Topic: Float Bowl Gasket Frustration

[Steve B]

Is there a good trick to keep them in place as you manoeuvre the bowl back into place?

Or, do we just put 'em on top and hope they stay there?

Mine always move and it seems to take many attempts to get it right (and I've done it more than just a few times...)   

[kaysystems]

You can stick 'em on the bowl with a little vasseline

David

[seaweb11]

Same issue a few weeks back.

I put a smidgen of grease off the grease gun on my finger and put a very tiny amount on the bastards.
It kind of let them stick to the carb as you put the 2 pieces together.

Thought of vaseline, but couldn't find any and I also thought it might react badly with the rubber.

Get it right the 1st or 2nd time or they then become slippery all over

[nickjtc]

Not a job to be done when you're feeling frustrated, for sure. Otherwise the darn things end up being hurled into the darkest recesses of the shop. Don't ask.

[chrislib]

Chapstik works well, and the gaskets won`t stick if ya ever have to take it down again.

[BobbyR]

I use a simple glue stick you can buy at any Supermarket. It is made for paper but it has enough hold to keep them in place, and allow them to seat on themselves when installed.

[Steve B]

Thank you. My wife is now suggesting KY?   

[nickjtc]

Thank you. My wife is now suggesting KY?   

Bit too runny?

[ScottB]

After reading this thread I tried the Vaseline idea... not a good one.  My carbs are leaking so I am in the process of taking the bowls off and on every other day.  On the second time of reinstalling the gaskets I noticed that they had stretched out and will no longer fit into the grooves of the bowl.  Anyone have concise measurements for me so I can try and find them locally?

[hymodyne]

after a thorough cleaning of the groove for the gasket ring, I've taken a really, really, small daub of super glue in the four corners of the bowl. I  usually apply it with a sewing needle.

hym

[ScottB]

I found these gaskets on Ebay from Sirius.  $17.95 with the "buy it now" but they should prevent having to use any sort of adheasive. 

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CB350-F-CB400-F-CB500F-CB400F-FLOAT-BOWL-GASKETS_W0QQitemZ280096022755QQcategoryZ35597QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Gordon]

After reading this thread I tried the Vaseline idea... not a good one.  My carbs are leaking so I am in the process of taking the bowls off and on every other day.  On the second time of reinstalling the gaskets I noticed that they had stretched out and will no longer fit into the grooves of the bowl.  Anyone have concise measurements for me so I can try and find them locally?

This is a common problem with aftermarket float bowl o-rings, they absorb gas and expand.  Let them sit out overnight or use a hair dryer on them for a while and they should shrink back to normal size.

I've had good success with using short strips of scotch tape to hold the o-rings in place.  Put a strip near each corner with most of the tape hanging outside the bowl.  Tighten down the bowl screws part-way, so they're holding the o-ring, but not too tight.  Then pull out the strips of tape and tighten the screws the rest of the way.

[chippyfive50]

Thank you. My wife is now suggesting KY?   

wish my wife was suggesting KY...and not the state...

[ScottB]

Gordon - Thanks for the heads up and the tape idea.  Looks like I will have an extra set of gaskets.