Thin gasket material

[blsnelling]

This question is buried in my 361 porting thread to get any notice. I'm wondering what material I could use for a .003"-.004" thick gasket material for the jug on my 361. I thought I heard that brown paper grcery bag could be used but not sure.

 

[timberwolf]

Heavy duity Aluminium foil, though that may be too thin? Should be able to get .005 brass shim stock without too much trouble. I found a good supply of thin copper sheet in the junk yard, it works well.

But here is the best cheepest solution, take a full can of beer, now your going to need to find a way to get the beer out and some way of disposing of it, but once you got that done then you cut the can up and use the side of the can, should be about exactly the right thickness, if you get a six pack you have a few spares in case of screwing the first one or three up.

 

[bobbyb13]

Timberwolf

The best idea I've seen since I got this addiction. Just outstanding! +1

 

[Junkyard Jim]

My dad said that "back in the day" they used paper bags for gasket matierial on all sorts of things without a problem. This makes me think several things though: 1. Are bags thickness consistent? 2. Will it hold up to the compression (which is what you are trying to raise in the first place) 3. Would a Kroger bag hold up better than a Piggly Wiggley bag? 4.Why am I telling you all this when you are already thinking the same stuff.

I've also heard of old bikers using the "non glossy" pages of easy rider magazine for gaskets on their bikes. That could be why they still leaked though.

I know I'm not helping but I couldn't stand seeing a post without a reply. Good luck and I'm sure you'll let us know how it turns out.

 

[Erick]

Brad, go to the parts store and get a can of Permatex spray copper gasket sealer and ask for the paper instead of plastic. When you get home take the can out of the bag and cut a square a little bigger than the cylinder base and spray one side very liberally with the spray copper. let it soak through for about a minute and then set the cylinder on the bag (silicone to base) and clamp the whole thing to a flat surface (the chainsaw bar works for me) for about half an hour. Unclamp the whole thing and the gasket should be stuck to the cylinder base. Take a razor blade and trim away everything that you don't need. Let the blade ride on the edge of all the holes and it will cut a perfect silicone coated paper gasket for you. EZ as pie.

I should mention that paper bags come all sizes and thickness. A lunch type sack is about .002 thick, the little bags you get from ace hardware are about .003 thick, and a big grocery bag is about .005 thick. Adding the silicone will add about .001 of an inch when it's all said and done. You can use these different bags to fine tune your final squish number and it's a lot stronger than you might think.

 

[Erick]

Ooops I just saw that it's for your 361 project. In that case spray the bag with the copper and let it dry , then trace your old gasket on it and cut it out. Still EZ as pie.

I'm getting ready to do one tonight on a 036 project I'll get some pic's and post for ya.

 

[RiverRat2]

brad the thinnest copper I could find was .012 at a local hobby shop,
I dont know why the beer can wouldnt work,,,other than being a pita to trim,, and the spray copper silicone with paper,,,,Awesome!!!!!

ya gotta love this place!!!!!!!!!!!! you got repp coming Erick just as soon as I get some more bullets!!!!!!

 

[davefr]

brad the thinnest copper I could find was .012 at a local hobby shop,
I dont know why the beer can wouldnt work,,,other than being a pita to trim,, and the spray copper silicone with paper,,,,Awesome!!!!!

ya gotta love this place!!!!!!!!!!!! you got repp coming erik just as soon as I get some more bullets!!!!!!

You were probably looking in the metal or hobby section. Ask them for shim stock. It's usually in plumbing and they cut it from a roll.

 

[1953greg]

This question is buried in my 361 porting thread to get any notice. I'm wondering what material I could use for a .003"-.004" thick gasket material for the jug on my 361. I thought I heard that brown paper grcery bag could be used but not sure.

i have brown paper bag gasket on a 385xp, two ms460's, and and two 066. all w/o any problem. i use an original gasket for a pattern and outline it on the brown paper then cutout w/ sissors. once i have it trimmed i put a latex glove on and gently rub in the dirko sealer between thumb and forefinger.
i retorque the cylinder bolts after a couple tanks of fuel. bags measure 3-5 thousanths but they prolly compress to maybe 2-3. havent removed any cylinders to check.

works for me

 

[Erick]

Factory gasket final thickness (after removal)

Paper bag thickness

Spray liberally with spray copper

You can see it soaks right through the paper impregnating the whole thickness with silicone.

Clamped to dry

 

[Erick]

Makes cutting it pretty easy, and see how wet it is from the silicone soaking through.

Cutting it out, keep the blade riding the metal like one side of a scissor.

 

[Scooterbum]

I've also heard of old bikers using the "non glossy" pages of easy rider magazine for gaskets on their bikes. That could be why they still leaked though.

I don't know too many Tramps that would defile an Easyrider,but we have used the front or back covers of a phone book a time or two.

Also a brown paper bag will work if you hit each side with a little "Krylon" right before assembly.

 

[Erick]

Final product

Final thickness after installation and removal, an instant .014 taken off the base and your still running a gasket.

 

[blsnelling]

That my friend is quality work! Nice job Erick.

 

[Erick]

I don't know too many Tramps that would defile an Easyrider,but we have used the front or back covers of a phone book a time or two.

Also a brown paper bag will work if you hit each side with a little "Krylon" right before assembly.

Ummm that wasn't me.

 

[Erick]

That my friend is quality work! Nice job Erick.

Thanks Brad I always figured if it's worth doing than it's worth doing it right.

 

[OLY-JIM]

Nice job Erick.

 

[timberwolf]

Yep, nice job.

Stihl used to have paper gaskets in the larger stihls, but they went to steel. Given the extra cost of a steel gasket, I assume it must be for good reason.

Paper gaskets were getting pounded out and developing loose head bolts and leaks. So if paper gaskets wern't cutting it for stock saws, I would think it would be an even greater problem with a saw running higher RPM and compression. A thin paper gasket is likely to have less problem than a thick gasket, but just the same there are better materials to use.

Just a thought, realy quite easy to cut a gasket out of aluminium or copper with an razor knife or box cutter.

 

[blsnelling]

Paper might do a plenty fine job. But rather than introduce an unneccesary unkown, I went ahead and took a little more off the top of my piston and then put it together with Dirko HT.

 

[Lakeside53]

Yep, nice job.

Stihl used to have paper gaskets in the larger stihls, but they went to steel. Given the extra cost of a steel gasket, I assume it must be for good reason.

Paper gaskets were getting pounded out and developing loose head bolts and leaks. So if paper gaskets wern't cutting it for stock saws, I would think it would be an even greater problem with a saw running higher RPM and compression. A thin paper gasket is likely to have less problem than a thick gasket, but just the same there are better materials to use.

Just a thought, realy quite easy to cut a gasket out of aluminium or copper with an razor knife or box cutter.

Yes.... +10

more:

Stihl's steel gaskets have a crushable rim (gets flattened by assembly) AND they have a 2 thou coat of rubber on both sides.

If you use a homemade metal gasket, I be putting a thin smear of sealer on both sides.