DIY gasket material?

I have used cornflake packets in the past to make gaskets but I don't eat
cereal and SWMBO's muesli come in plastic bags so I have no guaranteed
source. I know that it used to be possible to buy sheets of gasket paper.
Anyone know where these might be available or any other good ideas for DIY
gaskets?

 

A decent motor factor will have sheets of gasket paper. Surely you can
lay hands on some empty cornflake packets? Ask a neighbour.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Grimly Curmudgeon belched forth and ejected the
following:

Or even buy a packet.

You can easily get variety packs so if you don't like Corn Flakes,
there's always Co-Co Pops or Rice Krispies ;-)

 

I use RTV silicon for all gaskets (apart from head & exhaust gaskets,
obviously).

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

My little independent motor factor up the road keeps sheets of gasket
material. If you're stuck, I'll stick one in the post.

 

Ebay and/or your Yellow pages for motor factors/motor engineers.

I got a 2 metre long.0.8mm thick 1mtr wide for about £6.Excellent
stuff

 

As others have said, motor factors. And ShiteOldBritBike dealers seem
to keep the stuff as well. Pre-oiled, sometimes.

 

RS used to do a variety of gasket papers, I believe. Dunno if they
sell that kind of thing to the Great Unwashed, though.

 

Why didn't I think of ebay? Sure enough - its there!

 

I get mione from Frank Edwards in Bolton but he's VERY old school and his
shop is full of stuff, lacing only one thing. A computer. I'm not sure if he
actually knows what one is, so it's not worth checking Google for him. He'll
be in Yellow Pages though I would think.

Anyway, gasket material IS still available, so a little hunting round should
sort you out.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Having pulled an engine apart that was built using "Hylomar" (silicon
gasket), I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole.

I was dragging slimy stringly shit out of nooks crannies and most worryingly
of all, oil galleries. Reason for the strip down I did? No oil getting to
the cams/valves. Guess why.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Used properly (which what the monkey who used it didn't do) it's
perfectly fine. The common mistake is simply using too much - just a
smear is all that's needed.

I recall a successful Touring Car of the 70s which had an engine with
one gasket - the rest being replaced with RTV silicone, as befitted the
main sponsor, Loctite. Obviously the engine monkeys took care when
assembling it, but an equal measure of care is within the reach of
anyone.

 

When I raced bangers I used bog standard white bathroom sealer as gasket
material - the stuff from the plumbers' supplies - even used it on
cylinder heads and exhausts.

The key, as you say, is use sparingly.

Excellent stuff.

 

I don't agree, in the 12 years I've lived here I've used the same four or
five motor factors dotted around Hove. All sell more or less the same
things as they did before; including gasket paper (I bought some a few
months ago).

Only one went under and that was replaced by another motor factors.

 

WTF do you mean by old school? Motor factors sell gasket paper and
service odds and ends.

There are five factors within walking distance of me that stock or can
get within 6 hours nearly all car parts, tools and service items.

Halfords, Les Smith and Motorworld don't but they're not motor factors.

 

That's not the tool's fault, it's the pillock who used it. If you put a
*thin* bead around the gasket surface (one side only) then leave it to
cure before assembling, it basically just turns into a rubber o-ring.
It's impossible for it to end up in places it shouldn't when you do it
properly.

--
Krusty.

http://www.muddystuff.co.uk
http://www.muddystuff.us
Off-road classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger (FOYRNB) '96 Tiger '79 Fantic 250

 

I'd only been in there a couple of times, when I needed an oil
pressure sender for the RF. Mr Suzuki wanted to pillage my wallet,
rape my arse and rip out my back teeth, so I went to see Tone. When I
produced the old sender and requested "One like that mister, only not
so fucked", he produced a thread gauge from his pocket, measured pitch
and then diameter and taper and only then got the book out.

I ended up with a direct replacement with the added benefit of a
90degree-exiting wire that wouldn't dangle on the exhaust. Designed
to fit a Land Rover, it cost me three quid. Not only that, but it
came off the shelf.

I use Tone for everything these days, even if he is slightly more
expensive than (for example) German and Swedish - because he's a five
minute walk away and I really want him to be there when I need him.
Having said that, he beat G&S by over 10% last time and I had the call
to announce the arrival of French parts within four hours of ordering.

Long live the competent, competitive independent. Especially when
they let customers smoke in the shop and provide coffee while you
wait.

 

RS will now sell to non account holders if you buy online. I've also had
success just turning up and paying cash over the counter.

 

Indeedy, but it's those "used propery" words that worrie me.

It is, but IME, care isn't something that everyone takes. Half don't read
the instructions which say "use sparingly" or some such and the other half
read, but choose to ignore.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I probably used the wrong words when I said "I" wouldn't touch it with a 10
ft pole, as I should've said "I wouldn't recommend anyone uses it" but
that's because too many wooldn't use it properly, despite it coming with
instructions.

If you put a

Trouble with people is they think "more is better".


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19