Topic: float bowl gaskets, permatex?

[kerryb]

I'm putting on new float bowl gaskets, the funny-shaped o-ring things.  Is it recommended to use some sealant (permatex) to glue the seals to the float bowls or just use a little lube on them.  Having trouble getting them to stay in the grooves with the pinch-points.
Appreciate your advice.

Keihin carbs

[ekpent]

I dabbed a little grease where needed and have heard of some people using a little dot of superglue in the corners to hold them in place.Mine on a 500 and a 550 were just round o-rings and not form fitted and all went well.

[kerryb]

Thanks.

[MauiK3]

I would not use anything that would seal both sides, you will likely be removing them in the future for one reason or another.

[ckahleer]

I have found soaking the seals in hot water for a few minutes will soften them and make more pliable.

[Johnie]

I have always used the black non-hardening Permatex. Just used it on Patina Bike 2 this week for new float bowl gaskets. Only put it on the carb side not the bowls. Been using that stuff since the 70's. If I need to take the bowls off to do some carb work while the carbs are still on the bike the gasket does not fall out.

[HondaMan]

I stretch them out a little, then use some contact cement in opposite corners.

[carnivorous chicken]

I just rebuilt 350F carbs, and the oem o-rings for the float bowls are too big. Since the carbs were off the bike, I could press them in and hold them in for a minute or so, and then they would stay in long enough to go on. Putting them on, I used a feeler gauge pressed on the long side (which was the side that kept popping out) to hold it in place while I started the screws, then pulled it out and snugged it up. Once they are on and in, they'll stay in shape they next time you pull 'em.

But I've also used a tiny drop of super glue in pinch.

[PeWe]

I had a VERY small amount of Permatex Aviation no 3.  On my CB750 K6 stock carbs. Just to glue the rubber gaskets in place.

 Mounted the bowls in place with springs for a few minutes, then off with them and cleaned all oveflowing Permatex with a cloth wetted with acetone. Ear cotton swabs work fine.

I did not want to give gasoline a chance to disolve it and clog jets.

[kerryb]

That's why I love this forum so much.  Ask a question and get several different way to solve the problem, even if it was a "dumb" question to begin with.  Thank you all, I'm trying the permatex/one side only/feeler gauge/wipe excess later method as suggested!
It is working wonderfully which is good as I have already removed the bowls 8 or 9 times trying to get float valves to seal and fuel levels to a point I can be happy with.

[2wheels]

I have used Vaseline on O rings that want to pop out.
Never tried it on these carbs though.

[Redline it]

one of the worst things to do following adding any glue that can either-leave a trace of it in the grove that can build up in time and be a persistent point of leaks, or an immediate hardening of the oring which can cause it to fail and for sure never to be used again, but back to the worst is however tempting it may be, don't go up a size or 2 orings hoping it to solve leaky bowls. used over a short time they'll cause the screws to slightly bend the mating surface of the bowls. the design is for the 2 surfaces to mate flat with the right size orings to compress in the grove to fill just the grove. put a straight edge on the bowls, if they're flat, find the right size orings. if they're warped and you can see light between the straight edge then the right size will not work unless the orings swell.  any glue products that requires a mechanical cleaning the grove, tooth brush, tooth pics, little wire (brass even,) brushes, etc runs the risk of scratching or deforming the grove. they're delicate. a dab of crazy glue on the corners usually rips off micro chunks of rubber that stay in the grove, then trying to clean that out in a corner...tears them up. permatex rarely will seal any leaks but will always creates crap left on the surfaces that can be nearly impossible to get removed.

[Bankerdanny]

I generally use Vaseline, but now and then in a pinch have used a gasket sealer, but only a tiny amount.

I try very hard to only order formed gaskets rather than the round ones.

[BassHog]

I use grease, lately the red synthetic mobile 1 axle grease. It's super tacky, but does not harden and the bowls come apart very easy with no hardening of the gasket. I dab a chunk of it on each of the 4 corners, plus the point on the one side. Stick the gasket in the grove and wipe off any excess. The gasket does not move at all even upside down.