Leaking head plate gasket

Hello All

I have had to rebuild my 2017 Tohatsu M50D2 after a thermostat failure and overheat seize and have a slight water leak in the head plate gasket. Can i remove the head plate with out damaging\cracking the head gasket seal? i have to remove the head bolts as well as the head plate bolts and dont want to have to replace the headgasket again. I am thinking ill remove the head plate replace the gasket and use rtv gasket sealant.

I have had the engine idling in a bucket for 30mins and there is no water in the cylinders

Any advice would be much appreciated

Thanks

Are you referring to the cylinder head cover?

Hi Paul
Yep. I get a drip every 5 second or so out of the top. The engine starts and ildes as it should with good water flow. Plugs show not sign of water and engine has good power

Thanks
Viv

You may get lucky and keep the head on. If you use a new head cover gasket and all surfaces are good and clean, you should not need any RTV.