Removing old base gasket

[Uncle Bob]

What do people do to remove the old base gasket that invariably has bits welded to the crankcase and bits welded to the barrels?
I tend to go very carefully with a not to sharp cheap pen knife I have, after using something to soften it if it can (like WD40), but are there better ways?

This is on my TZR but principle will be the same. As an aside can't remember if I posted here but last Oct. while on a spin it went clunk and lost power but got me home 20 miles. Took barrels off finally last weekend and this was the exhaust port side of the left piston...

UB

[johnr]

i use a fresh pack of stanley blades, like the wordls sharpest scraper!! you obviously need to be uber careful, but theres nothing ive ever used that makes a better job of removing old gasket that a razor sharp blade. you just needd to get the angle right to avoid marking the gasket surface, but once mastered, you wont find anything more effective or precise. just try not to sever any digits with it.

[PaulD]

Acetone is the stuff I use, just paint it on and it will soften the old gasket making it easy to scrape off. A word of warning! make sure you do this outdoors or in a very well ventilated area or you might just keel over!

[spondonchris]

gasket scraper tool. Sharp flat blades that are retractable

[Uncle Bob]

Thanks for the tips guys. I was at a customers site this afternoon that does ATV parts and they gave me a can of CRC Gasket Remover Pro which I'll try combined with a scraper tool as suggested above. The missus has a pack of Stanley blades somewhere I will have to steal...

[pookie]

Is your life insurance paid up? bit of a worry having a missus with a pack of Stanley knife blades!

[johnr]

irwin stanley blades are best, they cost twice as much as the other sort, but theyre stronger, last loads longer before they lose their edge and because they dont flex, youre less likely to lose your grip on them, better and safer in my opinion. you see them in builders merchants in blue and yellow packaging.