Carb Cleaning Question on Gaskets

Took off the lower end of the carb and there's a gasket. There was nothing in Rickb's writeup on cleaning carbs about gaskets. Should they be replaced or can they be reused if they look ok? Is carb cleaner going to mess them up?

Cheers.

 

If the carb gaskets are still undamaged, reuse is ok. Avoid getting chemicals on them if you can (good luck on that one) and make sure that the bowl screws are in but not "gorilla" tight.

 

Should the bottom half be put back on after being cleaned or should it be left off until the top half is done as well?

 

The factory recommendation on the bowl-to-carb body screws is 3.5-to-4.5 ft-lbs. of torque, which, technically-speaking, is EXACTLY not equal to "gorilla-tight"...............

 

I seal the gasket to the Fuel Bowl. An old habit carried-along from my racing days. I "Paint" the side that makes contact with the Carb Body with Marvel Mystery Oil ... as well the mating surface around the Body where it will make contact.

The Fuel Bowl side is flat. There is a small ridge on the Carb Body. Be sure to clean off any foreign matter from atop and along side the ridge so the new gasket makes a nice firm seal.

The Gasket, painted with the Marvel, will make a solid seal onto the ridge as the oil helps it find a nice crush pattern completely around and on the top of that ridge.

Once you button-up the Carb this way ... when it's necessary to remove the Bowls, no peeling away or sticking prevents the Gasket from being lifted, cleanly, off the Carb Body and being reused over and over again.

It's safely attached to the Fuel Bowl where it will stay until it is easily removed with a razor blade.