O-Ring kits

[thebreeze2012]

I'm looking for a decent Oring kit, for motorcycles, atv's, Etc. I would like something of good material that will last for a long time, hopefully something made in USA.


After a quick google search the only thing that came up USA was Cat Oring kits, and I don't have the loot for that right now, I don't need them often but l would like to have them so when I do need them I don't have to run to the store, wich may not even have them in stock.


I see the china kits for like $20, but I'm sure it's like their fuel hoses that break down in no time?


Also what different kinds is there, I seen silcone rubber and viton, are there any others, and what is the difference between them as far as application.


Any Info would be Appreciated....

 

[heytrid]

get a metric sized kit

http://www.marcorubber.com/material_chart.htm

 

[mazdarules]

look for a kit of Viton o-rings duro 75. I purchased a kit from theoringstore dot com and I have been happy with the quality of the product I received. If you must have USA sourced o-rings, look for a kit of aviation spec M83248/1 o-rings as they are usually made in the USA. The material used in the o-rings is more important than the COO... stick with the more expensive Viton and you will have no problems

 

[bwringer]

McMaster-Carr?

No clue whether this link will work, but search for "metric o-ring kit" and you'll see the choices.

Nitrile/Buna-N is the correct o-ring material for carbs and engine bottom ends (resists gas, oil, antifreeze, temps up to 212F/100C). Viton works at higher temps (like oil passages in cylinder heads, intakes) and resists more exotic chemicals (which you'll likely never encounter), but Viton o-rings are four or five times the cost.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=vi59gx

Viton o-rings are usually a tiny bit harder than Buna-N, but this doesn't seem to cause any issues in carbs.

The kit is a good start but won't cover everything -- I work on a lot of Japanese motorcycles, and quite often end up ordering o-rings in the tiny oddball sizes used inside the carbs. (Stuff from McMaster-Carr gets to me overnight.) Or sometimes it's easier to just order OEM o-rings if you can't get an accurate measurement on some deeply buried widget.

I also keep metric o-ring cord stock around in several diameters -- with a razor blade and a teensy dot of superglue, you can make your own o-rings and o-ring seals in a pinch.

 

[SantaAna12]

McMaster-Carr?

No clue whether this link will work, but search for "metric o-ring kit" and you'll see the choices.

Nitrile/Buna-N is the correct o-ring material for carbs and engine bottom ends (resists gas, oil, antifreeze, temps up to 212F/100C). Viton works at higher temps (like oil passages in cylinder heads, intakes) and resists more exotic chemicals (which you'll likely never encounter), but Viton o-rings are four or five times the cost.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=vi59gx

Viton o-rings are usually a tiny bit harder than Buna-N, but this doesn't seem to cause any issues in carbs.

The kit is a good start but won't cover everything -- I work on a lot of Japanese motorcycles, and quite often end up ordering o-rings in the tiny oddball sizes used inside the carbs. (Stuff from McMaster-Carr gets to me overnight.) Or sometimes it's easier to just order OEM o-rings if you can't get an accurate measurement on some deeply buried widget.

I also keep metric o-ring cord stock around in several diameters -- with a razor blade and a teensy dot of superglue, you can make your own o-rings and o-ring seals in a pinch.

Interesting. So Superglue is resistant to gasoline?

 

[Rusty32]

Hercules sealing products but don't get sticker shocked the price changes dramatically when added to the cart

 

[bwringer]

Interesting. So Superglue is resistant to gasoline?

It's unclear. Some cyanoacrylate glues are advertised as gasoline resistant. However, you really aren't going to be making your own o-rings in the teensy sizes used in carbs.

Making o-rings out of cord stock works fine for larger sizes and for oddball shapes like water pumps, where there's a bit of wiggle room because the thickness is much smaller than the ID.

 

[ron350]

The original posters question about what kind of o-ring compounds to buy can be complicated.

Using the wrong o-ring compound can cause a system failure so it is important to choose the correct compound.
You can do a search for o-rings and companies usually have a chemical compatibility chart. Look at several company charts and you will learn what to order.

Twenty years ago American vehicles would use three (3) basic o-ring compounds.

Fluorocarbon (Viton) used for gasoline

Ethylene Propylene used for brakes

Nitrile used or almost every thing else

Today’s vehicles will have updated compounds where Viton and Nitrile were used.
They will use a enhanced Viton compound that better resists the aggressive additives in to days gasoline. They will also use updated Nitrile like HNBR to resist higher temperatures.

You can’t go by color with o-rings any more. I can hand you a black Viton, Ethylene Propylene and Nitrile o-ring that are all the same density and you won’t be able to tell them apart.