Permatex

[Mitch]

Hello all. I haven't posted in a while, but I'm here everyday reading everyones wisdom. Hope everyone and their boat is doing well. As I am still new to sailing, this will be my third season, I have many questions as always. My boat is being launched early this year. April 15 instead of late May. I pay to have the pros winterize the engine. After they are done, I remove the impeller for the raw water pump, and reinstall on launch day. My problem is I do not have a new cover gasket yet. I saved the old one, but it is ripped. Is it possible to use something like permatex/permagasket, with or without the old seal? I only have to run the engine to motor to my slip. Less than 5 minutes. The motor is a Universal 5424 with the Oberdorfer pump. Many thanks and smooth sailing to all.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If it were me and we're talking about a 5 min run,I'd put the old gasket on rather than use permatex. The problem is in not knowing if or how much gasket goo might get squeezed into the pump impeding rotation of the impeller. That plus the mess you just created only to have to remove, clean and replace with the proper gasket makes little sense to me.

Just beware that any air leak may cause the impeller pump to not prime in which case you will not see ANY discharge water. Easy enough to verify water flow before getting underway.

 

[rardiH36]

Presume this is the papet type of gasket?. When I bought an impeller once from a Yanmar dealer and the gasket was not in the package, they told me that chart paper from an old chart works fine for impeller type cover gaskets ... which I did and it lasted until the next time I put in a new impeller. Now, I have a roll of gasket paper which is handy to have around. I use the old gasket and cover to trace/cut the new gasket and a drill bit to make the holes. In a pinch, I think any thick paper, such as file folder paper would work. Then cover it thinly with permatex to give it some water proofing. ("Thinly" because as Don says, you don't want the permatex to squeeze into the pump.)

 

[Steve Dion]

Mitch:

You may also want to consider a speed seal. It allows you to r/r the impeller without the use of tools. They seal it with an o-ring and a little grease. It is a quick and easy way to deal with the impeller. I believe that you can purchase one from Torresens.

http://www.speedseal.com/speedseal.html

If you want to stay with the paper seal, just purchase some paper gasket material and have several of them cut to size and ready to go.

 

[Rick Webb]

Make One it's Easy

You can buy gasket material or I've found the cardboard from a twelve pack of beer works great.

From the waterpump place your gasket material on top and lightly tap around the edges with a ballpeen hammer. This will give you a good outline to trim from to make the final trim. While your at it make two or three for spares.

 

[sailaway78]

For a few cents

Just replace the gasket with a new one. It's not worth any risk on such an important item, when it costs so little. You can make your own, or buy new, but replace it. The clearance between the impeller and the cover is somewhat critical, and I wouldn't want anything in there that could or would change it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The Oberdorfer doesn't need a speed seal, the access from the front is excellent.

Use a paper bag to make a new gasket. Don't use cardboard, it's too thick.

 

[DougM]

Get a new gasket!

It's just not a good practice to re- use an old gasket.Too much risk involved .

I would second the use of a Speedseal. It uses an O ring instead of a gasket. When you buy it, it actuallly has some spare O rings with it and thumb screws to replace the original equipment screws.