I've been putting off removing the head on my CRM just to inspect the barrel and check piston size.

In days of old it was possible to remove heads on motorbike engines and put them back on again without having to renew the head gasket. Can one do it on the CRM or is a new gasket required each time?

I think I know the answer but hoping I'm wrong!!

There is the 'correct' view that says you should replace it but if the gasket is not corroded, or bent, or marked then it should be OK.

Thanks. I suppose the worst that could happen is one would loose compression or cooling fluid. At least that would be the case on a 4 stroke. Could such losses lead to seizing on a 2 stroke or any other problems?

Potential problems like you say and potential seizure.

Why are you removing the head to just check it, is there anything wrong with it at the moment.

A new head gasket will be least of the costs if you find anything wrong.............

Just imagine, having a nice day out in the hills, a long way from home, and steam starts coming from thermostat, I wonder if it was a good idea to reuse the old head gasket (thats probably been refitted a couple of times before).