Leaking Toploader gasket

[davids2toys]

So following up...a few things I have learned along the way after to talking to David Kee and Permatex
I called David originally to order the breather and a few other things. We had a brief discussion about gasketing and sealing the bolt threads. Then I called Permatex. I did not know all their products only have a two year shelf life. You can use the Ultra as a stand alone with wait time or as a dressing with no wait time or you can wait a little if desired. They advised waiting a bit after finger tight. I also learned they have changed their directions, it is torque to spec, no more 1/4 to half turn after waiting an hour. Their directions on their site are all screwed up and they know it. All the Ultra products are used the same way yet all their directions are all different. It is wait one hour after finger tight, then Torque to spec. Wait 24 hours before adding fluid and operating. The word "rigid" for the Ultra grey application is for small foreign precision made engines where the parts are not shifting around. For our type of applications, they would recommend the Ultra black, "it is the same as the grey only much more flexible". I have had good luck with the Ultra grey and I will stick with it. They also highly recommend not using this product for threads on fasteners for a few reasons including needing air curing. They recommend their thread sealant with PTFE for threads. Also, anytime you used anything on the threads it acts as a lubricant and your Torque figure needs to be adjusted (reduced) for this. He was guessing roughly by about 20%. I went on line and found lots of information backing this up. Anti seize was the worst offender needing the maximum amount of adjustment. I then called David back for further clarification. He uses Permatex Ultra grey as a skim coat dressing on/with the paper gasket. He also fills up all the threads of the bolt with the Ultra. He torques them to 15. No wait time or anything else. Of course everything very clean. Ne told me he had customer leaking issues with the use of the PTFE product and uses the Ultra to remedy customer leaking issues. He said when he needs to go back in and take something apart that was sealed with the Ultra, the threads range from either powdery or sometimes still slightly uncured , but they don't leak! He also seals the breather hole from inside the cover, a blob about the size of a penny. "Even if it was to fall off, it won't get past the gasket and go into the tranny"
So, I think I will follow the David Kee tried and true procedure with one modification. I will reduce my Torque figure 25% so it will be about 12 ft lbs.
Hope this helps anybody interested in this type of info.
Dave