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Dreef1999
Guest
Looking for advice or instruction on home made gaskets. Anyone do this?
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Don-lo
Guest
You can buy the paper in sheets at most engine rebuilding services. Put some dye on the sealing surface of the cover, then lay the cover facedown on the gasket material, and don't let it move! Use an exacto knife to cut the outside edge. Then remove the cover and cut the inside edge. The bolt holes are the hardest: there are specific punches available to cut those holes.
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Dreef1999
Guest
Is there an easy way to know what thickness gasket sheet to buy and what material it should be made of? I would be curious to try cutting my own but I would like to have a decent shot at doing it well.
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Colorado85gs550
Guest
thickness really doesn't matter as much as getting an oil/gas resistant material to make the gasket out of!
Punches to cut the holes can be had for cheap at places like Harbor Freight.........
I find myself using silicone instead of gaskets now......its a stockcar racing thing I guess.......it sets up nice, doesn't leak, and cheap/easy to redo for inspection covers, etc.......I use red or blue RTV mostly.
Paul
Punches to cut the holes can be had for cheap at places like Harbor Freight.........
I find myself using silicone instead of gaskets now......its a stockcar racing thing I guess.......it sets up nice, doesn't leak, and cheap/easy to redo for inspection covers, etc.......I use red or blue RTV mostly.
Paul
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80GS750
Guest
you mean you use only silicone?
never thought of that.....
never thought of that.....
C
Colorado85gs550
Guest
clean up both surfaces with a razor blade/dremel tool then use some alcohol to clean it really well........put a bead of silicone/rtv on one surface......bolt the cover into place with even torque on each bolt, let it dry for a couple hours to set up properly and then fill with oil/fluids.
if the little bit that squeezes out bothers you then trim a little with a razor blade!
if the little bit that squeezes out bothers you then trim a little with a razor blade!
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Dreef1999
Guest
You couldn't do the silicone only thing on the valve cover though, right?
I think Ed mentioned not to buy a silicone realgasket for the valve cover because it would be thicker than the OEM gasket.
I think Ed mentioned not to buy a silicone realgasket for the valve cover because it would be thicker than the OEM gasket.
S
silverhorse47
Guest
Another way is to put the gasket material on the surface and tap gently with a hammer along all the edges. Tap, tap, tap. This makes a perfect template. Then cut it out.
Naturally you don't want to HIT it.
S.
Naturally you don't want to HIT it.
S.
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Dreef1999
Guest
That is a neat idea. So you place the cover facing up with the gasket on top and tap the gasket to get a perfect indent. What about the bolt holes and other irregularities?
S
Suzuki_Don
Guest
You tap the bolt holes with a snall ball pein hammer and the circles pop out. Nuthin to it. Works better on steel, like car water pumps, than alloy. But do it carefully and all will be OK.
R
Roger P.
Guest
You can tap out gaskets on aluminum if you are careful and don't go ape on it. Use a gasket paper of proper thickness. Too thick, and you get a ragged edge, and you have to hit it harder, increasing the risk of damaging edges or tearing the paper. A good tip is to tap out the bolt holes first, then fit the bolts through to keep the paper from moving around too much. It is also difficult sometimes to properly punch or tap out bolt holes in the gasket paper if they are surrounded by a thin section, as the paper will want to rip rather than produce a hole. I have used gasket paper made of vegetable fiber and it taps out wonderfully. If you are going to go gasketless, I would strongly recommend Hylomar Blue sealant, as it doesn't cure per se, by rather sets up into an impermeable putty-like substance that can be opened up and reclosed without having to reapply, if you are careful. Remember that gaskets sometimes set clearances, such as for the tachometer drive on the GS1100E valve cover. I have made thousands of gaskets, mostly when working for a guy too cheap to buy replacement gaskets when I was overhauling machinery for his business.
R
Rkt-Rch
Guest
Another good trick is to smear alittle engine oil or vasiline around the cover(s) and place firmly down and press makeing sure to not slide it and it gives you a prefect out-line with all the holes and everthing. Iv'e used the other methods also with a rubber mallet. Just my FYI...
L
lildave
Guest
as far as making the holes use small pieces of sleel brakeline cut with a tubing cutter puts a nice beveled edge on the tube
