Air Pack End Plate Seal

[dabtl]

As some may know I have been working on three deuce air packs rebuilds.

I cannot find a real gasket amongst the rebuild kits that fits the end cap.

It is a 4 1/2 inside diameter, 1/8 inch paper gasket. The rebuild kit I have gotten, four, all have a paper gasket that is just too small.

So, from McMaster-Carr today I got a 1/8 inch square 4 1/2 inside diameter o-ring.

With some Permatex gasket sealer holding it in place it seems to work just fine.

I will know tomorrow. But this looks like the solution.

I also got my paper gasket cutter in today also, just in case.

 

[doghead]

I soak the gasket that comes in the kit, with BFS(in a shallow tray), for a day or so. It will swell and fit just fine after that.

 

[dabtl]

What is BFS?

 

[doghead]

Brake Fluid Silicone (dot 5)

 

[dabtl]

Brake Fluid Silicone (dot 5)

I have many gallons around here. I will try it. Weird. I may like the 1/8 o-ring better, but then who knows?

 

[dabtl]

I tried making the 1/8 square o-ring work tonight. No worky! It squeezes out.

Back to paper. I will try doghead's idea and cut my own paper gasket tomorrow.

Further, the affiant sayeth not.

 

[roger-wilco-66]

I did an airpack job a few weeks ago and used a liquid seal (Hylomar) instead of the old and torn paper gasket. Works flawless.


Cheers,
Mark

 

[2ndamndmnt]

dabtl, where are you getting your rebuild kits from ? i have a short one needs doing. thanks

 

[dabtl]

I have been getting them of eBay. The short air pack probably has a different seal for the air cylinder and I have not opened one to see if the air piston uses the same felt and rubber seals. But the hydraulic cylinder stuff should be the same.

 

[dabtl]

I soak the gasket that comes in the kit, with BFS(in a shallow tray), for a day or so. It will swell and fit just fine after that.

I soaked my one remaining gasket in the brake fluid as you suggested for ten days. It seems to work, even if not as rapidly as you suggested. I found the gasket just barely pliable enough to go around the end plate. On being tightened it flattened out and probably will work fine.

Others may find this useful also.

I am going to make a gasket with a gasket cutter in a couple of weeks for the last one. I will see how that turns out.

 

[dabtl]

The gasket cutter, two knives on a center spike worked well. It was about $18 on eBay. I used paper material from O'Reilly's at about $4.

The manufacturer recommended using a wood brace, I used a 3/8 ratchet with an eight point socket.

It took four times, but I finally turned out a perfect paper gasket.

 

[Speddmon]

That sounds really interesting. I would like to see the gaskets that came with the kits and the one you made. I have a pack that needs a rebuild so I have a spare

 

[Recovry4x4]

Every kit that I have dealt with as of late were non fitting. The end plate is almost an interference fit with the air can and the only thing supposed to be in that can is air and air tool oil. Considering the latter, I used high grade silicone sealant on the last few I've done. No worries so far. Also, while you have that end plate off, get the pipe plug loose. I had one that wouldn't come out no matter what, even after heating it. I did finally get it along with a bunch of aluminum. That one now has 1/4" NPT plug in it.

 

[dabtl]

I got some eight point sockets off eBay to work on that plug. They work fine if the plug is not buggered up.

On my second deuce I was forced to remove the vent tube to lubricate it because the plug did not want to break loose at all.