what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

[dkonrai]

mot sure if this is the correct place to ask, but what do you use to clean off old gaskets? i will be regasketing a evinrude 9.9 and the gaskets are pretty stuck on.
i have tried soaking the parts in pinesol, the new gasket remover for california is a joke. any suggestions?
dino

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

I did some lower unit work and had good luck with denatured alcohol I got at the paint department at Home Depot.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

i have some laying around, i think, will give that a try! thanks
dino

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

i often use a old wood chisel to peel them off then a very fine sand paper like 400 to 600 grit or break cleaner.

 

[dkonrai]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

tried the brake cleaner and no go. didnt really help. thanks tho

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

straight edged razor blade or a gasket scraper.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

I too use a gasket scraper, which is a razor blade, along with the strongest stripper I can find that will not damage the paint.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Try some Berkibile 2+2 carb cleaner,It seems to loosen the bond between the gasket and metal.

 

[retiredfornow]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Use those Scotch Brite disks you can get at Autozone that fit your drill. They eat the gasket off without damaging the aluminum, buffs it up nice and shiny.

 

[matt167]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Rolloc discs will put ruts in aluminum if your not careful, and I would not use them to remove gaskets on thin castings.. I used to use them for everything, but more often than not, I use a good clean putty knife with a squared edge, or a straight razor scraper.

 

[woody66912]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

I will get beat up on this one, but I started scraping gaskets at age 11 at a diesel truck shop the old guy there showed me a trick, he used a hand held propane torch, heated the gasket till it just started to bubble. That seemed to release the sealer. I still use this trick to this day. Just don't go overboard on the heat.

 

[boobie]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Good one woody, sometimes those old tricks are the best.

 

[TN-25]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

What about if a previous owner used some "squeeze-a-gasket" instead of a real gasket? I have an old motor that has some of that stuff slopped on the powerhead. The stuff is hard and black.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

May be difficult to find in CA anymore, but look for paint / epoxy stripper with methylene chloride in it (check the MSDS), for example:

Welcom to JASCO.com

That will strip any, paint, adhesive or goo. Just don't get a lot of it on your skin.

 

[matt167]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

What about if a previous owner used some "squeeze-a-gasket" instead of a real gasket? I have an old motor that has some of that stuff slopped on the powerhead. The stuff is hard and black.

RTV comes up pretty easy with a putty knife

 

[dkonrai]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

so many great replies ! i like the torch one. seems to make sense. as for chemicals in california.... i need to move to nevada!
dino

 

[cajuncook1]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

A good gasket remover is carb dip solution. Remove as much of the gasket that you can manually. Then generously apply and soak the remaining material with carb dip solution. After a couple of applications it will cause the gasket material to soften and get mushy.

Then take a dull flat puddy knife or plastic puddy knife and gentle remove the old gasket material. This method does take more patience and time, but it will not damage your mating surfaces.

Good luck.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Use those Scotch Brite disks you can get at Autozone that fit your drill. They eat the gasket off without damaging the aluminum, buffs it up nice and shiny.

Like matt167 states, you don't want to use any airtools to remove gaskets from aluminum. Cast iron only. Aluminum, you have to carefully scrap it off.

 

[retiredfornow]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

Like matt167 states, you don't want to use any airtools to remove gaskets from aluminum. Cast iron only. Aluminum, you have to carefully scrap it off.

I use a VS drill, work slow, and it comes right off. Correct, no air tool or heavy pressure. Works for me.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: what do you use to clean off old gaskets?

It's okay, if you know what you're doing. Unfortuantely, the average person doesn't know what he's doing. I work in the sheetmetal trades and I know what these discs are capable of. If you're skilled with tools, you're good to go.