Paper Gasket, No Gasket, Permatex?

ScooterMcTavish

Hi Guys,

When I lost compression on my 3PG last year due to my jug bolts loosening (yes Dave, you were right), the paper gasket between the jug and the crankcase failed.

As golf season should be starting, it is time to fix up the cart. I'm thinking I should go about this one of three ways:

- Loosen the bolts, lift the head up (without removing the piston), clean off the remnants of the paper gasket, then retighten the head.
Reason for approach:No gasket to fail again, and any pressure loss would be nominal, and not enough to compromise the operation of the fuel pump.
Downsides?: Metal to metal wear, could cause greater pressure loss that anticipated when heat expansion/contraction takes place, seems like a no-no

- Remove the head (pulling the piston pin), clean off the old gasket, replace with new paper gasket.
Reason for approach: Closest to OEM, same thing as done when I rebuilt it.
Downsides?: Paper gasket could fail again, piston could come out making my life miserable, pain in the #$%^&*& to do this while the motor is in the cart.

- Loosen the bolts, lift the head up, clean the surfaces, lay a bead of high-temp permatex gasket maker in there, tighten her down, away we go....
Reason for approach: Seems better than a paper gasket, still has some expansion/contraction ability, would be vibration tolerant
Downsides?: Worried about bits of Permatex getting into the bearings, unsure how it would perform with this heat and gas exposure

Anyone done any of the three, results and opinions?

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

BigBlueIron

Lift cylinder clean both surfaces very well, use Indian Head gasket maker thin coat on both surfaces allow to cure for a bit, tighten it down.

Permatex would probley work but Indian Head would be better, comes in a little brown bottle with an applicator can usually find it with the permatex products.

Just an opinion

ScooterMcTavish

Thanks BBI.

Where I am, all I can get is the Permatex, and I'm kind of thinking the high temp copper type might be best, as it will also make a good exhaust gasket material too.

For cleaning, is solvent fine, or brake cleaner, or ?

Appreciate the feedback, still wondering if this is a good idea.....

PAPABEAR1

Gasket.

saunteret

Scooter,

I'm in the same boat. UPS just notified me my new top end rebuild kit arrived and I plan on putting my engine back together tonight. I was wondering if Permatex will work also. I was just going to spray the gasket lightly (not the cylinder or head) and then put it on.

ScooterMcTavish

Hey Saunteret,

If you've got to put the new top end on anyways, there's no reason not to use the gasket that will come with the kit. Heck, I do have the new paper gasket at home if I wanted to put it on.

The only thing that has me hesitating is the removing of the clips on the piston pin, and possibly popping the piston out of the jug when attempting to do so. Leaving things attached while using permatex seems like an easier solution.

Getting parts is a bit of a pain for me, and this is one project I need done quick, as I have a boat waiting for a rebuild.

Guess which project my wife thinks should be priority......

BigBlueIron

For clean up, a razor blade, brake clean and take your time, you don't want any solvent in your lower case brake clean will at least evaporate.

Of course a gasket is the best but things don't always allow for that, look for the Indian Head should be able to buy it a just about any parts store even though they might not sell it much, kind of one of those products that's been around forever but not many people know about.

And I know what you mean about the boat!!!!! Got to get the floor back in mine!

holmsey2012

I put Indian head, gasket and Indian head over the gasket. So far so good.

ScooterMcTavish

Sadly enough, I didn't realize how much work this actually is.....

Had to get the muffler off, but both bolts had seized to the studs (might have been that blue Loctite I used) so I had to screw the studs all the way out of the head. Just noticing now that I'll also need to remove the carb too, as it is also attached to the head.

This is pretty much a rebuild, without the crank seals. Wow.

Morgan44

Pulling the motor isn't too bad. Is there a reason you are trying to do it in the cart?