T/A air cleaner seal all bent up. How to get it right>

I have a year one seal and it was packaged folded up like this one.

Any hints on how it get it looking like it should? Look here

Maybe:

Install the seal on the base, and set it out in the sun.
or
Install the seal on the base and run a hair dryer around it
or
maybe soak the seal in some warm water and install it on the base, and let it dry?

Other than that, I got nuttin...

maybe get some 1X2 firring strips, and build a little jig in a square the same size as the baseplate mount, with rounded corners, and stretch the gasket over it, and let it sit for a few days, somewhere warm, in the sun, etc. shouldnt take too long to relax the rubber, and get it into close to what you need for shape.

Those seals are always bent up out of the box. I have about 10 on my shelf. I think the seal will be fine once you glue it on and leave it for a while. Glue it to the base and set the air cleaner base out in the hot sun for a while.

If you don't want to chance it, another idea is to lay the seal out over a large round shop fan for a while. A hot sun always helps speed things up.

Do you have the joint tape yet Kevin?

"joint tape"