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by vfinn 1281 days ago
Maybe you don't mind me asking. I have a small hole in my top-loading washing machine's rubber seal and I have been wondering whether it could be fixed (a new seal costs 100$ and it'd feel nuts to throw it away for environmental reasons alone). I know there are rubber glues, and I have made tests with one, but the question is can they be used inside a washing machine. Does anyone know (a solution to this problem)? The hole is 4cm x 1cm.

Edit: As a side note I have wondered also whether I could use two pieces (of metal, let's say) that I'd screw/press together tightly to prevent the leak. Does that make any sense?
3 comments
bagels 1281 days ago
Hard to know whether a metal gasket would work here, but it's extremely unlikely as you need tight tolerances and high clamping force. Rubber is used here probably because those things are absent, and there is probably movement involved. Other commenter has the right idea, you can probably make a new gasket.
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vfinn 1281 days ago
It's hard to say what kind of forces are involved. I could probably open the side panel and be able to see if I run it without water. I was hoping the rubber seal would mostly be flapping along mildly as a whole.
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doctorwho42 1281 days ago
Depending on the size and shape of this seal(gasket), you can go one of two paths; (1) use a gasket compound, it comes out liquidish and then sets into a rubber. (2) buy sheet gasket material similar to your gasket, and trace and cut the gasket out. Depending on size the sheet cost could very between a few dollars to like $10-15.
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blamazon 1281 days ago
How about a bicycle inner tube patch? Those are generally resilient to the elements.

Or an air mattress patch, or a pool liner patch, or a jetski seat repair patch...

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vfinn 1281 days ago
I was thinking of a truck wheel patch, but I'd like to be sure there won't be any stains, and that the glue won't react with the detergent, for example. I don't know if it's possible.
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blamazon 1280 days ago
In that case I think you want something that will 'vulcanize' with the material in the gasket, rather than being adhered... I don't know if that's feasible for your exact material but I know there are methods of rubber patching that are more akin to welding than glueing.
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vfinn 1279 days ago
Yes, something like that crossed my mind also, but it could be that it's not feasible in small diy work. Have to check.
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