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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Gaskets and Sealants

Local suppliers, including Halfords, no longer seem to stock either Hylomar Blue or the Red Hermetite sealers that used to be the standard and preferred quality products.

Have they simply gone NLA or is this aggressive marketing by up coming competitors?

What are good replacement products?
(e.g. for assembling paper gasket joints on gearboxes)
GuyW

I’ve been using Loctite 5922 gasket dressing. So far so good.
Dave O'Neill 2

My rib-case was assembled with silicone. It's not leaking yet. A Lotus twin-cam specialist that I have used also recommended silicone in preference to the likes of well-seal, hylomar etc. To this end I reassembled my twin-cam engine in this way with new gaskets and I have no leaks (yet) - admittedly this was only 500 miles ago.

Just have to make sure that everything is very very clean.
Simon Wood

Is silicone or Locktight used in place of the paper gaskets, or in addition to the paper ?
GuyW

You can get Hylomar online. I use it on paper gaskets.

Bob Beaumont

No additional sealant or goo is needed with the correct paper / card gaskets. The Loctite Dave mentioned is simply tacky stuff to keep the gasket in the perfect position while assembling.
I use Loctite 594 - it's very similar. Loctite products can be confusing, not onl;y do they make a vast range, many of which seem to do the same thing, they keep changing the spec and appearance too. My 594 is a purple colour but the current one is white.
David Smith

EDIT (missed the 5 minute thing).
Got my numbers mixed up. I actually use Loctite 534 gasket positioner, works perfectly.
David Smith

Demon Tweeks or RS Components - you might find an RS locally.
Chris at Octarine Services

Guy - you vist shops? How very retro of you! Online for me all the time. Mind, I am in the middle of nowhere...
Oggers

There is a downside to buying online, as I’ve just discovered.

I bought a new motorcycle battery on eBay, from a relatively well known retailer. It is not holding its charge and the seller hasn’t been particularly responsive. Their latest suggestion though, is that I send it back to them for testing, although it is now full of acid which makes it a little difficult
Dave O'Neill 2

I'm a bit of a fan of VHT copper coat in the spraycan
Easy to use and seals up great
you can spray it on and after half a minute or so it's sticky enough to sit the gasket in place and it stays there--best part is when you pull it apart next time it comes away easy and just leaves a copper coating that's easy to clean off
really good metal headgasket sealer(used sparingly)
William Revit

Guy

I feel the same about not being able to buy locally such consumables. No independent motor factors left near you?

Hylomar have got an enquiry part of their website to find local suppliers - could be worth a try, particularly if you find a 'new' motor factor not previously known to you near you: http://hylomar.com

Merlin Motorsport sell Blue Hylomar (and Red Hylotyte): https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/s/fluids-oils/fluids-miscellaneous/page:2

I always have had a tube of Blue Hylomar and Red Hermetite in the toolbox. Not sure about if the latter is still available or the Red Hylomar (Red Hylotyte) product is an alternative or even a renamed product.

I use less and less frequently such gasket sealant these days compared to 30 years ago fixing old Minis. Now rely on gaskets alone and clean and flat surfaces. Then the 'blue poo' was applied liberally to many surfaces, probably inappropriately in terms of gaps that needed to be set by gaskets alone, or in terms of torque settings - was great, however, for sorting out the mating surface of pitted partly corroded alloy castings of old tired thermostat housings.

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Thanks Mike, I never thought to look for the hylomar website! However - their page to search for a local supplier wants name, email, telephone, postcode etc. Far too much information when all I want is a "nearest town" location map.

There are local independant motor factors. Or at least regional independants. The two I tried didn't stock Hylomar. There is a tractor repair place but I didn't try them though I have found them helpful in the past. I was really bemoaning the loss of the range of such products from Halfords who are slipping further and further from being a store of any use at all to me.

Due to a RAK of someone here (again!) I think I am sorted now, But it was helpful to hear what others use these days.
GuyW

Guy if you don't have any luck finding some I have half a tube of blue hylomar you can have but I am away until Wednesday, let me know and I can drop it round or you can pick it up
Andy Tilney

Thanks for the offer Andy. Should be OK now. I am going to be away for a few days anyway.
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 12/09/2018 and 13/09/2018

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