3D printed fuel sender gaskets
Replacing the sender in the tank of an A body typically results in a leak around the replacement rubber gasket. There’s been comments about the new lock rings being too thin, etc.
Having a 3D printer handy and knowing TPU filament is flexible and impervious to gasoline, I’ve been using it for gaskets between the air cleaner and carburetor. TPU has worked well so I decided to print sending unit gaskets of different thickness. I made 5 gaskets starting with the same thickness as the rubber gasket and increased thickness in 0.5mm increments. Figured I’d sneak up on the “right” thickness gasket….
Turns out that 1.5mm thicker gasket worked great. Snug fit even with the new lock ring, no leaks so far. One thing I noticed is that the TPU gasket did not try to “bunch up” or wrinkle like the rubber gasket did.
I’ll let everyone know how this works out after a few weeks, but I’m expecting them to work just fine.
Ken
Replacing the sender in the tank of an A body typically results in a leak around the replacement rubber gasket. There’s been comments about the new lock rings being too thin, etc.
Having a 3D printer handy and knowing TPU filament is flexible and impervious to gasoline, I’ve been using it for gaskets between the air cleaner and carburetor. TPU has worked well so I decided to print sending unit gaskets of different thickness. I made 5 gaskets starting with the same thickness as the rubber gasket and increased thickness in 0.5mm increments. Figured I’d sneak up on the “right” thickness gasket….
Turns out that 1.5mm thicker gasket worked great. Snug fit even with the new lock ring, no leaks so far. One thing I noticed is that the TPU gasket did not try to “bunch up” or wrinkle like the rubber gasket did.
I’ll let everyone know how this works out after a few weeks, but I’m expecting them to work just fine.
Ken
