cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

[Zep--]

took off all 3 carbs, cleaned them up.

I don't want to totally rebuild them at this time so am wondering if I can make my own gaskets. The gaskets bolting the carbs to the head is no problem, just standard gasket paper it seems.

But the one where the lower carb body connects to upper carb body is a rubber type gasket.
Do I really need the rubber type or can it be replaced by something I can cut out from material I could buy somewhere (Like NAPA, AutoZone, etc...)

Thanks,
Carl

 

[clint]

cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

Gaskets are very inexpensive and not using all the exact manufatured matches will be costly if you have fuel leaks or poor performance in the water. If you mess up and have air leaks or leaking fuel during operating, you will regret not using original gaskets. Why go thru all that work twice. FIx it right the first time.
Clint

 

[Walker]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

What's wrong with the old gaskets??

 

[Zep--]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

I didn't think you could reuse the gaskets.

I'm a newb..so perhaps that was a joke?

Thanks!
Carl

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

You are going to a lot of trouble and run the risk of having a poor running carb if you attempt making your own gaskets. You have the carbs apart, install a new needle and seat the proper gaskets and seals that come with the kits. Otherwise you've done half the job and can still have the same problems. Since you want to buy the gasket material at NAPA, why not buy the carb kit(s) there. They have a marine catalog.

 

[Walker]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

I re-use carb gaskets a lot. Contrary to Dealers recommendations, not all carb jobs need kits. If the gaskets don't have any flat/mashed areas and they are still soft and pliable I reuse them with confidence.

 

[RPJS]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

It's just not worth doing half a job on your carbs, strip them down, soak them over night in carb cleaner then blow them through. Get the correct kits and reassemble with the new parts supplied.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: cleaned carbs. Gasket material question.

The gaskets aren't the only parts that cause problems. Worn inlet needles and seats are also the source of fuel leakage from carbs.