Coolant leak below cylinder

[flying dutchman]

This is on an Arctic cat, so bare with me. If there's a forum on other brands, please advise. Anyways, I helped a buddy replace the cylinder on his 700. After several hundred miles, the gasket below the cylinder sprung a leak shooting coolant everywhere. It is leaking outward and not into the engine. Everything is still torqued down to the proper specs. The gasket is a paper style material. The dealer is telling me to use gasket glue (silicone) when we install the new gasket. Doesn't sound like a good idea. I have never seen these gaskets blow before. There's no pressure to cause it to blow.
Just a bad gasket or what else can I look for????

 

[ikeever]

i would try another gasket, make sure its clean and no nicks or scratches on gasket or bases. i've always been told not to use and gasket maker on the base gaskets. hope this helps

 

[Phazer]

Not to argue with you, but doesn't there "have" to be at least cooling system pressure there? That said, on with my .02 worth. Don't use RTV (silicone) on a gasket. It can be slippery enough to actually help it squeeze out. I'd use some "non-hardning" goop (<- generic term) like Perma-Tex gasket adhesive. I'd also run a file over the surface a few times just to check it for any warpage.

 

[red devil]

I wouldn't use a file!!! Just because it's another brand the guy still has alot of money there. Probably not clean enough try that first but don't file it check with a straight edge if it doesn't work. could be wrong about the file thing but I wouldn't do it.

 

[Phazer]

Oooppss....My bad....I stand corrected. ......

 

[flying dutchman]

I don't have an answer yet, but I've been staying away from the sled. It's an ugly job pulling a jug on these machines. Everything was checked last time it was assembled, and it did last for a several hundred miles. I'll be checking surfaces very closely.
Would it be possible for the cap on the cooling system to malfunctioned and cause the system to over pressure???????

 

[maxdlx]

JMO

Those paper type gaskets suck. it was the cause of my burn down. Check around to see if anyone makes a steel base gasket for AC sleds like the new yami base gaskets. Mine actually sucked in on the mag, but wasn't installed right by the previous owner. A steel one you can't really go wrong with. JMO Maxdlx

 

[A Kennedy]

You never said why the cylinder was replaced. Did it have the same problem before. Yes there is pressure, unless you run without a radiator cap. The pop off pressure probably is 15psi. Where the cylinder bolts to the crank case there is no demage, such as from a broken piston you forgot to mention from the last cylinder replacement. Is this a 3 piece base gasket design or does it have 1 gasket. If you have to remove all three cylinders I would draw file the deck of the crankcase. Then use a feeler gauge and a straight edge. By a straight egde, I mean a machinist square or ground stock. If there is any high spots, by "draw filling" you will once again have a flat deck. Then check each cylinder with the straight edge. If the gaskets are thin, like most of them, you could use two base gaskets under all 3 cylinders. If they are more then .010" thick then i would not unless you have access to a lathe or mill. The more you drop the piston in the hole the more compression you will lose and also you will have more squish clearance which could lead to detonation.

 

[flying dutchman]

Points taken. There is no damage caused by engine failure. Just a nice score in the nicasil (reason for replacement). The gasket is cheap looking paper. The original gaskets that were in the engine, were a hard plastic type material (some kind of fibre). I have called every small engine dealer in my area and can only find the paper style. I have even thought of using these original gaskets, but that's not exactly the best idea either.

 

[red devil]

don't use the originals. did this guy own this sled from day one?
If not maybe this problem was with the last owner. How thick was the gasket that you took off to the gasket you replaced it with? If all else fails do what kennedy suggests but make sure you check that the base was clean. Check with straight edge and maybe double gasket it . don't get any filings down in crank.

 

[Ding]

Just shoot it man, it is a Cat

Sorry, I try to keep that in check but it just keeps coming out.

Did you check Recreational Leisure in Michigan, or Al's in Vermont for gasket sets?