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Novel Copper Head Gasket Technique

Submitted by ronald_wellman on Tue, 22/01/2019
Forums
Commando

I have recently become aware of a novel (to me at least) way to assure that copper head gaskets do

not leak oil. It involves use of a soft .005 copper  wire around the push rod tunnels and the oil return

hole where the thin wire is crossed over itself and Pliobond sealant is used.

 

There is a useful video detailing this method, see: https://jsmotorsport.com/js-motorsport-videos/ . Scroll down to select the "Norton Head Building Video". It's an interesting video overall but the part using the copper head gasket with the .005 wire is about 3/4 of the way into the video.

Has anyone tried this method and if so please report your experience ?

 

My '74 Commando Mk 2a continues to leak oil, i.e. the infamous "3rd fin problem". I have made improvements but it still isn't good enough.

Most recent attempt was with an original Andover Norton gasket using WellSeal. Helped but didn't completely solve the oil leak problem. I have resorted to wearing inexpensive plastic MC boots to spare my better boots.

Attached is a MSWord File "Ron_Norton_Cu_Head_Gasket.docx" with info on the source of the company who posts the videos.

Ron Wellman

Midland Michigan, USA

 

 

Attachments
Ron_Norton_Cu_Head_Gasket.docx

Submitted by ian_soady on Wed, 23/01/2019

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That he didn't mention annealing the copper gasket before fitting which in my experience is the key. A well annealed gasket together with wellseal around the pushrod tunnels gave me a leak-free head joint on my 850 Commando.

I've never heard of the triangular machining of studs and can't really see the point.

A good point, Ian. I annealed the gasket when I fitted it, but didn't put any Wellseal on. Will try that next time.

Apparently, the machining is supposed to allow the studs to stretch and hold the head tighter. ?? Won't be trying that one though!

 

Kevin

Submitted by Xanna_jeannett… on Thu, 24/01/2019

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Hello do you lot mean Stagg wellseal you can get in 500g tins as well as 100g tubes  I been using this stuff for years  they did a red stagg wellseal pipe joint compound too well have fun yours anna j

Submitted by ian_goodhall on Thu, 24/01/2019

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Personally I think the composite head gaskets are much better than the solid copper ones. They work fine with nothing applied but could put a bit of sealant around the pushrod tunnels if you wanted to. 

Ian

Submitted by david_cooper on Thu, 24/01/2019

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I've tried using thin copper wire on my early ('Pioneer') veteran.  I won't know until the end of March if it gets from Epsom to Brighton without blowing rasberries as I go.  But it proved to be difficult in practice to make sure the wire loop stayed in the right place.  Ideally I think it should go inside a groove, but I don't see how that would work either.  I don't want a sealant in case I can't get it off.

Ian,

I have and will re-anneal my copper head gasket. Yes it was an over site on the video author's part as I presume he assumed anyone using a copper gasket would know to do that.

I'm not buying the triangular studs either -- too expensive.

Ron

 

Submitted by ian_soady on Tue, 29/01/2019

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Much preferred a well annealed copper version.

I'm always amazed that people fit new copper washers without annealing them as well - although I'm increasingly using Dowty washers these days.

 


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