"Reedie" Cox venturi gasket tip

For folks who have not yet had the "pleasure" of running across this problem, a leaky gasket will cause fuel to be drawn into the venturi. Most times, you can adjust your needle to get the engine to run fine...until the fuel level drops below the venturi. At that point the engine will go lean...hopefully enough to stop it.

It usually leaves you wondering why the run was so short.

SuperDave's solution is an excellent one. Some say that a razor blade is the best device to slice the tubing. It may take you several tries to get a good straight cut.

George

could a vegetable slicer not be used to get a consistant straight cut?

nitroairplane wrote:could a vegetable slicer not be used to get a consistant straight cut?

I guess but I use an Exacto #11 blade which I have on hand on my bench.

Messing with my wife's vegetable slicer spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E! I learned this long ago when I used one of her kniting needles for modeling purposes.

SuperDave

SuperDave wrote:

nitroairplane wrote:could a vegetable slicer not be used to get a consistant straight cut?

I guess but I use an Exacto #11 blade which I have on hand on my bench.

Messing with my wife's vegetable slicer spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E! I learned this long ago when I used one of her kniting needles for modeling purposes.

SuperDave

many of us have learned this the hard way i learned when i used the metal cupcake foil things to mix small batches of diesel in this got me in trouble even though they are disposable and only cost £1 per 50.

"Wisdom borne of pain"

SuperDave

gcb wrote:
SuperDave's solution is an excellent one. Some say that a razor blade is the best device to slice the tubing. It may take you several tries to get a good straight cut.
George

Find a piece of brass tubing that will slip snugly over the fuel tubing. It doesn't need to be long, just a half inch or so, but be sure one end has been cut square and filed smooth. To get the fuel tubing into the brass tube, slice one end off at a long angle so it may be pushed thru the brass far enough to grab. Pull the tubing through so only a small bit remains showing, then use the brass tubing as a cutting guide. I've found I can cut very thin gaskets this way. The snug fit will keep the fuel tubing from flattening out during the cut and leaving a little nub on one side of the gasket. A new double edge razor blade works well --- it's very thin and very sharp.

The venturi gasket is one of the most overlooked failure points in these engines. The gasket deforms over time, takes set or may get lost. It can be one of the most aggrevating problems to fix if you're not aware it has started to leak.

andrew

andrew wrote:

gcb wrote:
SuperDave's solution is an excellent one. Some say that a razor blade is the best device to slice the tubing. It may take you several tries to get a good straight cut.
George

Find a piece of brass tubing that will slip snugly over the fuel tubing. It doesn't need to be long, just a half inch or so, but be sure one end has been cut square and filed smooth. To get the fuel tubing into the brass tube, slice one end off at a long angle so it may be pushed thru the brass far enough to grab. Pull the tubing through so only a small bit remains showing, then use the brass tubing as a cutting guide. I've found I can cut very thin gaskets this way. The snug fit will keep the fuel tubing from flattening out during the cut and leaving a little nub on one side of the gasket. A new double edge razor blade works well --- it's very thin and very sharp.

The venturi gasket is one of the most overlooked failure points in these engines. The gasket deforms over time, takes set or may get lost. It can be one of the most aggrevating problems to fix if you're not aware it has started to leak.

andrew

I like that cutting guide tube, thanks. That may make a better gasket than the ones we buy from our suppliers. They have odd shapes and I always compare a few before I select one. I always get a few spare o-rings for $.99 with every order, but I'm going to use some of the soft clear silicone fuel line next time. I am also going to check the fit of the short black tubes like the ones for the PT-19 tank. They cost $.99 for a lot more material.

RknRusty wrote:

andrew wrote:

gcb wrote:
SuperDave's solution is an excellent one. Some say that a razor blade is the best device to slice the tubing. It may take you several tries to get a good straight cut.
George

Find a piece of brass tubing that will slip snugly over the fuel tubing. It doesn't need to be long, just a half inch or so, but be sure one end has been cut square and filed smooth. To get the fuel tubing into the brass tube, slice one end off at a long angle so it may be pushed thru the brass far enough to grab. Pull the tubing through so only a small bit remains showing, then use the brass tubing as a cutting guide. I've found I can cut very thin gaskets this way. The snug fit will keep the fuel tubing from flattening out during the cut and leaving a little nub on one side of the gasket. A new double edge razor blade works well --- it's very thin and very sharp.

The venturi gasket is one of the most overlooked failure points in these engines. The gasket deforms over time, takes set or may get lost. It can be one of the most aggrevating problems to fix if you're not aware it has started to leak.

andrew

I like that cutting guide tube, thanks. That may make a better gasket than the ones we buy from our suppliers. They have odd shapes and I always compare a few before I select one. I always get a few spare o-rings for $.99 with every order, but I'm going to use some of the soft clear silicone fuel line next time. I am also going to check the fit of the short black tubes like the ones for the PT-19 tank. They cost $.99 for a lot more material.

That is because the tubing us stores in large amounts so holds it cylindrical shape whereas the gaskets are stores as they are sold and that means they are prone changing shape.

Any way you "cut it" I'm glad that you like the idea that I suggested.

(Now how's THAT for a play on words?)

SD

You should have made you user name "The Wordsmith".