Re-torquing the "new style" multifuel head gasket

[JasonS]

There have been a lot of posts indicating that the "new style" multifuel head gasket with built in fire rings is not to be re-torqued. This is inconsistent with the information in the White Motors service manual...

White Motors (and Oliver) used a version of the military multifuel engine in their farm tractors. The service manual references many changes over the tractor's lifetime. Specifically, at engine S/N 4014112 "new self sealing head gasket was used to provide improved sealing of cylinder heads under high operating temperatures. New head gasket has fire rings built into it as opposed to separate fire rings used with the old gasket."

I have examples of both the White Motors and "new style" military head gaskets; they are identical.

The White Motors service manual specifies that the "cylinder nuts are to be re-tightened after two hours of operation."

 

[cattlerepairman]

I can attest that the correctly torqued newest-style gasket definitely needed a retorque after the initial hours of running. I was surprised by how "off" some of the nuts were. I would recommend a retorque.

 

[Valley Rock]

Also should be done after engine cools completely IMO