Bulkheads with no gasket?

I have a few bulkheads that push the gasket out and over the bulkhead when I tighten the bulkhead up. Can you install bulkheads without gasket and maybe just silicone the crap out of them? Or, does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried different sizes and thicknesses of gasket, with and without silicone, with no luck. I'm about at my wit's end. This is the last thing I have to do to stop a leak in the plumbing, if that's even where the leak is. It is very likely that the leak is in the plumbing though. Any suggestions?

 

with gaskets just tighten maby 1 turn once it gets tight if it pushes out and over like that its to tight.

 

Yeah, sounds to me you're over-tightening them. Using anything but the gasket (or anything in addition to) and you're likely to develop a leak.

 

I clean up around the hole on both sides, then hand tighten. If it leaks, then a small coat of silicone around the outside will work.

 

Agreed...adding RTV silicone around the outside of a leaking gasket will only put a "band aid" on the real issue.

Sometimes, just loosening the nut and spinning/wiggling the gasket will help. If you like, you can use a small amount of silicone o-ring grease on the gasket prior to installation.

 

Read my Bulkhead Installation Tips sticky post here on 3 Reef, it should answer all your questions and then some.