Carburetor O-Ring

[lefty]

This is a general question. I run into this problem a lot and was wondering what the fix might be.

Given that I'm part time, it often takes me a couple days to make repairs. I'll open a carb up, clean it and may not assemble it again until a day or two later. The bowl gasket/o-ring is often too small at that point.
I'm assuming it shrinks as it dries out in the air. Is there a way to stretch it back out so it will fit in the slot in the carb body? Hot water soak? Oil? It appears in decent condition but I'm afraid to stretch it over fears of breaking it.
When I research it, I find solutions for the opposite problem. I seldom encounter orings that have stretched. Mostly shrunken ones.

Thanks.

[SUKI]

Well I have seen a few Tecumseh fuel bowl to swell when exposed to E10 fuels but have never came shrinking O-rings bowl gasket. Maybe because I am always replacing them in the first place but that may just be me.

Now if they shrinking when not exposed to fuel then soaking them in the fuel for awhile may re-expand them.

[creia]

I really cannot answer your question as I always replace the carb o-ring if I am cleaning and/or rebuilding a carb.
Michael

[38racing]

My experience is carb cleaner expnds them but will usually dry back to size.

[bgsengine]

Yup. My experience is like others - but I'll go a step further and say that also my experience with the shrunken ones means they are basically dry rotted - The fuel washed out some of the components of the rubber o-ring without breaking the bonds of the rubber itself, as the fuel evaporates from it, the o-ring shrinks .. In other words, if your o-ring shrank, it's definitely past time to replace it anyways. - So, my advice to anyone doing any carb work, if you are not going to immediately put it back together, plan on getting yourself some new o-rings and gaskets. As a general rule, I'll try and have gaskets, diaphragms, etc already on hand for the carb in question before even starting work on it - sometimes that means waiting a week or two to get parts shipped in, but it is far better than discovering that you can't GET parts anymore, and without the important o-rings, you're basically SOL and going to need a new carb (if you can even get one)

[lefty]

Thank you

[Arkie]

I've felt your pain.
I do as bsengine suggests, but if the o-ring bowl gasket looks ok for maybe re-use I leave it in gasoline to try to keep it at same size from drying out while I'm cleaning the carb. Once one has shrunk and dried it's usually a SOL. I do the same thing with some gaskets, diaphragms, etc.

If I suspect the carb or any other part is a dinosaur egg type I check on-line first to get an idea how carefully I need to handle the vintage part. I then know before hand how carefully I need to proceed with the ONE vintage egg.

[lefty]

Thanks.
I ultimately ended up getting it to work by soaking it in oil overnight and then some gentle stretching. I would have loved to replace it but the kit was 1/2 the price of a new carb. I thought of an aftermarket and picked one up but I'm always more comfortable with the OEM. At least I have it here in the event I need it. The best price I was able to find on the kit was like $75. It comes with a float but I thought that was a little excessive when all I needed was the bowl gasket.

[KE4AVB]

It sure would have help if you posted the equipment info as I might have a PN for the o-ring or an alternate repair kit. This price and with a float sounds like a Kohler carburetor.

[lefty]

PS-SV530-3222 Serial: 4508402463

Sorry. I had posted it with another topic and must have missed it here.