 Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
I'm in the process of re-doing my shims for the 2nd time and wanted to know whether I can re-use the crush washers for the oil feed tube. They were new themselves one week ago and were fitted for a day before being taken apart again and of course they look perfect. So my question is, can I re-use these washers or do I definetly have to use new ones. Just for my info, if I can't re-use them, can someone explain why just so I know what there purpose is? Cheers  BTW, I did order new ones last Saturday but some flog sent me circlips instead cos the part numbers are very close 
Last edited by Staffo; 12/27/2007 9:56 PM.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
I sand them lightly on a sanding block til they are flat.
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Yeah , you can , but like the O-ring issue , they are cheap enough . They are made of a soft metal , copper or aluminum . You can re-surface with sandpaper to get them "flat" and re-use them in a pinch , but it's all arbitrary , now isn't it ? Follow yer heart . ( so that others may follow yer oil trail ) 
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,073 Likes: 82
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,073 Likes: 82 |
Quote:
I sand them lightly on a sanding block til they are flat.
What he said..
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
Like I told you before the washers can be reused as the O ring too since it is just a short ride old. That being said I would look very close at the O ring to be sure it is absolutly perfect. If you have any doubt at all ,replace it.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
There is nothing better than hearing the answers you want to hear cos I really wanted to put my bike back together tomorrow rather than Monday and it looks like now I can by lightly sanding back etc. As far as the O ring is concerned, well they got that part of the order right so I'll be replacing that no worries. So I'm all happy now - YAY , tar all, you've taught me another little trick  BTW, there's a wacker that I work with (I'm at work) who used to be a diesel mechanic and he reckons they used to re-use their copper sealing or crusher washers all the time. What he has suggested I do is clean up the washer as has been suggested using say, wet and dry etc and then put them on a coat hanger and heat them up using a gas torch till they glow an orange colour before dipping them in water. This process called anealing softens what have become hardened washers due to the heat of the motor they were in, so they can again give a proper seal with the banjo bolt.
Last edited by Staffo; 12/28/2007 5:20 AM.
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,073 Likes: 82
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,073 Likes: 82 |
Quote:
BTW, there's a wacker that I work with (I'm at work) who used to be a diesel mechanic and he reckons they used to re-use their copper sealing or crusher washers all the time. What he has suggested I do is clean up the washer as has been suggested using say, wet and dry etc and then put them on a coat hanger and heat them up using a gas torch till they glow an orange colour before dipping them in water. This process called anealing softens what have become hardened washers due to the heat of the motor they were in, so they can again give a proper seal with the banjo bolt.
Uuuuuuhh.. okay.. sounds like a lot of trouble to me and having been a diesel mechanic, I've never heard that particular method but it seem that the heat would distort it and the water would temper it making it harder... but I'm not a metallurgist so what do I know?
As long as they are flat and round, they'll be fine.. after all it's only like 8 nm of torque right?
On a side note.. I would never reuse them more than once.
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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OP
Oil Expert
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Thanks for all your comments my friends. I won't be doing the anealing thing but will just gently clean them up before re-using them once. It sort of spoiled my day when I got the circlips  and not the washers in the post today but like all the times before, I've been given some very sound opinions and advice and feel comfortable I can re-use them tomorrow. What would I do without this site, I don't know 
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Sort of related info. In the old days (40s thru 60s) car engines had a copper/brass head gasket. Frugal mechanics would put them in an oven for a while and then reuse them. Same idea as the copper washers. With the advent of plastic type coatings on head gaskets (felpro) the practice dissapered.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Uuuuuuhh.. okay.. sounds like a lot of trouble to me and having been a diesel mechanic, I've never heard that particular method but it seem that the heat would distort it and the water would temper it making it harder... but I'm not a metallurgist so what do I know?
As long as they are flat and round, they'll be fine.. after all it's only like 8 nm of torque right?
On a side note.. I would never reuse them more than once.
Chy is correct, dipping in water or oil tempers them, letting them cool slowly anneals the washer.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
Ed is correct they need to cool slowly to soften them. Cooling fast will harden them and also make them brittle.All this being said I can't count the number of times I have reused those kind of washers without doing anything to them except a quick wipe with a rag to clean them.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 387
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 387 |
I'd replace them, but that is my aircraft background. It's tough just to pull over at 30,000 ft when something went wrong.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111 |
Being an ex toolmaker I have done my fair share of heat treatment and normal steel is annealed by heating and letting it cool but copper is the exception you can if you want quench the washer after heating but it is not necessary just conveinient this link might help http://www.motorcycle.co.uk
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
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Re: Can you re-use crush washers for oil feed tube
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,204
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,204 |
Quote:
Quote:
Uuuuuuhh.. okay.. sounds like a lot of trouble to me and having been a diesel mechanic, I've never heard that particular method but it seem that the heat would distort it and the water would temper it making it harder... but I'm not a metallurgist so what do I know?
As long as they are flat and round, they'll be fine.. after all it's only like 8 nm of torque right?
On a side note.. I would never reuse them more than once.
Chy is correct, dipping in water or oil tempers them, letting them cool slowly anneals the washer.
These guys are correct. Heat it with torch and let it sit and cool.....Angelis
1200CC BIG BORE, W/WISECO PISTONS,.250 STROKED CRANK, PORTED/POLISHED HEADS AND LARGER VALVES, CUSTOM WELDED EXHUAST, DUAL 42MM MIKUNI CARBS.
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