Engine oil pickup assembly

[Toms1951]

Took this apart though it was rinsed really well in the solvent tank.  Including photo.  There also seems to be a cotton string gasket wedged into the flange.

[Rus Curtis]

I took mine apart also.  I wasn't satisfied with rinsing/soaking as there was junk inside.  That's really interesting about your gasket find.  Mine looked just like twine.  It crumbled when I tried to pull it out.  I wasn't sure what it was made of so I painstakingly cut out a thin cork gasket - hoping it would hold up.  Never thought of taking photos during that project.

[Ron D]

Found waxed cotton twine in mine also, but it surely can't be there as a "gasket" as the whole thing is floating or submerged in motor oil.
Why "gasket" one side only?
All I could think of was "anti-rattle" to keep 2 pieces of tin tight against each other.

It's not listed in the parts manual.
I took mine out and didn't replace it (making sure the cover fits tight).
With 3 tabs it's not going to come off by itself.

Don't need more loose crud floating around the oil system than necessary.

[Toms1951]

Yeah I just can’t figure out that string.