Topic: used float bowl gaskets?

[cadler]

Does anybody want to sell a set of used float bowl gaskets that would fit a K1? I am having trouble with new gaskets expanding too much and restricting my floats causing gas to run out of the overflow. I do not understand why this is happening, but the new gaskets seem to be slightly fatter and when gas is applied they expand even more.
Please help if you can.
Thanks
Craig

[jdpas29]

hey, cadler.  i've had the same problem, and i've got an easy fix for you.  take the float bowl gaskets you have (which i assume are the formed kind which are already in the shape of the float bowl) and blot  them dry on a cloth.  put them on a towel in a warm place and let them dry overnight.   

this works for me every time with the gaskets i get from siriusconinc. 

also... i don't know if a K1's float bowl for the #2 or main carb is anything like my K8, but if it is there's a notch in the groove where the float bowl gasket sits back toward the back left corner of the float bowl.  it makes it very difficult for the gasket to go down into the groove.  i had to take a razor blade and cut a little chunk out of the gasket itself to make it sit down in the track fully.  kind of a touchy process, but it had to be done.  it would probably be a good idea for future reference to go ahead and get yourself some extra gaskets.  make sure they are formed... the round gaskets, which i never used because the formed ones are enough of a #$%* to get in, must be a booger to get in.

let me know if this helps.   

[cadler]

Is drying them like that a permanent fix?
I am only haveing trouble with one gasket right now and the other 3 have been good for about a month.

[dusterdude]

no,my new honda gaskets swelled up like a proud papa on delivery day.i had to buy gasket material from napa and cut my own.

[jdpas29]

Is drying them like that a permanent fix?
I am only haveing trouble with one gasket right now and the other 3 have been good for about a month.

there is no permanent fix for rubbers inclination to swell when exposed to gasoline...  that's just part of it.  what i do is.. when i know i need to do something with the float bowls off (jet, check floats, clean, etc.), i take the bowls off the night before, remove the gaskets and let them dry overnight.  then when i get up the next day or whenever the gaskets will be back to the right size and are ready to go on. 

tell me,  is the carb you're having a problem with a little different in its internal shape than the others?  if not, you may have clamped down the float bowl on the gasket wrong and warped it/squeezed it.  if it is permanently misshapen, you will need to get some more gaskets.  just make sure you get the form-fitting gaskets and not the stupid round ones.

[Gordon]

I've found a pretty easy fix even for the annoying round o-rings. 

Tear off five short strips of scotch tape for each carb, then lightly tape each o-ring down at each corner of the float bowl groove.  Put the float bowl in place and tighten it down, but not all the way.  Then just gently pull each piece of tape out from the side and the o-ring will remain sitting nicely in it's groove. 

I've used this method several times now and it's worked great every time. 

[cadler]

tell me,  is the carb you're having a problem with a little different in its internal shape than the others?  if not, you may have clamped down the float bowl on the gasket wrong and warped it/squeezed it.  if it is permanently misshapen, you will need to get some more gaskets.  just make sure you get the form-fitting gaskets and not the stupid round ones

No they are all the same shape.
I just do not understand how they can sell something that does not work!
I bought 2 different types of gaskets and niether work, I think I will need to cut my own.
Thanks

[jdpas29]

wait, Cadler.... stop there....  could you possible take a picture of the gasket sitting in the groove of the float bowl for us?

i have a feeling that there's something we're not getting here.

if they're just a little too big for the size of the groove, let them dry overnight and try again.  it takes a while for the gaskets to shrink back down.  if you do get more gaskets, however, try siriusconinc on eBAy.  they are in Canada.  they've been pretty good to me.

[cadler]

I do not have a digital camera. The gaskets fit nicely into the groove when first put in, then they for some reason expand like crazy when gas gets to them.

[cadler]

try siriusconinc on eBAy.  they are in Canada.  they've been pretty good to me.
I could not find them on e bay could you give me more info
on siriusconinc?
Thanks

[Bob Wessner]

Check out the  FAQ's, particularly..

"Where can I buy parts for my SOHC? The online resource list. "

[jdpas29]

here's a site ran by a great guy out in Texas that helps you with already doing the search strings in eBay and categorizing them...

http://www.salocal.com/sohc/sohc.htm

click on 'Parts Resource' and it is pretty easy to use.  Sirius consolidated Inc's store has a link on the bottom left of the search string for 'intake and exhaust'.

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I use the rubber cheapy ones but I put a light film of the grey (For Gas) sealer on them and mounted them to dry. I put a light film of w/d 40 on my finger and wiped the carb base before I mounted the bowls to let the sealer dry. the sealer did not stick to the base.   I have had them off no less than 10 times and the gasket stays in place, never grows and always seals.

[Newbie 550k]

Whats the grey sealer called you used?

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I got it from subaru. It was not made for gas somuch but for the intakes and such, but it does not swell in the bowel gasket groove.

[quietlikeachurch]

I had problems with my new gaskets leaking, and had to cut them down a bit.  Don't know if they swelled or were just made too wide but...on either side of the float there are small raised areas next to the gasket surface (on the inside of the carb body, not the float bowl...'76F), presumably to keep the gasket from interfering with the float itself.  Like jdpas29 I cut little notches in the gaskets to clear the "guards" and haven't had any problems since.  Don't know if I explained well enough...it's kinda hard to verbalize.  I'll try to find a picture.

Good luck!
-Ian