The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
EXPERT TELLS HOW
TO MAKE A GASKET
An Important Part Of q Mo-
torists knowledge and
Equipment.

'The'inexperienced motorst little reai-
lies what an important part gaskets play
| in the proper functioning of an auto
mobile" says William II. Stewart. Jr..
president OF the Stewart Automobile
School, "They are found at every place
where there is a Joint. and when they
become damaged tho engine suffers.
I "A gasket may be defined as n piece
OF soft material placed between two sur
faces to prevent leakage. Usually they
are made of paper or asbestos card, but
the best are made of copper asbestos,
meaning two very thin sheets OF copper
with asbestos between them. 1t may
be objected that copper Is not soft
material, but II certainly is softer than
! the two pieces of cast iron or steel be-
tween which II is placed. and so the
definition holds good. As tho parts are
squeezed together the gasket adants IT.
self between the two surfaces and so
makes a tight joirt.
Paper gaskets are placed at the bot
tom OF the cylinders to prevent the oil
. from leaking as it is splashed about the
cylinders Also at the water pump and
| other places where there is no great
heat. It must he evident that asbestos
or copper asbestos gaskets are required
around the cylinder head. the exhaust
manifold and the inlet manifold. These
gaskets are stamped out by special ma
chinery and 80 must be purchased. But
the motorlst may cut one himself from
asbestos card. using the old one as q
guide. When the joint IS set up securely
by means OF the bolts such q Rasket will
be found 90 he quite reliable hut Il GER
tainly cannot be as satisfactory as one
of copper-asbestos.
Paper Gaskets must be made every
time a part is removed. as they are torn
in the process OF removal.
There are two ways Of cutting them
lone 10 by means Of a hammer, and the
other by means OF a knife or scissors
A fairly heavy grade Of wrapping pape1
is best II is laid over the surface tc
be covered and the finger is run alons
the edge to be cut in order to mark thu
outline. Here a dirty finger is better
than a clean one as Il leaves a mari
that is easy TO follow. The paper Il
now cut along the ine OF the surface
by a hammer delivering rapid blow
very close together. This is n very salts
factory method and the one usually EN-
, ployed. II n knife or scissors seem
preferable either one may be usod t
follow the outline marked by the fiaser
Bolt holes may be cut very neatly p,
tapping with the rounded end Of ma
chinist's hammer.
such gasketa must be sheliaclSed Il
order to hold properly The shellac /
applied to one side OF the gasset an
also to the surface and the two ar
placed together before they dry. Befor
the other part is replaced It also receive
a coating of shellac as does the othe
side OF the gasket. The bolts are nov
set up as tight rs possible and the join
will be found 10 hold satisfactorily
Leakage Of oil through Il rasket ma,
rea div he discovered hut leakage OF q /
, into a manifold Is not so easy. n
gasket leaks al the inlet manifold It vii
give lean mixture and consequent los
OF power. When such a leak Is sus
pected, run the engine and inject oi
, around the joints to see II Il ia sucke
in. II It is you have located the leak
IN which event you should tighten til