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Knuckle head gaskets

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  • #16
    Copper for aluminum causes issues on some 45" because of narrow area near the motor mount.
    K-models had no gasket?
    Sporty was copper..I think
    Last edited by duffeycycles; 11-17-2019, 11:35 AM.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by duffeycycles View Post
      Copper for aluminum
      K-models had no gasket?
      Sporty was copper..I think
      Copper for aluminum, Duffey?

      My autopsies showed they "imprinted" into the head,
      Whether beaten into them by a million million compression strokes,
      or by dielectric something or other.

      Good point about the aluminum Ks using just paint.
      After all, if you need it to seal copper, why bother with the copper?

      Conductivity?

      ....Cotten
      Last edited by T. Cotten; 11-17-2019, 11:34 AM.
      AMCA #776
      Dumpster Diver's Motto: Seek,... and Ye Shall Find!

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      • #18
        Sorry Cotton,I did not finish the sentence..edited
        I use the asbestos on aluminum
        I have seen the imprint in aluminum as well

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        • #19
          Originally posted by duffeycycles View Post
          Sorry Cotton,I did not finish the sentence..edited
          I use the asbestos on aluminum
          I have seen the imprint in aluminum as well
          Be careful, Duffey!

          You'll get an edit addiction like mine.

          Another arm-chair-engineer'd reason for the erosion:
          Aluminum and cast iron have very much different thermal expansion coefficients.
          Hard copper between becomes 'cutting edge'.

          ....Cotten
          PS: Just another reason why Knucks were the pinnacle of classic American motorcycle design.
          Last edited by T. Cotten; 11-17-2019, 12:57 PM.
          AMCA #776
          Dumpster Diver's Motto: Seek,... and Ye Shall Find!

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          • #20
            An early sporty collector just told me that 900 sportys originally came with composite gaskets not copper.so composite on cast iron heads

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            • #21
              Originally posted by duffeycycles View Post
              An early sporty collector just told me that 900 sportys originally came with composite gaskets not copper.so composite on cast iron heads
              Did the MOCO switch to copper later, Duffey?

              I let very few Sportsters in the door, as they were molested and sick, but ran very thin copper.
              And I believe the aftermarket kits were usually copper.
              There's a quartercentury-old set in my inventory somewhere.

              An auto speed shop I worked at had me milling "O-ring" grooves around cylinder bores for copper wire, and presumably ran no gaskets.
              (But they didn't have to run long before the next tear-down.)

              Would no gasket conduct more or less?

              Sorry I have so many questions...

              ...Cotten
              AMCA #776
              Dumpster Diver's Motto: Seek,... and Ye Shall Find!

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              • #22
                All the 1000 cc Sportsters were copper and that includes two different hole patterns.
                Robbie Knight Amca #2736

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                • #23
                  Yes 1000cc OEM was copper

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                  • #24
                    Originally posted by duffeycycles View Post
                    Yes 1000cc OEM was copper
                    Thanks, Duffey!

                    I wonder why...

                    Seriously.

                    ...Cotten
                    AMCA #776
                    Dumpster Diver's Motto: Seek,... and Ye Shall Find!

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by Chris Haynes View Post
                      The MoCo always used copper head gaskets until the war time restrictions on copper during WWII came into effect. It was at that time that they started using asbestos gaskets. Copper gaskets can be annealed and reused. A thin later of aluminum spray paint makes a great sealer.

                      On a side note I recently bought a 1921 Ford Runabout. I was surprised when I pulled the head and found an original FORD script copper head gasket still in use. Being as it is only 99 years old I am going to reuse it.
                      I would too Chris! Might even make a necklace out of it!
                      Steve

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