Exhaust Gasket Removal - Can't

[FJ1100mjk]

Hi:

Help, my '85's resurrection is being halted by the following...

I'm trying to remove the old donut exhaust gaskets in the cylinder head on my '85, and they are stuck in the ports like they are welded in or something. I heated one up with a propane torch, then gouged at it with a screwdriver. The most that I could do was get mangle a small chunk out out of it. I don't want to tear at it anymore with a screwdriver and hammer, because I don't want to ding up the sealing surface on the exhaust port.

The previous owner had a bad valve cover leak that ran down the front of the cylinders and into the exhaust ports. Perhaps from the oil burning up around the gaskets, for a lack of a better term, they're "carboned" into the ports.

Anyone got any ideas on how to get these things out without damaging their mating surfaces on the cylinder head?

Thanks in advance.

Marty

[flips]

Hi there.

You might try carb cleaner.I had the same problem a while back.The previous owner had glued them in with what I assumed to be exhaust jointing compound,which had also been cooked with oil.I stuffed some rags into the ports to stop crap getting in and over a period of a few hours gave the old gaskets a small spray every 15 mins or so to "soak".This eventually softened them up enough to get a small flat blade under them and pry them out.I still had to GENTLY scrape the surfaces clean with a sharp blade,still giving them the occasional spray with the carb cleaner and finished the cleaning with some fine wet & dry.I'm sure others will pipe in with other even better solutions
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Jeff P

[andyb]

I would suggest oven cleaner, some heat, and some caution, as it might be a little rough on the aluminum as well.

[FJ1100mjk]

Guys:

I was able to get two of the four gaskets out tonight with both of your tips. Applied liberal heat with the propane torch, and had to pry, hammer and gouge them out with an old screwdriver. I have a couple of dings to clean up, but they came out all right.

Thinking seriously about using all-copper gaskets instead of the aluminum and fiber ones again.

Thanks.

[FJ1100mjk]

UPDATE: Just removed the last two, with the last being the easiest. Go figure.

Another trick seems to be to not be too shy with the propane torch heat. Seems to help in the release of the old gasket from whatever is sticking/holding it in place, and to soften the gasket's aluminum, so that you can mangle it easier and pry it out of the exhaust port.

Thanks again for your tips.

Marty