I've been known to be a cheap fella and make my own gaskets as well as have generic fuel line on hand. Easier than waiting for the exact part and the performance is the same. What are you using on the exhaust side of things? Is that metal gasket stuff available that I could just cut off a sheet what I need? Intake is easier as its not exposed to nearly as high temperatures. I bought a set of gasket material off either ebay or Amazon for that which is working out well for all sorts of projects.
For intake you can get that stuff at any auto parts store. If I am really in need of an EX gasket I cut two out of a beer or soda can and use them both on the exhaust side of the engine. Works as well or better in most cases than a regular gasket.
Once you flatten out the can, you can cut out the gasket using a cheap set of kitchen scissors, and a leather or paper punch for the bolt holes and internal corners. Correction: a whole bunch of exhaust gaskets cost 5¢!
I have used copper sheet before. My freshman year in college I was working at a junk yard. On one of my off days some dipchit brought in a bunch of his (deceased ) grandpas machine shop stuff and sold it for scrap. The other guys got most of the gauging stuff. When I worked again I found they had missed a box full of copper sheeting. About 30 pounds worth. .005" on up to 100 thou. I bought it at scrap value. Ten years later I've hardly made a dent in it. I imagine aluminum can would work too.
how do you flatten the can? I use a can opener on the top and bottom...then slit it down the middle....
The square is actually the last thing I cut. I have access to a Bridgeport at work, so I sandwiched an oversize blank of Coke can between two pieces of plywood, and clamped that sandwich down on the mill table. I punched the main center bore with a 2" Forstner bit, drilling through wood and aluminum together. The holes for the M5 screws were "drilled" with a 3/16" end mill. Then I took it off the mill, positioned the gasket on the base of the cylinder (using screws to keep it lined up), and trimmed around the outside with a utility knife. Using the Bridgeport is probably overkill, but I have it so why not?
nothing wrong with that... actually I sue my mini mill to make mine too... not near as huge as a bridgeport but great for small stuff.
The metallic gasket material is Grafoil or some equivalent. McMaster-Carr used to sell it in sheet form. I'd always save the center of a pipe flange gasket - easily cut to any shape
I finally found a use for Michelob Ultra! This poor saw, just trying to keep it limping along. The laundry list on this thing makes it not worth fixing, so I am doing my best.
