Filler cap gasket materials.

Hi guys,

Can any materials other than nitrile rubber be used as filler cap gaskets? Doc had kindly offered to help me out if I cant find anything and Trevor pointed me to a source for this stuff in the UK. I'm wondering if something like Bicycle inner tube material or motorcycle tubes would work? Perhaps even HDPE home made discs etc?

Anyone have success fettling up new ones from other materials?

Ian....

 

Yes:

"Viton? fluoroelastomer is the most specified fluoroelastomer, well known for its excellent (400?F/200?C) heat resistance. Viton? offers excellent resistance to aggressive fuels and chemicals and has worldwide ISO 9000 and ISO/TS 16949 registration"

- from Dupont

 

Hi Ian, as you have already been well advised the best material for these gasket washers is Nitrile rubber. Use sheet material about 2mm (0.08 in.) thick.

Under no circumstances should you try rubber from car or bike inner tubes...it will soften and eventually dissolve if immersed in kerosene or gasoline.

These filler cap gaskets are a safety critical component. If they fail and leak on a operating gasoline/ Coleman fuel stove you are quickly in fire-ball territory, with all the dangers that implies. A leak on a kerosene stove is less exciting but should still be avoided.

I have seen leather filler cap washers on very early kerosene stoves and cork was also used for some smaller washers. However we have now moved on from these natural materials and I would only cut up my belt and make a temporary washer if I was miles from anywhere and really in need of warmth and a hot drink.

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

If the gasket happens to be ring shaped, how about an o-ring (a nitrile one, that is)?

Knut

 

Yes, but ask for flat washers at the auto parts store. The round style will seal, but Flat ones seal better.
Flat washers show up on ebay occasionly...

 

ilerner2

I have been using O rings on my filler caps on my lanterns for almost ten years now without a hitch, cheap, fast and very available

 

Hey, Ian,

I, too, have used Nitrile O-rings for fuel cap gaskets, and they do work. However, I still prefer the flat ones, as Baja has recommended. This is mainly because I sometimes have cranked down a bit too tight on an O-ring gasket, and deformed it! So, as a safety precaution, against MYSELF, I use the flat Nitrile washers, most of the time! Now, one place where I've had fantastic success with using O-rings are fuel cap gaskets, is in rebuilding the older Coleman fuel cap gaskets!! There are the older ones with the brass keeper, which is held into the cap with a screw through the top of the cap. After removing that keeper, I use a torch to burn out the remains of the old gasket, then after the keeper cools, replace the washer with a Nitrile O-ring, and VOILA: a perfect job!! Brother Lance, and a few others here at CCS, turned me on to that tip, and it's been wonderful every time I've done it. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

Okidoki felllas, thats good enough for me. I have decided to order a sheet of nitrile material from the UK and make my own as Trevor suggested. I am just waiting to hear back on shipping prices. Thanks to all who replied.

Ian...

 

Oh, good tip the Orings, But please rember nitrile rubber is extremely toxic if burnt, so if you have a fire keep well away from the fumes.

Rob

 

Rob; really ?
Toxic fumes are emitted when Nitrile is burned ?

Thanks for the good tip

 

Yes, very much so. As a member of our Rural Fire Service we were told to be very carefull of fumes usually from motor car fires because of the nitrile rubber usually in the engines of cars.. VERY TOXIC

Rob

 

Hi, Rob would appear to be correct:

"Nitriles sometimes release the highly toxic CN− cyanide ion. See the article on cyanide for a discussion of biological effects and toxicity"

This is an extract from the Wikipedia entry;


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrile

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Hi Kerophile,
Interesting article, seems more complex than meets the eye.

Thanks,
Rob

 

Great info! Does anyone have a source for 2mm nitrile rubber sheet in the USA? I have looked it up on the net and found a few sources, but they seem to only sell in bulk. I really don't need a 3x10' sheet, but only a couple square feet. Thanks in advance!!

 

I bought a kit of gasket material from my local True Value hardware store. Several 4"x6" sheets of sundry gasket sheeting including red fiber, brown fiber and approx 2mm semi-soft rubber like material. I've cut several gaskets of each and the rubbery stuff makes wonderful filler cap gaskets. I tested some of it first by soaking 1/4" x 1/2" bits in baby food jars of denatured alcohol, kerosene, Coleman fuel, and automotive gasoline. None of the test bits have been affected as far as I can tell and the experiment goes on. (over a year now).

The kit cost less than $3.

Gerry

 

McMaster; www.mcmaster.com, has everything, including nitrile rubber sheet. If you order over the phone by 3:30 (maybe even 4:30), they'll ship the same day. No minimum, great service 99.99% always in stock (by my calculations). As long as you're ordering, you can get some brass sheet, stainless metric rod, flame-proof mitts, pyrometer, solder, 10 kinds of polish and an ultrasonic cleaner.

Gary

 

Thanks Gerry and Gary for the sources. I will probably try the hardware first and if they don't have anything, I'll call McMaster and get some nitrile to try. I picked up a couple 9061 Enders from Omaha Surplus and they are in need of several gaskets as the old ones are pretty hard.

 

I've looked at the McMaster site and don't know what temp. range Nitrile to order... Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

hi ilerner2 any chance you could tell us where in the uk you can get the nitrile please,as i could do with some myself

 

Hi, Here is an ebay listing from a UK supplier of Nitrile rubber sheet. I find that the 1.8mm to 2mm thickness is best for filler cap washers and NRV washers:

Nitrile rubber supplier

Best Regards,
Kerophile