Scraping Gaskets

A unwelcome part of almost any repair job is removing the gasket off of the pieces of the assembly. Especially if they were assembled with #2 permatex. It sets up really hard!!. I have got to the point that I use white grease to install my gaskets. If white grease gets in the oil it will mix with the oil and not clog up pumps and filters. If you use to much silicone or permatex then it can cause damage or plug up the intake on oil pumps. I bought a good putty knife about 25 years ago and paid about $12.00 for it and have misplaced it several years ago. I have found and purchased a couple of paint scrapers to remove gaskets and they were not as good as the old fashion putty knife that I had earlier. The original putty knife I had I could sharpen it with a piece of emory cloth and I have the scars to show what happens when you slip and cut a finger instead of the gasket. A sharp putty knife makes it easy to get all of the gasket off the metal.
I was at Lowes getting paint for the office's we built here in the store and walked by a putty knife hanging on the wall and it was almost a carbon copy of the one I had earlier. The handle was plastic instead of wood. It cost me about $6.00 and I bought it home and it works perfectly.
I will try to post a picture of it tomorrow. So, if you are removing hard to get off gaskets go to Lowes and get a good putty knife.

Eric Benton, Southeast Tractor parts, Always looking for a deal!!!