Outboard head gasket, the need for new each time (Suzuki 2.2) 2 stroke

[FairweatherDave]

I have read it plenty of times so I know what I should do, I should replace the head gasket having cleaned out the rubbish in the cooling jacket. I was amazed at how much cr*p had accumulated in one season's use as the head gasket was new a year ago. But I had no "piddle" so took it apart. But what am I risking if I reassembled with the existing head gasket and a bit of blue hylomar? The gasket looks in good condition to my untrained eyes. Can someone spell it out

 

[elton]

You risk the gasket blowing! with the consequent risk of melting or scorching the mating surfaces. Having said that, I'd probably risk it, but ensuring the gasket is replaced in the original orientation, and the bolts are tightened to the correct torque, in the recommended order.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Hylomar isn't really for cylinder heads, I've just looked and 250C is its max temp. RTV could work, but you risk it getting into the waterways, so I'd either get a new gasket or take a chance on the old one. I don't think that I ever used a new one on any of the motorbikes from my yoof, and never had a problem. I always use new ones now because I'm a grown up and the engines I'd doing are far more expensive!

 

[Topcat47]

As a get you home bodge, by all means re-use the old one with a smear of blue hylomar. I NEVER run my wee OB without flushing it through if not at the end of the day, certainly at the end of the week or after an extended cruise, if I've used it. A Dustbin full of water, a Workmate and an old bit of scaffold plank make a suitable rig and the imbuggerance is worth it when you consider the cost of a new engine. I've not had the head off in over 7 years, so it works.

 

[FairweatherDave]

Well thanks for the replies. I knew the gasket failing would be a "blown gasket" but not sure how serious a consequence that would be..... would you recognise a problem from the lack of power or the sound of the engine or would it quietly destroy the outboard by permanent damage? Reckon I will stump up for a gasket. But my response to Topcat47 is that I do flush the engine after every outing in a barrel of fresh water! I do have a tendency to outboard in the shallows either to dodge the current or timing the water at the bottom of the slipway to the lowest I can get away with....... but I always flush religeously for at least a couple of minutes before switching the fuel off and draining the carb. It's not the first time I've had blocked passages but I didn't expect so much cr*p in there after a season. Maybe I need to budget on a new head gasket every season?

 

[LadyInBed]

After about twenty odd years I took my suzi head off and cleaned the waterway. I didn't replace the gasket, that was about five years ago!

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Whatever happened to copper gaskets, just anneal and use again. Maybe that’s what the problem was nobody was buying head gaskets.

 

[FairweatherDave]

After about twenty odd years I took my suzi head off and cleaned the waterway. I didn't replace the gasket, that was about five years ago!

Can I quiz you on your flushing routine? That's good going....

 

[GrahamM376]

I NEVER run my wee OB without flushing it through if not at the end of the day, certainly at the end of the week or after an extended cruise, I've not had the head off in over 7 years, so it works.

I've never had a head off in 20+ years of never flushing and that works as well

 

[macd]

Whatever happened to copper gaskets, just anneal and use again.

Kitchen bosses refusing to allow dual use of the hob?