Just wanted to let everyone know that a head gasket can be made at home for about 5$. I've been using home made gaskets made out on this green material 1/16 inch thick . I'm not sure of the technical name for this material but I purchased it many years ago. It's the same type of material that I've bought for the exhaust gaskets for my 32 foot Luhrs ( and exhaust - intake gasket on the palmer). the only label on the material (reverse side) says 1500 AFC. it takes the heat and pressure but it did need replacing this year.
My Palmer is in a 1961 Oday 24' sailboat. Took the whole thing apart this year because of no compression . The gasket must have been wet over the winter and froze.
The connecting rod bearing and valve guides look like new. Sanded the top of the head and cylinder used the gasket described above and it now is popping along (hopefully for another 45 years)...lol.
Now Maybe You Can Help Me? I keep having problems with the zenith carb... it floods out only on the engine. in the bench it does not flood.Even holding it in my hand (not attached to the intake)it doesn't flood. ive lowered the float and it still floods.ive added a pressure reducer in the fuel line and still it floods. to use the engine some times i turn on the electric fuel pump count to 10 and then turn it off when the motor starts to fail i repeat the process.. 15 mins down my canal not the easiest way to get down the canal ,but it has worked for quiet few years.
