Originally Posted By: dwendt44
I do recall an old article about using a 'used' head gasket on british cycles that said to 'cook' the head gasket at 250° for 20 minutes, and then spray with a copper base spray made for gaskets.(time and temp are guesses)
It was supposed to work but 'expanding' the gasket. The spray helped seal the surface.
Newer gaskets are made different so I don't know it that would work anymore.
Good advice dw.
The heating process you've mentioned is known as annealing.
Definition: Heating steel to, and holding at a suitable temperature, followed by relatively slow cooling. The purpose of annealing may be to remove stresses, to soften the steel, to improve machinability, to improve cold working properties, to obtain a desired structure. The annealing process usually involves allowing the steel to cool slowly in the furnace.
Many people use this process to "recondition" copper head gaskets on vintage two cycle motorcycles. We generally use a butane/propane torch to heat the gasket then let it cool. If the gasket is not showing any signs of fracture, I'd anneal it and re-use it without hesitation.