Topic: Quick Gasket Surface Question

[Moffman]

Replacing the leaking headgasket on my '79 CB650, decided to pull the jugs and replace the base gasket while I was in there waiting on parts. What a royal pain in the ass. I've probably spent at least 8 hours just trying to remove the old gasket. I was using a razor blade, permatex gasket remover and a plastic scraper to not gouge anything.

The only time I've replaced a gasket on an aluminum surface was non critical areas like water pump gaskets and I would use stuff like rolloc discs to get a quick mirror shine. I don't want to use it here nor anything else abrasive like a scrotchbite pad and get grit inside the engine. I just spent another 3 hours razorblading the surface and I'm losing my damn mind.  The surface feels smooth but I still see what looks like old gasket material but the razor blade isn't really catching anything.

Which brings me to my question, am I over doing it here? I'd just like to avoid any leaks.

Thanks

[kmb69]

The new gasket will seal much better if it is whistle clean. Looks pretty good in your pictures.
I always prep both sides of a new base gasket with a lite, even coat of Gasgacinch and let it dry before assembly just to be sure.
The Gasgacinch also makes life waaaay more better if you ever replace that gasket again.

[flybox1]

Yes, removing gasket is a pain.
A clean garage towel and some acetone will show you where any remaining gasket is.  Acetone worked well for me.
I used a few light coats of copper gasket spray on my base gasket, and let it set up overnight.
No leaks...

[Moffman]

It seems like no matter how much I scrape their is still some left behind, I've got some gasgacinch actually, that's not a bad idea.

I've been using brake cleaner so far, I'll give acetone a try too.

[shinyribs]

Lighter fluid works well to dissolve old gaskets. Not the stuff they sell for getting your charcoal burning, the fluid you would use in a flint lighter (zippo). Good luck.