SXR is this clean enough to put a new base gasket on?

[deftons56]

Disclaimer: As with any tool the use of sandpaper requires some degree of intelligence, if you do not possess the required level of intelligence please refrain from using sandpaper.


Personally I have never had a base gasket leak , so that being said either I am damn lucky (after building hundreds upon hundreds of motors since 1984 ) or I am doing something right.

Nope, just luck.

 

[Algonquin]

Its not too big of a deal, especially since it holds relatively little pressure. Personally I would have ran it just like in your picture, provided it was free of any residue. I would be more worried about keeping gasket shavings away from your crank bearings.

Also someone in the thread mentioned to make it a mirror finish, which you do not want. You want a flat surface, but rough finish. This gives the gasket something to bite into and hold.

 

[xjetrider]

Here is my recommendation for people that want to listen to me and don't want to take a chance ruining their sealing surfaces. Clean as much of the gasket as you can with a razor blade obviously not getting too carried away and digging into the sealing surface. Once you get all of the big pieces and most of the old gasket off, go over the surface BY HAND with a Scotch Bright pad to clean up anything you weren’t able to remove. Before assembling, make sure to completely clean off both surfaces with brake cleaner or another solvent that doesn’t leave behind a residue. When installing a base gasket or head gasket, try not to get any assembly lube or oil on the gasket or gasket surface when putting the engine together.

As far as the couple people that think I don’t know what I’m talking about, how many well-known/professional engine builders have you seen clean or recommend cleaning a sealing surface with sand paper or a Scotch Bright attachment on an air tool or any other type of power tool? Just because you guys don’t mind taking a risk at ruining a sealing surface, don’t try and tell other people (especially some new people that are inexperienced) to try something that could cost them a lot of money. But what do I know? I just work for a company that builds all the snocross engines for Arctic Cat.

 

[nightrider05]

It amazes me that this thread has turned into two pages...on something so simple.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Carry on X-H2O KNOW IT ALLS

 

[JamesG]

I just used a razor blade to get the majority and then acetone to clean it up. The acetone works very well. Simple.