A10 Head Gasket.

[FULTON]

Just back from a run on my 1960 A10, climbing a fairly steep hill, 40 mph in 3rd gear, then Bang, cylinder head gasket on left cylinder had  blown out. see attached photo, my question is, what's the best type of gasket to go for, the one fitted was a black graphite material reinforced with wire, you can see wire in photo, do I go for solid  copper or copper sandwich type?

[idie]

I always use a solid copper gasket I have for years. Don't forget to anneal it before using.

[FULTON]

Thanks for your advice, I think solid copper is the way to go, do you have to anneal the new gaskets?

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Fulton,

If it is nice and soft you should be able to mark it with your thumb nail but if in doubt do it again.  Also make sure the threads on the head bolts and in the barrels are very clean and if it is an aluminium head that it is flat.  Iron heads are very unlikely to need skimming.  Remove any burrs on the edges of the new gasket and torque the head down following the sequence in the manual. 

Dave.

[FULTON]

Hi Dave,  I'll check new gasket when it arrives, I have converted barrel from bolts to studs, I prefer studs to bolts .

Regards

  Jim.