Old gasket removal

[joe_pinehill1]

Any suggestions on the tool to remove old gaskets? I had to remove a large gasket from a Gravely axle housing. I used Permatex remover, and scotchbrite pads.

I saw the Roloc™ Bristle Discs on line yesterday, and was thinking of ordering a set.

 

[Dagny]

Roloc works better than anything I have found.

 

[jfcasey]

Bristle discs are great, make sure you get the right one for what your cleaning and let her rip. The only down side is if you spend too much time around sharp edges they come apart with a fine dust that gets everywhere. If you're working on something you can clean thoroughly I wouldn't worry about it but be careful if your cleaning a block or something thats still in the vehicle and not being run through a washer after.

Wire wheels also work alright, I like the twisted cup style on a straight die grinder.

The buffing pad rolocs are popular but I always have been leery of them removing material and also spreading the material removed and the disc its self through a system. I would only use them if again its a part you can really hose out good after cleaning the gasket, and never on an engine component unless you can be sure you're going to clean it extremely well after.

 

[p..]

These are next to magic. I worked in an automotive machine shop for a while, and this was my go to tool for gasket removal. They kind of push the gasket off the surface rather than slice under it, and it's easy to use a lot of force without gouging the surface, even on aluminum. I used the SS1, which is the narrower of the two models. They're expensive, but they last a long time. The edge is carbide, ground at 90 degrees. So you really get two edges to wear down before it's time to regrind it. When it was eventually time to "sharpen" it, I used a diamond wheel that we used for honing valve seat cutting inserts.

http://www.superscraper.com

 

[bob15]

Depending on the surface material and what exactly the old gasket is, I will use: a razor blade, an old hunting knife with a dull blade, scotch-brite pad, roloc scotch-brite pad, the roloc bristle pad, wire wheel, wire brush, gasoline, carb/brake clean and even a gasket remover scraper.

 

[rusty_ratchet]

I use a brass brush and acetone or a razor blade.

https://www.enginerepairshop.com/abrasive-disc.html

 

[1950mercury]

Another vote for the super scraper they are badass. I've used about every other option to remove gaskets too

 

[sberry]

There are a lot of ways, we each develope our own and often likely use what we got. I just havnt got in to the roloc habit, I have a few, just don't use them. I am so used to a wire wheel on air, 4 inch is my fave.
I have a lot of experience with this and am fussy where I blow the dross and can keep clean. Air let's one regulate the speed, I like right angle and knotted wheel. I never been much a fan of cups, too many wires flying everywhere and can't use a gaurd which is used to an advantage.

 

[Farmall450]

Gasket scrapers work pretty good. I have some Wilde ones and they do the trick.

Under $6 at Epstein's, US made.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index....mzYxVwN2_VddDDy2og2wQU7n-XthM8eUaAssTEALw_wcB

 

[four.cycle]

^ I use a couple like that Wilde model on some stuff. Other stuff a single-edge razor blade.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

I spent more time with Permatex remover and a razor blade than removing and reinstalling the axle housing on the Gravely. I was leary of being too agressive and scratching the steel.

After a day it seems leak tight.

 

[mcmtech]

The super scraper shown above is amazing

 

[Olafur]

Gasket scrapers work pretty good. I have some Wilde ones and they do the trick.

Under $6 at Epstein's, US made.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index....mzYxVwN2_VddDDy2og2wQU7n-XthM8eUaAssTEALw_wcB

I have tried great many gasket scrapers similar to the one pictured here. I have a set of Mayhew, some Toptul scrapers and few others.

They work great for many things. Removing gaskets isn't one of them. Glass scrapers razor sharp with thin blades is what I use - or wire wheels if circumstances allow.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Roloc works better than anything I have found.

GM suffered a very expensive mistake on one of their warranty recalls for intake manifold leak repair. The warranty supplied ROL-LOC discs with instruction on how to remove the **** gasket material. The problem showed up later when the engines started to fail as parts were being ground away. The abrasive discs slowly erode and the abrasive dust was getting into the engine. My friend drove a Denali, he got a replacement engine because every rotating surface had worn and there was significant knocking sounds.
I prefer to hand scrape rather than go for the quick fix. A high speed rotating surface preparation abrasive can remove some base material if not used carefully and properly. If you see sparks, you are removing metal.

 

[sberry]

Yes, I never like the grit the roloc caused. it's difficult to explain some of the refined techniques here to do a clean job. I use wire wheel on aluminum all the time, we don't go straight across narrow lands and as I mention I get setup and very concious of the direction I am blowing the trash. Not above covering and masking either.

 

[Wamsutta]

I soak the gasket with WD-40 and then get under it with a straight razor blade laying almost flat. People have damaged gasket surfaces with razor blades because they tilt the blade up too much.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Ball pein hammer.

Scrape off what's left with a sharp edge or abrasive pad.

 

[marinusdees]

GM suffered a very expensive mistake on one of their warranty recalls for intake manifold leak repair. The warranty supplied ROL-LOC discs with instruction on how to remove the **** gasket material. The problem showed up later when the engines started to fail as parts were being ground away. The abrasive discs slowly erode and the abrasive dust was getting into the engine. My friend drove a Denali, he got a replacement engine because every rotating surface had worn and there was significant knocking sounds.
I prefer to hand scrape rather than go for the quick fix. A high speed rotating surface preparation abrasive can remove some base material if not used carefully and properly. If you see sparks, you are removing metal.

This. Be careful with Roloc discs. That abrasive eats bearings. I don't use them on engine surfaces. A scraper is a lot of work, but relatively safe.

 

[Bluevista]

Most all engine builders/rebuilders void any warranty if you use Scotchbrite pads or Roloc disc to clean gasket surfaces on any parts you bolt on, like pans, pumps, covers, they can tell.
I had an engine guy read me the riot act when he dropped off an engine and noticed that I had a Scotchbrite pad sitting on the workbench in my garage.
A good gasket scraper is all I use too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Also the super scraper ss5 model. It’s narrower and works good in tight areas.


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[tym]

Also the super scraper ss5 model. It’s narrower and works good in tight areas.


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Thanks for the reminders on the SS5 (and SS1). Have to pick one up to add to the tool kit. Removing old gasket material from the aluminum block of my Mustang with a plastic trim removal tool and a knife (carefully!) made me yearn for a quality tool.

 

[WittHay]

Most all engine builders/rebuilders void any warranty if you use Scotchbrite pads or Roloc disc to clean gasket surfaces on any parts you bolt on, like pans, pumps, covers, they can tell.
I had an engine guy read me the riot act when he dropped off an engine and noticed that I had a Scotchbrite pad sitting on the workbench in my garage.
A good gasket scraper is all I use too.

Whats a Scotchbrite and Roloc? I just have a collection of gasket scrapers also called carbon scrapers. A small wire brush wheel sometimes comes in handy.

No real trick some gaskets peal off easy, others you really have to work at it. Latest addition is a Mac strikeable scraper, that you use like a wood chisel

 

[cliftonbros89]

Thanks for the reminders on the SS5 (and SS1). Have to pick one up to add to the tool kit. Removing old gasket material from the aluminum block of my Mustang with a plastic trim removal tool and a knife (carefully!) made me yearn for a quality tool.

I used it on an aluminum thermostat housing again last week. Works great. Didn’t gouge it like most scrapers.

 

[Ksullivan]

I love my roloc's they work awesome for so many things, look at the coarseness of them. good luck!

 

[Bobioz1]

Ball pein hammer.

Scrape off what's left with a sharp edge or abrasive pad.

Yup! Baby ball pein hammer. Amazing results.

 

[MikeF2316]

I'm a fan of hand scraping. You can control where what you're removing ends up. I use an old wood chisel on cast iron, and I have plastic razor blades (and a holder) from Titan tools.