Does it matter if there is a piece of HEAD gasket missing?

[jeremy clarkson]

I have a 70s stihl 020 avp, and there is a torn of section of the gasket between the Cylinder and the bottom part where the of the rotating happens.

Is this even a big deal since the piston doesn't go below the gasket anyway. Like it does in a car.

 

[mtngun]

There should be no leak between the cylinder and the crankcase. Yes, it's a big deal.

 

[MuleyJ]

It is a big deal of the base gasket is letting air leak by and leaning out the fuel mixture. Pressure testing would be a good thing I would think, especially if the saw acts like it is running lean or won't keep a tune.

 

[ttyR2]

Base gaskets are dirt cheap. Replace it, not worth the risk of a lean seize.

 

[atvguns]

they are not very hard to make your own gasket or replace it with hondabond and then check squish

 

[SkippyKtm]

I repaired a stihl 026 where the owner pulled the limiter caps to compensate for a torn flywheel side crank seal, he got the saw running again, but the saw drew so much filthy, unfiltered air through the torn seal that it destroyed the bottom end. Not a very smart thing to do in fact, if he hadn't done that, all he would have needed was a new seal instead of a total rebuild.

 

[paccity]

james may here. just get a new gasket.

 

[masculator]

There should be no leak between the cylinder and the crankcase. Yes, it's a big deal.

]

What they all said