https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/radius-safety-cap-seals.17258/#post-176018 @presscall Thanks to Prescall for brainstorming and putting together this link for building a Radius SRV seal. I don't have two dremels but got the job done with my disk sander and hand drill. I used 2mm Viton sheeting. The old seal measured 20.5mm in diameter. Here - Taking off a bit at a time until I got that number. Cutting bit in dremel with seal in mandrel chucked up in drill. I found the dishing makes putting the cap back together a bit easier as it's thinner (less volume). The original seal was only 1mm thick. Good for another decade or so! Jerry
Reading this with great interest as I did John's post as I have a RADIUS stove somewhere in the mail. I hope it gets here...
@Metropolitantrout Hi Jerry. Watch this space! I had an email from Gary (BernieDawg) recently. He told me he’d acquired a mint (or barely used) Radius cap and opened it up to find the seal was flat and not dished. His hypothesis, which I believe is sound, is that the pressure and heat of venerable Radius seals, coupled with the effect of those radial holes, is to cause them to distort and retain the distinctive ‘dished’ shape after years installed in the SRV cap. I say ‘watch this space’, I’m awaiting the outcome of some further investigative work from BD. John
@presscall That is interesting John, keep us posted. I made a flat one using the 2mm Viton sheet I had (I think 1mm would be ideal) but it didn't work as well. Could be that I didn't tighten the cap halves down sufficiently. The "dishing" helped make the seal have a bit less volume and the two halves of the cap were easier to tighten together. Perhaps it's overkill but I enjoyed learning a new technique for shaping rubber. Cheers, Jerry
Quote of the Week in my book Jerry. Exactly right, new techniques/skills are never wasted. I’ll certainly post more on this topic when Gary’s back in touch. John
@presscall John...I had also thought it would be unusual when you really think about it that RADIUS would of gone to the bother and extra expense to make a "fancy" dished seal. I'm no expert but I can't think of any other seal I've encountered with the stoves I've fooled with at least that were anything other than flat. It really does make sense. Looking forward to hearing more on this. Thanks for that update and looking forward to hearing more on that.
@Metropolitantrout , @presscall , and All, Jerry and John, this is a great interplay between you two Gentlemen, and I further appreciate that Gary has join-in, too, via you, John! I recall that, back when you and others were working on making Radius 42 cap seals, the dished out vs flat gasket was discussed in depth. It seems to me, that the seals I got from Korea, or Japan, were all flat, with no dished-out area. I'll have to dig them out, to make sure my memory is on track..... or, if I've, instead, had a "brain-fart"! Thanks, again, to you both, and to Gary, for this discussion. I look forward to further information, as it becomes available. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
I have about 50 or so never used seals. They turn up from time to time in online auctions. I can confirm that the seals are flat. The same goes for all the Radius fuel caps of similar design e.g. Radius 10, 12, 119, blow torches etc. Used ones become dished and harden over time with a similar shape to Jerrys DIY. I can post some pics if it is of interest.
Oh well, seven years on from my original post, @Metropolitantrout ’s going down the same route of making a seal in a ‘dished’ form, BernieDawg’s recent investigations and it’s good to have that evidence at last! John
I have three 42's so I'll have a look later today. If they need seals then It will be a flat seal with punched holes I'm afraid. Si
Being in control through reverse psychology by pro-actively dishing your own seal is an angle that is not being discussed here. By making them flat to start, heat and pressure win over time. I'm not prepared to let that happen on my watch.... Jerry
