

Depends on how good your gasket surfaces are, an annealed copper gasket (new will be annealed) isn't going to seal on a rough surface without help. You can use Permatex or loctite #3, GM head stud sealer and I think 3 bond will work even though its not rated for it, you won't need much.

 

[glad2ride]

If it is not the stock gasket, and the gasket manufacturer says to use it, then I would think it is a good idea. No heat on it since it is new and you aren't trying to re-use it.