TR2/3/3A Fuel pump sediment bowl gasket question

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Hi guys,

Are the sediment bowl gaskets made of rubber or cork? The one I have now is rubber but very brittle and cracked.

If you could let me know, it would be appreciated.

Cheers
Tush

 

[bobhustead]

I just checked what I think is an oem unit I took off several years ago. Rubber.
Bob

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Thanks Bob.

Cheers
Tush

 

[Geo Hahn]

I have used both but I think rubber is the surer bet. The rubber should ideally be somewhat soft to get a great seal without a lot of tightening.

The latter is important on out fuel pumps as extreme tightening can cause the pot metal bowl top to bow, bending down a bit on each side. Once that happens it isn't going to seal. A bowed top can be hammered back into shape but better not to get to that step in the first place.

 

[CJD]

All the old I have rebuilt are cork when they come off. All the kits I have used to rebuild with have had rubber. You do need some "squish" thickness on the gasket material, as the casting and glass lip are both not very straight, as I'm sure you've noticed.

Hope you make the show!

 

[mgedit]

Pretty sure the gasket on mine is/was cork. Rubber likely better option though. Cheers, Mike

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Thanks guys. I scavenged a rubber one from my parts hoard...I was thinking that in a pitch if I couldn't find one, I could make one out of cork. I usually keep some various thickness of gasket material in the garage in both paper and cork just in case...

Cheers
Tush

 

[charleyf]

The problem with the "rubber" ones is that you don't know what they are made of and many of them may not be compatible with the newer fuels we are using. If using a cork ( as most of mine have been and are) I have tried to soak them in oil for a day or so prior to use. This is needed for the cork rings inside the carbs and I suspect it is best to "hydrate " the gasket before use. Most of my recent purchases have been cork. But if somebody knows of a compatible "rubber" one please speak up with the source.
Charley

 

[Chuck Murphy]

By the way, as I understand it, ethanol destroys the binder in cork. I would avoid cork in engines and fuel systems now that we have enthanol in our fuel.
Chuck

 

[WiscTR]

It doesn't answer your question, but Moss has a good article here about ethanol and it's effects on gaskets and other components.
https://www.mossmotors.com/SiteGraphics/Pages/ethanol.html

 

[charleyf]

By the way, as I understand it, ethanol destroys the binder in cork. I would avoid cork in engines and fuel systems now that we have enthanol in our fuel.
Chuck

The article refers to rubber/cork composite gaskets. Might that be a different product than cork gaskets?
Charley

 

[DougME]

Never tried it on cork but when faced with dried up old gaskets I've had good luck by boiling them. It swells them up a bit and will usually work.

Doug

 

[tdskip]

I've only seen cork, but modern fuel formulated rubber would the path of choosing for me.