Copper washers and gaskets.
 

Not really a bodge but worth knowing about.
Copper work hardens during use, thats why you are supposed to replace the copper washers with new ones.
To reuse copper washers heat them until they are red hot and then drop them into cold water.
This will soften them and they can be reused as long as they aren't split.

Yes, done this many times with copper sump plug washers and all my old Yamahas had copper head gaskets. Used to save me a fortune.

Cheers bloke

Nigel in NZ

Hi Nigel

Yeah I was actually thinking about my old IT175J as I was typing that out.
Used to live in the Hutt Valley a long time ago.
You are right saves you a fortune especially with the price of copper now.

Note that to anneal a copper head gasket for reuse, it should only be heated to a DULL red, then AIR cooled - not quenched. Quenching is used to HARDEN metals, not soften, although copper does anneal reasonably well with quenching, unlike most metals.

After cooling, using a scotchbrite or similar abrasive pad (NOT steel wool) to clean off the black stuff and get to a shiny copper colour. Then a very thin coat of RTV silicone on both sides (enough to just be able to tell it's there, no more) and it's ready to go.

Any kinks or big dents just bin it.

And three times is about the maximum.