Some of our members didn't know what pounding out a gasket ment. This is the way I was shown how to do it a long time ago. This may not be the only method but it is the way I was taught . Hope this helps explain.
First you need gasket material a ball-peen hammer one sized for the job at hand!! And the part you are making a gasket for.



Seeing that its for the clutch cover I cut a hole in center to make it lay flat.





Put gasket on part and hold it so it won't move. Then gently tap with peen side of hammer (thats the round end)



Work your way around gently, when you get to a bolt hole tap until gasket material is loose. Now this is the reason this hammer has a round end! Its for nice holes.



Then punch out loose part with a pointed object. Put a bolt in hole to keep it in place.





Keep tapping all the way around. As you get to another hole tap tap tap and put a bolt in.



When you have got all material seperated it time to start on inside. You tap all the way around till gasket is cut.







If you have done this right this is what you end up with.



Hope you noticed that I used a small hammer. With lighweight parts you don't want to do damage to them. When I use to make gaskets for large steam pipes or water pipes they had cast iron rings. We used a B.F.H. and hit it hard ( not tap tap) but RAP Rap. So if you do decide to try this just remember to go slow and lightly.

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love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them

Well, I'll be go to heck. That is just flat out cool. Thanks a bunch!!!!!

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I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes offers polishing and upholstering for your Wing!

Hey Pete, I have used this method many times and as long as you don't get carried away with hammer as you sugested...it works great and you can make just about any gasket you need.

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1978 Gl1000 Green Machine

Excellent Tip Pete!!!

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"I prefer the abstract concept of incoherence in the face of great feeling to beautiful, full sentences that convey little emotion." DDL
1978/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

A good one for shop talk?

-Deek

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"Eat, drink and be merry. For tomorrow we die."

1975 GL 1000 (First Year) under the knife; soon to be a cafe' inspired "Boss" of a freedom machine.

I'll be jiggered. that's frakkin' cool!
thanks petey, a wonder as always.

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bulldogged 1978 GL1000 - "geekster" - daily rider
full dress 1979 GL1000 - SteamPunk Barge - daily rider
"found" a 1978 for $100
got another "new" 1978 from a member here
and my original '79 parts basket case.

A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out. ~ George Bernard Shaw

Excellent peteybug. Very timely too as I need several gaskets and hate to wait for the mail. Now my hammer has a real purpose instead of just making a mess of my thumb.(Did I really admit that?)

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Mark
There's only one thing better than a GoldWing, and that's two of them.

1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
1984 GL 1200 Black

If only I could cut one for the expensive Head Gaskets..

I have done this years ago works great every time..

Tap on your finger until you learn what tap really means.. painful but could save a cover...

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1978 Gl1000 LTD

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/570131144RgmYiK

Same here Victor we make the material for head gaskets but they have to be laminated and metal added and we don't do that. But most of the regular gasket material for the engine we manufactor. I can pound out most. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Working for one of the "worlds" largest supplier of gasket material.

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love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them

I've found that it's sometimes difficult to get a good cut on small bolt holes since my aim with the ball of the hammer is rarely perfect. Usually I center the ball of a small hammer over the hole, resting on the gasket material, then gently strike the hammer with a larger hammer. If you do this, be sure to wear safety glasses and do not do it around anything flammable because tapping two hammers together can cause a spark.

Q

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QQQ

Pete,
That is very cool. I have tried just cutting them out, but that never works right .
Will try this next time I need a $5 gasket made with about 50 cents worth of material.

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Chucklesmalone, Comm Tech at Large
81 CB750K ongoing project
78 GL1000

That is very cool. I wish I would have looked at this 2 hours ago before I ordered some new gaskets! Thanks for next time though!!

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What we do today echos into eternity

Currently own;
'76 Gl1000

Great article!


When it comes to the holes, another thing to try is using the box end of smaller wrench, bigger than the hole but not too big. You just push down with the end of the wrench and spin it back and forth... done right it'll cut the hole out perfectly circular and clean as a hole punch.

Does that make sense? It's kinda hard to describe- I should maybe post some photos. If anyone is interested I'll pop some pics.

Thanks for taking the time to write it up- wish someone had shown me long before they did!

M.

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'78 GL1000 and '76 Volvo station wagon with 350 chevy.

I was taught that method too - 35+ years ago when most car engine parts were nice, hard cast iron.

When I needed to make a couple of gaskets for the 650 last year I was be afraid to hammer against the aluminum parts hard enough to cut the gasket sheet so I did it this way:
- Lay the gasket material on a smooth surface (a piece of masonite hardboard) and trace around the part.
- Lay the old gasket on it to draw the inside and the holes.
- Cut it out with a sharp knife and a steel straightedge for the staight parts and scissors for the curves. I used a punch for the small holes.

No leaks so they must be OK

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Mr. Honda ('83 GL1000/Dnepr) summer
The Famous Eccles ('84 GX650EI/Velorex700) winter
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....

Really cool article. Now I have to go buy a ballpeen hammer.

Since I live with a X-acto knife in my hand I've always cut them out.

But now I'll own more tools and know what they're for!!

Zacsdaddy

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1981 GL1100 That Mama found and bought for me.
1975 KZ400D That I found for Her and brought back to life.
"If the Women don't find you handsome, they ought to at least find you handy" - Red Green