Take a look at my KD-12

[henry200]

Mike, I sent you a message via your aol email from "fonds8"

 

[henry200]

After leaving water in the tub for 24 hours it appears that the small leak in the gasket between motor and tub has closed up.  The spot where it was leaking is completely dry.  Perhaps the gasket just needed more time to soften up after being dry for a long time?  I'm going to run the machine through another cycle again to be sure.  I'm sure the likelihood of finding a replacement gasket is somewhere between lightening strike and lottery winning.  Has anyone ever "made" a gasket to fit?  Is there such a thing as "blank stock" gasket material from which to cut a new one?  Would re-seating the motor to the tub using a high quality silicone sealant/caulk work or is that inviting disaster?

 

[Unimatic1140]

Perhaps the gasket just needed more time to soften up after being dry for a long time?

Absolutely, the gasket shrinks over time and hot water makes it expand and seal again. It usually takes 24 hours for the the gasket to repair itself if it is going to (which doesn't always happen).

I never look for new-old-stock gaskets, I always cut new ones from fresh roll-cork or sheet neoprene. New-old-stock cork gaskets dry-out and degrade many times simply by sitting on the shelf. Sometimes even new gaskets wont work if the cut area in the metal has rusted or deformed from moisture, in that case I use Permatex Ultra-blue non-toxic silicone which has never once not stopped a leak.