Antique Tractor Restoration Tips
“ Make Your Own Gaskets ”
One of the first things that stood out when doing our first antique tractor restorations was the cost of gaskets, if you could find the ones you were looking for. Shopping around for the gaskets on our Farmall Cub restoration project, it was not that hard to find what we were looking for, but the cost involved was really ridiculous. A couple of front wheel bearing dust cover gaskets, pto gasket sets, transmision gasket sets, etc. the cost was easily going to run well over $100. Then the thought of how they would arrive after being shipped was horrifying. The solution was simple. Make our own.
All that is needed to make your own gaskets is a set of gasket punches to cut the bolt holes (under $10 at a discount tool supply), a sharp pointed knife, scissors, a pencil to trace the part you are making the gasket for and gasket material. The gasket material itself is very nominal in costs and comes in a variety of sizes and thickness. Make sure not to make a gasket to thick or thin when making your own. Use the old gasket as a guide.
Making the actual gasket is simple, if you have an old gasket in good shape, you can simply trace it, cut it out and punch the holes. The other option is to simply trace the part you are making the gasket for on the gasket material and cut it out.
In my many years of working in the auto repair industry I have made numerous replacement gaskets when there were no replacements available. Even gaskets as complex and carburetor top gaskets with no problems. The gaskets you make yourself will match or exceed the quality of replacement gaskets and you can save a bundle of money in the process.