[Kurt in NJ]

It was common for gaskets that have been stored to shrink, water is a way to make them "fit" ---this is when they were mostly made from "natural" cork, now most are cork crumbs with a binder, they don't shrink as much if at all ---so if it is too short soak it, if it fits don't
too much soaking can make the gasket too big, getting the gasket wet, but not keeping it underwater i have used many times