Please Help, thermostat housing o-rings

[Grumpy]

Had a o-ring leaking on the back of the thermostat housing,  got the new o-rings today, and noticed they are tapered with a lip. My question, which end goes in first, the small part or large end of the o-ring. I cannot see any thing in the manual that says any thing about it.

[Black Dog]

Not trying to be a smart azz, but can't you look at how the old ones were installed? 

I did the same job, a few summers back, and if memory serves, I believe the smaller taper goes in to the thermostat housing first...  Making the alignment easier, and popping in to the seat.

Black Dog

[Grumpy]

They were replaced by a friend a couple of years ago, and started leaking again, that is why I was trying to find the correct direction. Don't want to do this yearly.  

[Steve K (IA)]

This sounds like one of those "Oh Crap!" moments. 

Like when I replaced my fork seals.  Grumpy, I'm pretty sure you are a machinist, I was for many years.  That oil seal for the forks has a chamfer on one edge, you'd think that would be the edge that you would drive into the tube, right?  Wrong!  You drive the blunt end in.  I found that out the hard way.   Hopefully someone here has the answer your looking for.  Or try asking the mechanics at the Honda shop.  I know that would be a long shot as most mechanics don't know much about the Valk.  But then again, it is the GW engine and a GW mechanic might know the way that o-ring goes in.  Or try posting that question on a GW board.

[alph]

I don't understand.  I changed my thermostat last year and it had a rubber sealing gasket that fit around the thermostat.  It didn't have a tapered side, both were the same on either side.  If it really bothers you, get some "form-a-gasket" and do it right.

[Grumpy]

I don't understand.  I changed my thermostat last year and it had a rubber sealing gasket that fit around the thermostat.  It didn't have a tapered side, both were the same on either side.  If it really bothers you, get some "form-a-gasket" and do it right.

This is the back of the thermostat housing, where the two feed pipes go to each head.