Copper Head Gaskets - to anneal or not

[Rannsachair]

I recently posted on another site for advice on greasing new copper head gaskets ( as recommended in my 1969 Triumph workshop manual) or I had seen folk using spray on Permatex Copper Spray Gasket on them.

I have always just greased new copper gaskets (from a reputable manufacturer).

Quite a few folk said to always anneal a new gasket as they harden, I have never done this, so tried it today, quite a noticeable change in feel, so seems worthwhile - was also advised to add some car shampoo to the water to prevent scaling, seemed to work too - every day is a school day!

I contacted my old friend who worked at Triumph Meriden, he confirmed they never greased the head gaskets in the factory!

 

[RichardM]

Always annealed the head gasket when I had my A65 and Triton.
Is Permatex more for sealing for oil like Gasgacinch?
Car shampoo, I'll try that next time I anneal some copper.

 

[jmp49]

If its softer post anneal, its already been shipped work hardened, though not sure copper age hardens. I often do copper washers if I dont have a replacement, but I dont have much that uses a copper head gasket to do that much.
I remember my brother dropping a T100C head gasket on mum's brand new blown vinyl kitchen floor transferring it from cooker ring to sink to quench to knock the scale off.
For years there was this 8 burned into it. Could have been worse, could have been the relative that overheated a can of linklyfe and exploded it all over the kitchen celing. Apparently that needed completely replastering to get the after effects off.

 

[brightspark]

a new copper gasket just use as is f its been used aneal it . ive never had one go on any of my bikes

 

[wyn]

Used to anneal head gaskets on a Maico 490, years ago, to reuse them.

 

[bricol]

This does lead to the question of quench or not . . .

I can find about equal numbers of arguments and explanations for either one, and for that it doesn't matter.

Can't say I've ever been able to tell either way.

 

[brightspark]

This does lead to the question of quench or not . . .

I can find about equal numbers of arguments and explanations for either one, and for that it doesn't matter.

Can't say I've ever been able to tell either way.

whats the point in quenching it serves no purpose

 

[dobbslc]

The only time I didn't anneal the head gasket on my 250 singles racer was the time it nipped up coming out of Gerrard's...
It wasn't the only thing that nipped up!

 

[addjunkie]

Id anneal as you dont know how long it is since it was made.

 

[MattF]

This does lead to the question of quench or not . . .

I can find about equal numbers of arguments and explanations for either one, and for that it doesn't matter.

Can't say I've ever been able to tell either way.

I never quench.

 

[Ali]

whats the point in quenching it serves no purpose

Makes it go cold quicker

 

[Seadog]

whats the point in quenching it serves no purpose

It can be used sooner, and some of the scale comes off

 

[Popcorn]

If you don't Quench it you've not Annealed it............
To Anneal Copper you heat it until cherry red, then after the cherry colour gone off you Quench it under cold water. This makes it soft again, if you just heat it and let it go cold it will still be hard.

 

[MattF]

Quenching isn't necessary.

 

[RichardM]

I always understood that quenching wasn't necessary when annealing copper, but it did help to clean the scale off.

 

[Rannsachair]

I always understood that quenching wasn't necessary when annealing copper, but it did help to clean the scale off.

saves burning impatient fingers too.

 

[Seadog]

If you don't Quench it you've not Annealed it............
To Anneal Copper you heat it until cherry red, then after the cherry colour gone off you Quench it under cold water. This makes it soft again, if you just heat it and let it go cold it will still be hard.

No, you don't need to quench copper.

Try it if you don't believe me.

 

[dobbslc]

I never quenched mine and I reused it many times without trouble.
After the seizure I bought a new one though

 

[Morris]

From my 1936 copy of Engineering Workshop Practice by Judge vol3
Note the use of "usual". Quenching is not essential.

 

[Popcorn]

The above just agrees with me, plunging it into water is quenching................
I was taught this by a time served Blacksmith.