Head Gaskets - Copper or Composite

[Johnny S]

What's the jury say about which head gasket is best to use on L-heads? Should you buy new or is it ok to buy vintage NOS?

[Guest Nile Limbaugh]

If you can crush, bend, squeeze, twist or otherwise deform by hand, I tend to buy new stuff. My thinking is, if it's been sitting on a shelf for 40 plus years it's probably deteriorated in some way. Why take the chance? Besides, who's going to see it?

[1just4don]

I was always told you dont NEED a new head gasket IF the old one is/was good when removed. Old guy said just spray them down with silver paint and reuse the old one. If its damaged or was leaking,,,then NEW is only way to go. This is a FWIW post only,,,your milage may vary(and surely your opinions)

[greg g]

Being terminally frugal, I have used head gaskets over a few times on various vehicles and or implements. Never had a problem with one that was good when removed. Please do not be confused by terminology. A copper gasket is just that, a piece of copper cut/ shaped into a gasket. Most modern gaskets are all composit, that is a lamination of some stuff sandwiched between metal one piece of which or both of which may be copper or a copper colored material. I beleive the all copper stuff was primarily used in marine applications and will take several compression cycles (re uses) before being suspect.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I do wish there were made like Briggs and Stratton head gaskets..them things go forever..

[Don Coatney]

I do wish there were made like Briggs and Stratton head gaskets..them things go forever..

I do not recall ever putting a new head gasket on a single cylinger flathead air cooled engine Briggs or otherwise. Is it the water cooling that makes a difference?

[Norm's Coupe]

I do not recall ever putting a new head gasket on a single cylinger flathead air cooled engine Briggs or otherwise. Is it the water cooling that makes a difference?

The only single cylinder engine I ever tore down was on the small 3 HP compressor I had. It blew a couple of flapper valves in the early 90's, so I bought a rebuild kit for it. It included a new head gasket for that engine. It was air cooled. I really can't say if I could have used the old head gasket. I just replaced it because a new one came with the rebuild kit.