Heat exchanger gaskets

[DavidNZ]

Hi all.
I am rebuilding my Cummins VT-555 heat exchanger and I am not having much luck sourcings parts in particular o-rings and gaskets.
Have contacted Cummins and gave them my engine number and still no luck.
So I am going to make my own end cap gaskets.
Just need to be sure I am using appropriate gasket material.
Any advise would be appreciated
I think I have sourced o-rings which arrive today so hopefully will fit.

Thanks.
David

 

[Marco Flamingo]

When I had my Lehman rebuilt, the shop taped the new exhaust gasket to the manifold. I wondered whether it would survive the trucking to the marina. Several days after the install, I found an old wall calendar in the engine room. It had a piece cut out of the cardboard backing just the size of the exhaust manifold gasket. Hmmmm. Looks like the gasket didn't make it to the marina and the mechanic improvised a gasket from the calendar backing. That was 800 engine hours ago. I'm not recommending this course of action, but it made me think that "appropriate gasket material" covers a lot of possibilities. Some gaskets don't have to handle extreme heat, vibration, pressure, etc. Just make sure that the word "Cheerios" doesn't show (or would that be Weet-Bix?)

 

[DavidNZ]

Well that made my day! Funny story …
Maybe good wax packaging is all that is needed
On a serious note … it is hard to find this info. People just say I order the part so not sure what material it is.
Will keep searching….

 

[BruceK]

Cork is the obvious choice but buying it thin enough might be difficult. Auto shops?
IMO you can do a lot with cardboard or even paper if, after cutting and just before installing, you smear it with silicone gasket making material.

 

[Serene]

Cork is the obvious choice but buying it thin enough might be difficult. Auto shops?
IMO you can do a lot with cardboard or even paper if, after cutting and just before installing, you smear it with silicone gasket making material.

I did this myself a few weeks ago. Had a leak from the aft end of the heat exchanger cap. Removed and cleaned both surfaces, then went to Autboarn and bough a sheet of their generic gasket material (not cork) and made up my own gasket. I had to use two layers as the thickest sheet I could buy wasn't the same as the previous gasket. Joined them with gasket making material and bolted it back together. No issues so far.

 

[DavidNZ]

Thanks all for your replies. I have made gaskets using Viton rubber sheet 1.5mm thk buy thinking these maybe too thick and may affect the o-ring sealing not pulling up correctly. So reading your replies I think I will get some generic gasket paper from the auto shop and do the same with silicon gasket maker. Will let you know how it all works out. H/ex tubes still a bit clogged with sea salt scale so still cleaning these as well.