Making gaskets - John Deere H - material question

WI Dan · Oct 28, 2020

For this 80 year old machine, what thickness of cork gaskets should I use for the cooling system? Need to make all new for the "thermo-siphon" configuration.
I have 1/32" thick cork+ material, but that seems to thin. The parts are pitted and old. NAPA has 1/4" thick stuff - that seems too thin.
Your thoughts?

mjbrown · Oct 28, 2020

I've had success using rtv form-a-gasket
especially on pitted surfaces. Clean
well. Apply rtv. Assemble light finger
tight so you see some squeeze out all the
way around. Allow to cure then tighten.

Patsdeere · Oct 28, 2020

I made gaskets for my B. I think I used
1/16" material. Then I smothered it in
when bearing grease, bolted it up. Not a
leak yet and it's been 12 years. Makes
taking it apart easy if I have to. Mine was somewhat pitted too.

WI Dan · Oct 28, 2020

EDIT: 1/4" seems to thick...

super99 · Oct 28, 2020

I've used cereal boxes,Red Man boxes, and various other material to make gaskets. All working so
far.

matthies · Oct 28, 2020

I have a micrometer and just try and measure the old ones.

David G · Oct 28, 2020

1/4 seems really thick.

rustred · Oct 28, 2020

i would not use cork. just use 1/16 gasket material . 1/4 " is out of the question. even 1/8 is too thick.

T.R.K. · Oct 28, 2020

If its the radiator core, call around to your local radiator shops. They used to have a rubberized cork material in strips about 1" wide.
You just lay them out on your tanks, overlap the corners, punch out the holes and bolt the core onto the tanks. I did several and only once
did one corner need help.

Steve@Advance · Oct 28, 2020

I would say something in between, like 1/8".

Most cork gasket material is rubberized, which is what you want.

Draw it down evenly and slowly, but don't go so tight it splits the gasket.

Mike M · Oct 29, 2020

Many times I have the tank surfaces resurfaced. The shops with the LARGE belt sanders to do cyl. heads, that machine does a nice job on them. I use something more like 1/8" or 3/32" ?

MSD · Oct 29, 2020

Black Right Stuff gasket maker by Permatex is about all we use for gaskets any more unless you have to have a clearance, then try to get as close as possible to original.
Clean both surfaces, apply a thin film to both surfaces and tighten till it starts to oozes out and let it set for a 1/2 hour, then retighten.

Making gaskets - John Deere H - material question

WI Dan

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mjbrown

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Patsdeere

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WI Dan

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super99

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matthies

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David G

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rustred

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T.R.K.

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Steve@Advance

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Mike M

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MSD

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