Topic: Gasket sealant on carb bowls??? (77/78 750 carbs)

[Lumbee]

..sup all, I have a question about getting the gaskets to stay in the carb bowls.  Not sure if it matters, but these are 77/78 carbs.  I have a couple sets of "good" carbs that came to me rebuilt, and the gaskets are in the bowls, nice and compressed and offer a good seal.  I have a set of carbs I rebuilt that I'v replaced the gaskets in and while I initially seem to have had a good seal, when I pulled off the bowls for some adjustment, the gaskets just fall out.  In addtion they seem to have stretched and don't seem to fit the diameter of the bowl any more.  I went back and looked at the "good" carbs and upon closer inspection the gaskets on those carbs seem to have some type of sealant that has stuck the gasket inside the groove of the bowl.  Some type of silicon maybe?

...any info appreciated...

[Jughead]

To me It looks like Indian Head Shellac.

[Objectionableone]

I'll start by saying I haven't rebuilt a Honda carb (yet) but gasket sealant around carbs sounds like a dangerous proposition to me.  To many little holes to plug up.   

I just use good quality fresh gaskets on a rebuild and haven't had a problem.

[Jughead]

I think that Originally they used the Sealant on the Orings from the Factory.A little Dab here and there in the Groove to hold Shouldn't Hurt anything.Also a Very small Spot of Super Glue in Places will hold the Oring until it has a Chance to set in the Groove.I just Had a Chance to put my Carbs for my F2 together Last Night.The Orings didn't fit just right but I got them as close as Possible and just tightened down the Float Bowl being Careful not to pinch the Gasket.Now I just Hope I don't have to tear them back apart for another Cleaning.

[hymodyne]

Superglue in the four corners of the gasket channel, just the tiniest bit works for me with new gaskets. anytime I've used gasket in a tube on my carbs, I find bits and pieces of it throughout my carb system.

hym

[ken74-550K0]

When I rebuilt my carbs for my bike I struggled with those float bowl o rings - they would simply not stay in the recess. I ended up applying a very thin coat of permatex tack and seal to the o ring.  That did the trick.  The o ring stayed put even after removing the bowls several times for re jetting.

I have seen other posts that suggest using cold petroleum jelly in the groove to make the o ring stay put.  I would have tried that first if I had not already solved the problem using permatex.

[eurban]

Last time I was at my local (crappy Autozone I think) auto parts store they had a product, probably made by Permatex, that was made specifically for holding rubber gaskets in place.  You might want to take a look at an autoparts store or simply check out Permatex's product line online. . .With just a bit of effort,  I was able to get the new bowl gaskets for my 78 750's carbs to stay in place while a tightened the screws down.  The carbs were off the bike which certainly makes it easier.  I did notice that the old gasket surfaces had just a bit of glue on em.  Good luck

[HondaMan]

On most of their 1970-1980 carbs, Honda glued the upper side of the rubber gaskets to the carb body. Since the float level is always set BELOW the lip of the carbs by design, the glue lasts a long time.

Try a VERY small amount of contact cement. It lasts a long time.

[mick750F]

   A month or so ago I rebuilt the same carbs and at the time posted pretty much the same question. I ended up fitting the gaskets dry with little trouble. The fact that they were Honda gaskets may have made it easier.

Mike

[TwoTired]

I use a product now sold by Edelbrock call Gaskacinch.  It's kind of like contact cement but stays pliable for many years and you can roll it off non-paper surfaces with your fingers if you make a mistake with placement.  The can has a dauber for large surfaces.  But, I use a broken toothpick and smash the end a bit to make a small, stubby, stiff brush.  This allows me to place the sealant in the groove of the float bowl.  then I put a thin coat on one side of the rubber oring/gasket.  Let dry, and feed the gasket into the groove starting at one corner and work around the circumference.  Fuel won't dissolve it, and I've never had a problem with blocking carb orifices.

Cheers,

[eldar]

Like hymo, I do the superglue trick. Works very well and I think it might even dissolve in fuel if it actually flakes, But I put so little on that I have never run into a problem.

[Hope]

I can vouch for the petroleum jelly.  I used it to put my o-rings on my bowl for my 550.  I had it around the house so it saved me a trip to the auto parts store.  (The one thing I hate most is having to stop what I am doing and go to the auto parts store!!!)

When I rebuilt my carbs for my bike I struggled with those float bowl o rings - they would simply not stay in the recess. I ended up applying a very thin coat of permatex tack and seal to the o ring.  That did the trick.  The o ring stayed put even after removing the bowls several times for re jetting.

I have seen other posts that suggest using cold petroleum jelly in the groove to make the o ring stay put.  I would have tried that first if I had not already solved the problem using permatex.