Head gasket types

[colinthefox]

I'm after a bit of advice......
As you know, I don't generally do petrol at all, (apart from garden machinery ) but I fitted a new head gasket to the Cub's 1725 iron head engine and it has the very slightest coolant leak from the front of the head, presumably due to less than perfect surface on the head or block.
So I have to do it again. The gasket I used was from Speedy's, and is the sandwich type. The new gasket is from MEV Spares and is the embossed steel shim type, which I believe is more like the original type. (the workshop manual says head gasket type is "steel") I've fitted a load of head gaskets before but never one of this type.
It looks like this.......


The workshop manual says use no sealant, but generic instructions on the internet that they generally require a smidge of sealant just around the coolant passages. MEV spares were very helpful, but couldn't offer any advice, just that they've sold a load and never had a problem.
Does anyone have experience or definite knowledge of this type of head gasket, especially on one of these engines? It's a new one on me!

 

[Panky]

I've not used one myself, the ones I've used are copper/steel. I would go with the advice you've already found and use a smear of sealant where advised. What kind of sealant though - Wellseal maybe.

 

[colinthefox]

Type of sealant isn't a problem. Hylomar Aerograde. The question is whether to use it at all.
The steel gaskets are only used on cast iron heads. I think they are the correct ones (as in similar to OEM ones). Being thinner they raise the compression ratio just a bit.