Modern Vespa

I took this port cover off thinking I had the right gasket in the kit but I did not.

Would you:
1. try to acquire the right gasket?
2. reuse the old gasket, with (a) or without (b) sealer?
3. make a new gasket from automotive gasket material, and use with (a) or without (b) sealer?
4. Some other solution?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

if the gasket that was in place is not compromised in any way-- ripped, cracked, oily, etc-- and came off clean I'd give it a schmear of the goopy stuff an snap it back together.

if it's jacked, I'd whip one up right quick out of some type of papery kind of stuff. thick manilla envelope, file folder, court summons or the like. and give that the business with some sealant.

under no circumstances should you raid the war department's craft supplies and abscond with the "good paper". it's journaling season and you have been warned.

^^^ This

Maybe it's just me, but I always have a roll of gasket paper on hand for situations like this. And the whole roll will cost about what that gasket will probably set you back.

The old gasket looks ok. I'd reuse, and it seems like a blanking plate from the looks of it. So should be good.

I always use sealant with gaskets.

So many times the gasket leaked with parts torqued to spec.

Just seems to be the machining on most parts aren't that great.

Hence the folders full and rolls of gasket paper.

I imagine CM and some other folks will be the same. A4 sheets of 0.25mm all the way to 1.5mm. And having a dislike for cutting holes with a scalpel, 1mm to 12mm hole punches.

Just saves shipping and time making your own sometimes.

What sealant do you like?

Not precious with the sealant on Vespas, used three bond, Xtraseal 750c rtv and permatex rtv.

All seem to work ok. Not had any problems.

I keep a hole punch set for making gaskets also. Works better than a drill bit and old block of wood.

Thanks all. I did raid the scrap booking stash for a hole punch. I had some gasket material on hand but it was much thicker than the original, so I decided to use the old one. It was in good shape.


the punch was fair game, the sewing scissors were not

Like others have said, I have a set of punches.

I always use sealant, depending on the requirements, either Permatex Aviation Sealant, Loctite 510 flange sealer, or RTV Red for hi-temp seals.