PerfTech
Well Known Member
....I have been watching the threads on intake gaskets and their shortcomings. This is and has been a problem with Lycoming engines since their conception. This is one of the main causes of rough idle and a lean cylinder out of sink with others etc on carburated engines. There have been some efforts here recently to solve this issue with " Fluorosilicone Intake Gaskets" and this was a step in the right direction, but not necessary. I didn't say anything about this until now because it appeared a considerable amount of effort and expense had went into getting gaskets made and distributed. I didn't want to look like the party spoiler, but now it seems to have died down so here it is. We solved this problem in the mid seventies, haven't used a Lycoming intake gasket on any of the engines built or serviced by us since, and have never had a failure or problem. As a matter of fact we reuse our gaskets over and over. The gaskets you want (Spruce # 77611) are actually copper exhaust gaskets. They have the exact same bolt center distance and bore as the intake ports and will last the full life of your engine and then some. We usually coat them with a very thin film of high temperature silicone if re-using them. This gasket has a crush ring, is made of solid copper, and is literally blow out proof. This will solve all your Lycoming intake leak problems permanently. This is one of those "rock and hard spot" situations! Some having had a need for gaskets will be mad that we didn't post this sooner, and others involved in making or distributing the fluorosilicone, that we posted it at all! We are not trying to rock the boat, just offering a 100% solution to the problem. Regards all, Allan......