Attempting to save a gasket for reuse- TIPS OR TRICKS?

[Lebby]

In this world of frugality and being shown the dreaded "NLA", does any body out there know any tips or tricks about "saving" a gasket? Larger gaskets used for tranny covers or gear boxes fall into pasteboard or cereal boxes as replacement gasket material.
Case in point : Satoh Bison's Nikki carburator. From what I've learned and read, large percentage of the S650G's are running around with the choke half pulled out. This is due to very small jets in the idle system. One being .017" in size. Perfect for plugging.
I know, I should just go out and purchase a new gasket set. It just seems as though one should be able to "pop" the top off and get at and clean and blow out these orffices in the idle system In the mean time saving the gasket for reuse.

Any tips or tricks as to possibly soaking in some solution or ? to soften the seal and allowing the gaskets to come apart in a reuseable condition?

Thanks in advance!!!
LEBBY

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I always bought a new carb kit for the old 2 cycle snowmobile engines. Just wasn't cost effective to get super frugal and have it quit on your 10 miles back in the woods and cold white.

That said, using solid card stock for large paper gaskets has never given me any problems; as long as they were all one piece. You just can't seem to get two or more pieces to mate together without leaving a pinhole for leakage.

 

[jaotguy]

grease both sides of the new gasket before assembly , holds the gasket in place ... and should pop off easily for the "next time".

sometimes rapping the 2 pieces in a shearing motion ( side to side) will break the gaskets free without too much damage.

just some things that have worked in the past.

 

[flyerdan]

If you can separate the two surfaces gradually and are able to get all around them, sometimes you can use a razor blade to free stuck areas, which will be predominately on one of the surfaces. I've reused gaskets that had a tear or break in it by gluing one side down with spray tack and putting a bit of permatex on the break, and using a bit of white grease on the opposite surface. Granted, that was on an old beater lawnmower and wasn't a critical app. That won't work on a gasket that has been glued on both sides when assembled, of course, that's when you have to use gasket paper and make new ones. Not much of a big deal on the bigger or simple ones, but the little complicated ones like carburetor sections should be salvaged whenever possible.

 

[PILOON]

grease both sides of the new gasket before assembly , holds the gasket in place ... and should pop off easily for the "next time".
.

Yep I do that also. Works for me every time.

And another old trick for home made gaskets: use ball bearing 'balls' laid over the holes where a gasket needs to be holed and a sharp rap with a hammer cuts a just oversize hole in the new home made gasket. I keep from 3/8 to 3/4" balls just for that.
Also light tapping marks and even cuts the new gasket to size.
Plain shirt cardboard is what I like to use.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

Yep I do that also. Works for me every time.

And another old trick for home made gaskets: use ball bearing 'balls' laid over the holes where a gasket needs to be holed and a sharp rap with a hammer cuts a just oversize hole in the new home made gasket. I keep from 3/8 to 3/4" balls just for that.
Also light tapping marks and even cuts the new gasket to size.
Plain shirt cardboard is what I like to use.

Good trick with the ball bearings. We've always just struggled with a hole punch and hoped for the best, so I'll have to try that next time I make a gasket. We use cardboard a lot, with both sides coated in NAPA Indian Head Shellac and allowed to set up a little. Makes for a pretty good seal. More than once I can say the wife has gone for a bowl of cereal and only found the bag;-)

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[jaotguy]

lip stick (or oil) on the surface to be templated ... then gently press the gasket material into it... gives a good outline of the new gasket and passages.

 

[Reverser]

lip stick (or oil) on the surface to be templated ... then gently press the gasket material into it... gives a good outline of the new gasket and passages.

That's a great idea. :thumbsup:
Of course, the wife will wonder why her lipstick has a notch out of it. :laughing:

 

[3930dave]

That's a great idea. :thumbsup:
Of course, the wife will wonder why her lipstick has a notch out of it. :laughing:

Using lipstick AND putting it back ? Your either way braver than I am, or just crazy :drink: !

Lebby - have you tried something like Seafoam ? It might save you taking the carb apart, if this is the only thing you need to address.

Seafoam is good, but no promises, if the jet is plugged solid end-to-end then it may not clear it.

There is one or 10 threads on here about Seafoam; I know it from the old motorcycle world, and like it.

Rgds, D.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Yep I do that also. Works for me every time.

And another old trick for home made gaskets: use ball bearing 'balls' laid over the holes where a gasket needs to be holed and a sharp rap with a hammer cuts a just oversize hole in the new home made gasket. I keep from 3/8 to 3/4" balls just for that.
Also light tapping marks and even cuts the new gasket to size.
Plain shirt cardboard is what I like to use.

I've used empty bullet casings for making holes.. Cant go too large of course, unless you have a .50 cal

 

[pmsmechanic]

I like to spray carb gaskets with Pam or some other cooking oil spray. I don't steal it either. I have my own can in the shop. That way gaskets come apart real easy and it's quick to apply and your not messing around with grease. For larger gaskets just clean everything up and use an anaerobic sealer on the surfaces. Tubes of the stuff aren't cheap but it's usually cheaper than buying or making a new gasket. Most newer tractors don't have any gaskets anymore. They just use an anaerobic sealer. All anaerobic means is that it sets up in the absence of air. Why it doesn't set up in the tube I don't know but it sure makes nice easy quick gaskets.

 

[jaotguy]

lipstick at the dollar stores ... I ain't that brave to use the wife's.

 

[SPYDERLK]

When you put on a new gasket decide which side you would like it to stick to. Oil and dry the gasket. Apply a very light spackle of RTV silicone rubber to the no stick side. The silicone will prevent it from sticking because the oil attacks it a bit. The other side will stick. When you next take it apart the gasket will remain exactly in place. Re apply silicone when reassembling.
larry

 

[Lebby]

Using lipstick AND putting it back ? Your either way braver than I am, or just crazy :drink: !

Lebby - have you tried something like Seafoam ? It might save you taking the carb apart, if this is the only thing you need to address.

Seafoam is good, but no promises, if the jet is plugged solid end-to-end then it may not clear it.

There is one or 10 threads on here about Seafoam; I know it from the old motorcycle world, and like it.

Rgds, D.

Lots of great ideas guys! And priced right too, thats my kind of shopping.

Pertaining to the Seafoam suggestion in dealing with the above mentioned carburator..... would one use this as "dunk and soak" solution, or running it through with the fuel, or ?

Appreciating all interest shown in this thread!

Thanx again
LEBBY

 

[chad22]

Never thought of using lipstick. Next time I need to save a gasket I'll have to try that trick.

Chad

 

[3930dave]

Never thought of using lipstick. Next time I need to save a gasket I'll have to try that trick.

Chad

If nothing else, you need to remember this story for when the wife finds a tube of lipstick in your truck that isn't hers !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Lots of great ideas guys! And priced right too, thats my kind of shopping.

Pertaining to the Seafoam suggestion in dealing with the above mentioned carburator..... would one use this as "dunk and soak" solution, or running it through with the fuel, or ?

Appreciating all interest shown in this thread!

Thanx again
LEBBY

Lebby - I'd start with dosing the fuel tank at the prescribed rate on the can, and topping up the tank with gas, to get things mixed up decently. Ackward sentence... but you get the idea......

Then run the tractor enough, or work with it, to get the dosed fuel into the carb. I'd run it like that, on and off for a week or 3, and see how it goes.

Unless the above approach doesn't help, I'm loathe to start tearing into old carbs w/o a ready stash of spare parts at hand, or at least readily available.

I've never had to use Seafoam for concentrated dunking/soaking. On that subject, I'd (1) ping Seafoam themselves for info, and (2) pop into one of the Seafoam threads on here, and ask for opinions on soak/dunk on there.

At the prescribed "Normal" gas/Seafoam ratios, I don't see a problem with Soak/Dunk. There may be a problem with soaking a carb (re. specific seal/gasket materials) in super-high concentrations of Seafoam - that's what I don't know enough about.

Seafoam is good stuff, and very easy peasey to use as a first-pass correction attempt. Just wanted to put a bit of context on the Soaking issue..... wouldn't want anybody to run off and soak a carb in pure Seafoam and end up ruining some funky seal that's been out of production for 10+ years.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Midniteoyl]

You can fill the bowl, give a 2-3 sec of cranking, let it sit for 10-15 mins, refill with fuel and start and run.

 

[Lebby]

So sorry about the delay of progress made as to the before mentioned carburator. Used spray carburator cleaner to find leakage (vacuum) that was occuring at the old gasket between the carb base and the carb body. The gasket that had been used was oval in shape instead of round. Surprisingly the screw holes line up but not much in between.

Used the old lipstick trick to fashion new gasket out of gas resistant material. Used exacto knife to cut it out. Presto!!!

Used reccomended dosages of sea foam in the gas and sprayed the heck out of the inside of the carb from the top with the carbon deposit remover SF. Seems to run quite a bit better. Letting it set for now till warmer weather and the using it I think it should realy come around.

Thanks again everybody.

LEBBY

 

[3930dave]

Sounds like you may have it Lebby ! Good stuff.

I'd fire it up again in about 2 weeks, even if you don't need it then.... just to get a bit more fresh fuel/Seafoam flowing through the carb. (You may be fine already, but I'm kinda belt+suspenders about this kind of stuff...)

If you think of it later, once you get some warm weather seat-time in, drop back into this thread and give us an update..... I'm sure some other Satoh folks would like to hear how you are doing.....

Rgds, D.