Carb boot gaskets, can you make your own?

I'm going to go ahead and replace the rubber boots between the carbs and the engine. I have the boots off my old bike, and the gaskets are $6.50 a piece and need to be ordered, I was wondering if I could just cut my own? I did it before out of special paper for my car, should I be able to do the same thing for this?

I'm not trying to invest a lot more in this bike doing this for the person that bought it so she want have to worry about it later on down the road.

 

I make my own Gaskets all the time.

I machined a old 22mm Socket to be Razor Sharp at the edge for cutting circumferences.
I use a Pliers-type "Hole Punch" for Bolt and Stud holes.
Exacto Knife.
Scissors when needed.

You just want to make sure its going to fit.
Buy one Gasket and make that be the pattern for the rest of them or just use and old gasket and straight pin it to a cork message board to hold everything while you do an accurate trace.

 

sweet, thanks, this will save me $30 or so and she'll not have to mess with it later on, and it will give me something to do

 

Trick someone taught me years ago:

Oil the face of the carb holder. Press on your gasket material. The oil will stain the pattern on there for you. Then cut away the clean parts.

 

I cut my own carb holder gaskets. Traced the carb holder onto the material with a Sharpie and cut with a hobby knife. Worked pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I still have enough material for a few dozen more gaskets though. :roll:

 

One more question about this, do I need to use some kind of sealer, I notice that there is a sealant on the gasket sides of the ones I am scraping off atm, I have some blue gasket maker stuff, silicone based that is for higher heat, used ot to seal off a thermostat before, can I use it for this also?

 

I was told not too use goo, so I am curious to see what answers there are as well. (insert eating popcorn smilie here)

 

A simple method for making the holes in the gaskets is to use old bullet (shell) casings. A hammer and light tap makes perfect holes.

Sean

 

Well, I might skip it then, cant se much of a reason for it, the gasket and pressure should be enough to hold 9it all together and make it air tight, plus the goo was onesided, looked like it was just to hold the gasket to the boot

 

Sealant should not be necessary. Actually I used Permatex Gray Gasket Maker alone before I cut my own gaskets. It melted from the high cylinder head heat and apparently got sucked into my intake leaving me with massive vacuum leaks.

My gaskets went on dry and haven't leaked so far.

 

I use Permatex High-Tack Spray a Gasket.
But, I don't spray it.
I shoot some into a Tuna Can and use an Artists Brush to apply the sealant to the Gasket and the surface the Gasket will contact.

You wait until the stuff "Tacks-up-good" and then join the parts.
No leaks of any kind get by that stuff.

 

X2!!! mechanic by proffesion and hobby, and i never put on a gasket without hi-tack. after it sets up you could remove the bolts from the flanges and the bike could run all season with no leaks. its awesome stuff.

 

I always used the old Indian Head shellac.
Wait for it to get tacky.
Doesn't form a gasket but it will hold the gasket to the piece while you mount everything.

 

Does anybody have a recommended thickness of paper when buying a roll? Cheers

 

Grab any hard cardboard stock. Stuff like cereal box or pop box will work. Soda box for the U.S. guys.

 

I always go with 2-ply.

 

I use the Fel-pro rubber fiber sheets. Seals oil, water, gas...etc. Made many gaskets with it.

I buy it at the local speed shop, Napa carries it as well.

 

Cerial box + spray-on gasket dressing in a pinch. Proper gaskets are better though.