Gasket tip...(especially for carbs)
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:18 pm
Buying a whole carb kit just to get a bowl gasket is not a happy thing. I've been rebuilding Deere simplex and duplex carbs for about 10 yrs now, and fortunately, all of their gaskets are readily available individually. HOWEVER, I'm a bit of a cheapskate so I hate to replace a gasket that is less than a yr old or so, just because I had a bit of crud get in the carb and I had to take the bowl off, and many carbs are hard to find "just the bowl gasket" for.
I don't remember where I got this trick, but I can't take original credit for it. (When redoing someones carb though, I must admit I don't always give credit where credit is due, and allow myself to look like a "carb guru" to some of my buddies
)
The trick is really not much of a trick. Simply coat your bowl gasket on both sides with CHAPSTICK. Yup, plain ol', everyday, run of the mill chapstick. Parafin wax, candle wax or sealing wax will also work, but chapstick is handy, soft, easy to use, and found in about every womans purse in America. (well, while it is probably "IN there", becoming "FOUND" may be a bit more challenging. Before my female readers get incensed, I am only referring to MY wife's suitcase, er, purse.)
It seems the wax in the chapstick is relatively petroleum resistant, and allows disassembly without the gasket adhering to the casting. I have had carbs that I took apart 5 years after rebuilding them, for a good cleaning, and all of the gaskets were still pliable and came right apart without tearing.
Its been my luck on untreated gaskets, that when they do adhere, they do so in a matter where one part is to the bowl, and the other part is to the top, resulting in a torn gasket despite my most gentle approach. I've used this on literally dozens of carbs over the years, and as long as you just make a thin film, not a gooey glob on the gasket, you have no problems. FYI.
I don't remember where I got this trick, but I can't take original credit for it. (When redoing someones carb though, I must admit I don't always give credit where credit is due, and allow myself to look like a "carb guru" to some of my buddies
) The trick is really not much of a trick. Simply coat your bowl gasket on both sides with CHAPSTICK. Yup, plain ol', everyday, run of the mill chapstick. Parafin wax, candle wax or sealing wax will also work, but chapstick is handy, soft, easy to use, and found in about every womans purse in America. (well, while it is probably "IN there", becoming "FOUND" may be a bit more challenging. Before my female readers get incensed, I am only referring to MY wife's suitcase, er, purse.)
It seems the wax in the chapstick is relatively petroleum resistant, and allows disassembly without the gasket adhering to the casting. I have had carbs that I took apart 5 years after rebuilding them, for a good cleaning, and all of the gaskets were still pliable and came right apart without tearing.
Its been my luck on untreated gaskets, that when they do adhere, they do so in a matter where one part is to the bowl, and the other part is to the top, resulting in a torn gasket despite my most gentle approach. I've used this on literally dozens of carbs over the years, and as long as you just make a thin film, not a gooey glob on the gasket, you have no problems. FYI.
It is now housed in the Cub Tip of the Week thread -- look up.. wayyyyy up.. 
