Chain case gasket

Snapper1984

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I’m installing a new cork gasket on the chain case. Does it seal right up or do I need to put some sealant on it first before I tighten it up?
 

bertsmobile1

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cork gaskets do not need any sort of goo on them.
What most do is tighten them way way way too much and that chops the gasket into peaces.
You only need to fo them up till the bolts snug down the 1/2 to 1 turn so there is a lot of gasket material that can compress when the cases get hot & expand then expand as the cases get cold & contract.
 

Snapper1984

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cork gaskets do not need any sort of goo on them.
What most do is tighten them way way way too much and that chops the gasket into peaces.
You only need to fo them up till the bolts snug down the 1/2 to 1 turn so there is a lot of gasket material that can compress when the cases get hot & expand then expand as the cases get cold & contract.
Thank you for reaching out to me on this I appreciate it
 

slomo

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I heard you must soak a cork gasket in oil, prior to installing. That way it will start to swell and seal properly. Like mentioned, finger tighten the nuts only.

slomo
 

bertsmobile1

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I heard you must soak a cork gasket in oil, prior to installing. That way it will start to swell and seal properly. Like mentioned, finger tighten the nuts only.

slomo

Not true
Cork fuel tap gaskets generally get a soak so they do not crumble.
If the gasket is very old like some of the 80 year old ones I use on motorcycles then, just like paper they can dry out and need a soak to swell up & soften .
 

timc1018

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I have a few old land rovers among a few other (hobby) cars to keep my life nice and stressed. They use cork gaskets from the factory for the oil pan, which dry up and leak. The latest update is to not use the cork gasket, and use RTV (I use Right Stuff), running a nice bead around the oil pan, let the RTV set for a few minutes, then hand tighten with wrench just until it begins to squeeze out, let it sit over night, then torque it up the next day. Just a thought if you did not want to use cork.....
 

slomo

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Not true
Cork fuel tap gaskets generally get a soak so they do not crumble.
If the gasket is very old like some of the 80 year old ones I use on motorcycles then, just like paper they can dry out and need a soak to swell up & soften .

Bertsmobile1, the original topic was on the chain case. There is no fuel anything in the chain case. Maybe you have a Snapper that has a fuel tank, in the chain case?

If you install a cork gasket dry, say a valve cover for another example, there is a chance it would leak. Reason for soaking/coating in oil prior to installation. Just a thin film of oil is all that's required.

slomo
 

bertsmobile1

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We will have to agree to dissagree on this one.
Never oiled a cork gasket on anything and my motorcycle chaincases don't leak from the gaskets.
When a gasket is very old and has shrunk they do ge t soaked in boiling water for a while, then allowed to dry for a day before installation .
Very thin ones might get hylomar on one side & grease on the other but this is just to allow the gasket to stick on one side & strip clean on the other so they do not break when I remove them
 

slomo

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No worries Bert. That 00 Snapper grease is thick enough not to get past the cork. But hey, old gaskets do their thing as we know, leak.

slomo
 

timc1018

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No worries Bert. That 00 Snapper grease is thick enough not to get past the cork. But hey, old gaskets do their thing as we know, leak.

slomo
Ha! I can tell you they 9 (cork gaskets) leak like crazy on old land rovers. I'll try soaking sometime, if I ever use one again, that's interesting.
 
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