Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
- Coelacanth
- Approved Member
- Posts: 7421
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Alberta, Canada
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 325 times
Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
The gearbox seals (a thin strip of foam-rubber with adhesive backing on one side) on the Optima series of cars often wear out or dry up and crack. What do you guys suggest as a better or cheaper alternative to the original adhesive sponge strip?
Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
- ROH73
- Approved Member
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:07 am
- Location: State College, PA
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 22 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
I've always just cut thin strips from 1/8" thick weather stripping and glued it in place. The adhesive backing on the weather strip (and, in my experience, the original Kyosho part) never stayed on long. Some CA takes care of that.
- mikedealer
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1778
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 12:25 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
what ive done, which is probably more effort than it is worth, is to take a sheet of hobby foam, like the 3mm stuff
like these
http://www.michaels.com/Creatology%E2%84%A2-Foam-Sheets/gc1328,default,pd.html?cgid=products-kidsteachers-creatology-foamworld&start=38
-Spray a square of it with 3m adhesive foam
-Spray a peice of scrap paper with some adhesive spray, and press gear cover over it to get glue on edges
-Let both peices dry slightly to get real tacky
-Press Gear Cover into foam and slice off excess edges with a sharp exacto knife.
-After that slice outside interior foam with knife again
You will have a perfect flush cut seal, and it wont leak, if dont well, it should look beautiful and perfect. Plus its not like the original foam crap that bends and warps around sharp turns.. this will be custom cut to fit. i like the black foam for this too, but they sell all colors.
like these
http://www.michaels.com/Creatology%E2%84%A2-Foam-Sheets/gc1328,default,pd.html?cgid=products-kidsteachers-creatology-foamworld&start=38
-Spray a square of it with 3m adhesive foam
-Spray a peice of scrap paper with some adhesive spray, and press gear cover over it to get glue on edges
-Let both peices dry slightly to get real tacky
-Press Gear Cover into foam and slice off excess edges with a sharp exacto knife.
-After that slice outside interior foam with knife again
You will have a perfect flush cut seal, and it wont leak, if dont well, it should look beautiful and perfect. Plus its not like the original foam crap that bends and warps around sharp turns.. this will be custom cut to fit. i like the black foam for this too, but they sell all colors.
- Coelacanth
- Approved Member
- Posts: 7421
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Alberta, Canada
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 325 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
Thanks guys, if you have any other suggestions, keep 'em coming. Mike, I love your idea! There's a Michael's on my way home from work. 

Completed projects: CYANide Onroad Optima | Zebra Gold Optima | Barney Optima | OptiMutt RWD Mid
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
Gallery - Coel's Stalls: Marui Galaxy & Shogun Resto-Mods | FrankenBuff AYK Buffalo | 1987 Buick GNX RC12L3
- mikedealer
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1778
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 12:25 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
ive used the thin foam under batteries too, to prevent noise and a bit of shock absorption.
If u are feeling really adventurous with a blade, they sell thicker foam about the same thickness as a RC10 tranny gasket, one could be cut from it, always wanted to try cutting some but never had patience
If u are feeling really adventurous with a blade, they sell thicker foam about the same thickness as a RC10 tranny gasket, one could be cut from it, always wanted to try cutting some but never had patience
- losiXXXman
- Approved Member
- Posts: 935
- Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:53 am
- Location: Cary, NC
- Been thanked: 5 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
Since we are on the subject of those gear covers.... Has anyone attempted to mold one? I want one, but I;m not going to pay $20 for one on ebay.. At that price point it becomes worth it to me to at least try my hand at making one..
- mikedealer
- Approved Member
- Posts: 1778
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 12:25 am
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Substitutes or better alternatives to gearbox seals?
i would mold some but they would probably cost $10 each to make lol, i think the better option is to have the lexan ones for the torque pinion reproed
Create an account or sign in to join the discussion
You need to be a member in order to post a reply
Create an account
Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute
Sign in
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 0 Replies
- 565 Views
-
Last post by Chemical
-
- 5 Replies
- 2105 Views
-
Last post by Lonestar
-
- 2 Replies
- 428 Views
-
Last post by HS-YZ250
-
- 3 Replies
- 1124 Views
-
Last post by Mark Westerfield
-
- 10 Replies
- 2033 Views
-
Last post by a01butal
-
- 3 Replies
- 885 Views
-
Last post by radioactivity
-
- 8 Replies
- 1246 Views
-
Last post by Caine
-
- 0 Replies
- 812 Views
-
Last post by Mark Westerfield
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Mojeek [Bot] and 16 guests