Topic: Sanding off top end gasket

[nearly]

Was wondering what the best solution would be for sanding off the leftover gasket here? I used a 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the head piece but that was completely flat. Getting around the rivets while maintaining even pressure throughout the block poses an interesting challenge. My only idea currently would be cutting a block of sandpaper down to size so I can get in the corners. Was hoping someone had a better idea?

[RAFster122s]

Most will pull the cylinders and with a thick piece of plate glass use sandpaper to smooth the surface of the head. Gaskets are generally removed with gasket remover and scrapers taking care to not nick or gouge the surface.

A machine shop can surface the head with a skim on the mill to flatten the cylinder surface. Generally this and head are milled to ensure mating surfaces are dead flat.

[RAFster122s]

BTW, what rivets are you sanding around?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

If I had a little residual material left I would CAREFULLY take a new putty knife and scrape it off then clean it with, say, acetone. Your's looks pretty clean as it is. 

[MauiK3]

With the head off the seal of the base gasket is now questionable.

[bryanj]

I agree, when i used to work on at dealers if the head came off so did the barrells and all gaskets, Oring, etc replaced

[pjlogue]

I would not sand the jugs in place.  Remove them from the case and do what RAF122S said.  Trying to do the sanding while jugs are on the case and then putting everything together is asking to ruin your engine.  No matter how careful you are grit, gasket dust will get into the case and oil gallies.

-P.

[1976cb750f836]

I've used a flat file to remove gasket, being carefull not to press hard, or cut deep. Keep it flat. I've also wrapped a flat file with sandpaper for a less aggressive cut.

[jakec]

When I took my top end off to replace the head gasket I had a bunch of people telling me not to remove the cylinder unless it showed sure signs of leaking before teardown.

He's talking about sanding around the studs, not rivets. I guess if you took the cylinder off then you would have the same question of how to clean the base at the case? Going around the studs and not getting anything falling in to the case.