Looking to replace the gaskets under the round access covers of my Edo 2440 floats, which are starting to show small cracks in their rubber. These gaskets have an inside diameter of 5" and an outside diameter of 5.5" with a 0.25" round cross-section. This corresponds to size 429 O-Rings. Edo is asking $12 each for their replacement gaskets, multiplied by 14 covers, that equals a total cost of $168 plus shipping. Meanwhile, commercial O-Rings are available online for a little as $1.50 each, in multi-packs with free shipping, depending on the type of rubber composition and Durometer rating.

Does anyone know the exact specifications (type of rubber & hardness rating) of the gaskets that Edo sells?

Are your gaskets leaking during rain events? If not, I'd use some sort of clear silicone grease, and continue to use them. Not sure a few cracks is a big deal.

If they are leaking (and in my experience, ALL floats leak some from rain fall), to the point where it's a concern, I would just buy a set of the EDO gaskets. $168 is cheap for airplane stuff, and in my experience, those gaskets will last a LONG time.

Consider: When were the last EDO 2440s made? Had to be over thirty years ago.....so, your gaskets are how old??

I'm not sure Wipline's inspection covers are the same size as EDO's, can't recall. But, you might look at them, if they are....might be a little cheaper, but probably not.

It's aviation after all......in the grand scheme of things aviation $168 is cheap.

MTV

I'd be very comfortable sourcing an aftermarket supply of these gaskets, just don't expect them to last as the original EDO ones.

Thanx Guys, I appreciate your input!

I spent quite a bit of time cleaning debris, over-sprayed paint and what looked like decomposing rubber from the underside of the access covers & around the indentations where the gaskets sit on the floats. That alone should improve sealing out some of water into the future. So, I'm not interested in introducing any additional messy sealants into this area, at least for now. Since, I'm not the original owner of these floats, I can't say for sure whether these gaskets are original Edo equipment, or if they were aftermarket replacements? Now that I am the owner, I intend to inspect, clean, and if necessary, replace them more often than every 20 or 30 years. I agree that $168 is not a big deal if they will last a long time. I just wasn't sure how often they might need to be replaced ...

Thanx again, Dave

BluNosDav wrote:Thanx Guys, I appreciate your input!

I spent quite a bit of time cleaning debris, over-sprayed paint and what looked like decomposing rubber from the underside of the access covers & around the indentations where the gaskets sit on the floats. That alone should improve sealing out some of water into the future. So, I'm not interested in introducing any additional messy sealants into this area, at least for now. Since, I'm not the original owner of these floats, I can't say for sure whether these gaskets are original Edo equipment, or if they were aftermarket replacements? Now that I am the owner, I intend to inspect, clean, and if necessary, replace them more often than every 20 or 30 years. I agree that $168 is not a big deal if they will last a long time. I just wasn't sure how often they might need to be replaced ...

Thanx again, Dave

Dave,

Those things should last for years. I bought an old set of EDO 2000s, stripped them, re sealed them, and painted them, then re-installed the gaskets that were in them. That set was fine when I sold them several years later.

I flew a particular 185 for ten years. Floats stored outside in winter. Gaskets looked like new after ten years.

Just buy em, and lose time and brain cells on other stuff.

MTV

For the price go buy the cheap ones, check them out, don’t trust them till you get some supervised water around them, go from there. It’s not like a internal engine seal, I’d say worth a try.


That said, if the cracks aren’t crazy bad I’d try to just treat them before I even bothered to replace.


Now if it were me, depending on the season.

Slow winter season I’d play with the cheap ones to see if they are any different

Float season, not worth the time, I’d just pay up for the edos

It’s important to realize what these things actually do. They are intended to provide a seal between the float deck and the hatch cover. Who cares, right? Well, depends if it rains. If it rains, water flows down decks, and if there’s any gap, it flows into the float compartment. Now, a little of that is going to happen…..the idea of the gaskets are to minimize.

So, the question of whether a “replacement” will do the job will be revealed with your plane afloat in water……give that some thought, then make your decision.

MTV

Who cares about the front few but that back few I would consider very critical and would splurge. Aft end of my floats are underwater fairly frequently, for sure daily, due to stepping on them while the plane is loaded heavy. Sometimes the last access cover is underwater the whole taxi/warmup depending on load and power setting. You'll see air bubbles if the gaskets don't work and you'll feel it on the next takeoff. I don't want 30gal of water in my floats at a moment arm that is near equivalent to the horizonal stabilizer.

I went through this 2 years ago. We didn’t blanket replace them all on advice from the very knowledgeable folks at Kenmore. As MTV said, all the back ones and the forward ones on condition. I happen to live next to Kenmore Air. I would be happy to help get the O-rings.