Topic: Any tips on in installing carb o-rings/gaskets

[egor]

Last year I rebuilt the carbs on my cb550f.  Ran good and no issues after.

Last fall I took the carbs off to clean and store them for the winter.  Now I can't get the carb bowl o-rings/gaskets to stay in place long enough to install the bowl caps.  They will not stay in the channel.  Of course the rings are round and the carb bowl has five points.

Was wondering if someone has some good tips on getting them to stay long enough to screw the bowl caps on.

Funny thing is, I had no issues with this when I first installed the o-rings/gaskets.  The o-rings are in good shape.

[Gordon]

Some people use tiny dabs of superglue.  Some use liquid gasket or gasket sealer, but I don't recommend that because those products swell a lot in gasoline and if a piece breaks off you'll be pulling the carbs to clean them out again.  Some people use grease.  I like to use scotch tape.  Tape the  gaskets down, partially tighten the bowl down, pull the tape out and tighten the rest of the way.

[Hush]

I've used liquid gasket goo successfully, just add enough to hold the o ring in place don't drown it.

[Fritz]

I've managed to make the o-rings stay in place by streching them carefully.

[Gordon]

I've used liquid gasket goo successfully, just add enough to hold the o ring in place don't drown it.

I know it's possible, but the risk doesn't seem worth it when there are other options that work just as well.

[TwoTired]

I've used Gasgacinch on all the 550 carb rebuilds.  I just use it sparingly in the carb bowl's channel and the one side of the oring that goes in the channel.  It works similar in process to contact cement.  Later when the bowl comes off, the oring stays in the bowl channel.  As long as the rubber stays soft the bowl easily goes back on with the gasket in place and doesn't leak.

Honda used something similar when the carbs were first built.  By the time I got to them, the Honda sealer/glue was dark brown and only slightly rubbery.  Gasgacinch seems to be similar in form and function.

Cheers,

[Gordon]

One thing I forgot about is liquid electrical tape.  I haven't had the chance to use it to hold in float bowl gaskets yet, but I have a screw coated with the stuff that's been sitting in a jar of gas for almost two years, and it still isn't showing any signs of being affected by the gas. 

[egor]

Super Glue is the way to go.  No chance of getting glue in the carbs if you are careful.

I tried tape first but the tape kept ripping in half during removal....or would pull the o-ring partially out of the channel.

Thanks all for the advice!!!

[campbmic]

One thing I forgot about is liquid electrical tape.  I haven't had the chance to use it to hold in float bowl gaskets yet, but I have a screw coated with the stuff that's been sitting in a jar of gas for almost two years, and it still isn't showing any signs of being affected by the gas. 

You have entirely too much time on your hands   

[jergarner]

I just cleaned my carbs and had a similar problem.  I just put a tiny dab of superglue in the channel.  And I mean a tiny dab, it only takes a speck to hold it in place.  That worked well for me.

[spitcrazy]

Super Glue is the way to go.  No chance of getting glue in the carbs if you are careful.

I tried tape first but the tape kept ripping in half during removal....or would pull the o-ring partially out of the channel.

Thanks all for the advice!!!

I decided to try and use lengths of tape to hold the o-rings in place as I refit my bowls. On the first one, the last peice of tape I pulled out  ripped leaving a piece in the bowl... start again. Then, inspiration. Once all was in place and I was ready to pull the tape out, I sprayed a little WD40 on the tape, waited a few seconds, and the tape slid out effortlessly. You can almost have the bowls tightened down and the tape slides out leaving the o-ring in it's proper position.

Having said that the next time I take the carbs off I'll try the gunk two tired suggests, but tape works cool out here in the countryside on a Sunday.

[shizzomynizzo]

I've used liquid gasket goo successfully, just add enough to hold the o ring in place don't drown it.

Same here, just a tiny* very tiny* dab in each corner

[sharrco]

I just used some wheel bearing grease in super small dabs. This helped hold the o-ring in place to mount the bowls.