T&T: Perko Size 7 gasket request

[rudysechez at yahoo.com]

> I've had on back-order a set of
> gaskets for my new-to-me Perko raw water strainer. The
> recent comments regarding making my own have intrigued me.
> Does anyone have a set they are willing to trace on paper
> and snail me? I'm certain I can duplicate but with nothing
> to work from...


Janice, a few thoughts. 

First, the catalog price for a set of gaskets for a #7 Perko strainer is $17.00 through my supplier. If you need, I can get them and then mail them to you. It is 0400, so I cannot get a wholesale price right now, but I would suspect it to be approximately $10-$12, and shipping to be around $8. 

I don't know where you ordered the gasket set, but West Marine should also be able to get them. I'm assuming that when you say back ordered, you mean that you are having trouble getting them.

On the other hand, you sound like you just want the fun of making them yourself. You can make the gaskets for this strainer from cork sheeting, approximately 1/16" thick, maybe slightly thicker, use what is available, but not too thick. This cork sheeting is usually available from auto parts stores. 

Use the strainer, and the glass cylinder (now a days, the cylinder is plastic) as your guide- big enough to extend slightly outside of the cylinder, but narrow enough to fit into the plate; wide enough to extend into the cylinder but not so far in that it blocks the drain plug. The gasket for the lid needs to be sized to fit into the groove that is in the lid. Measure, then draw with a pencil compass, or a can, or anything of the diameter that matches the size gasket that you need. 

These gaskets are not terribly difficult to make, and if you screw it up, you are only out the cost of the cork.

Another thought: I usually find that once a Perko strainer needs the set of gaskets replaced (not just the gasket in the lid), the drain plug in the bottom plate, and quite often, some if not all of the tie rods need replaced also. How do you know that the gaskets need replaced? There is evidence of leaking- that greenish stuff on the body of the strainer.

If they do, but are not replaced, they can fail, allowing the strainer to leak, or flood. These items are not bronze, but are brass. They dezincify, weakening them to the point where they can fail. 

This will be easy to notice with the tie rods, as when you are taking the tie rods apart to replace the cylinder's gasket, the threads/nuts will break off if the dezicifacation is advanced far enough. But since the plug does not need to be removed to replace the gaskets, it is often overlooked. Be sure to remove the plug and evaluate its condition. 

If you need new tie rods, the catalog price is around $90, but they can also be made by yourself with brass rod and the appropriate sized threading die. I would guess that a wholesale price would be around $70.

If the plug crumbled when trying to remove it,or is soft, get the appropriate size threading tap, and use it the clean out the threads. The plug can be replaced with a standard stainless steel plug that is found in plumbing departments.

Yea, I was assuming that you don't know any of this. 

Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl