Anyone into rubber

[Vespa no more]

Any idea on what changes in rubbers - do they dry out? or is there some chemical change?

Question for all:what is the best rubber salve we have found that will maintain rubbers in good condition. In Australia I can't offer anything better than either Armour all or Silicone spray

Ideas welcome

Guy

[Martin]

What rubber bits, Johnny uses auto trans fluid on his fork seals. Surf City produces a good non greasy, non dust attracting, UV filtering product called Black Max.  Available in some auto stores or on the net. About $30.00 Au a for 16 oz or $110.00 Au for a gallon. Works well on plastic and rubber. Missus loves it I will get a gallon next time.
Regards Martin.

[Vespa no more]

What bits?
Well not the missus' bits

Was thinking about the usual suspects - crankcase ventilation hose, fork seals, fuel hoses and any other rubber bits that the season (or earlier) wipe with "magical rubber conditioning product" will prolong the life and lessen likelihood of cracking.

So your call is UV. Might use the family sunblock on it (or even white zinc - us Aussies will still have a tube left over from our childhoods).
Will do a test and get back to you in errr 5-10 years.

Thanks for the reply

[Martin]

The Surf City Black Max product is very good but dear. I first found it in a coin in the slot car product dispenser, in a car wash in a one use sachet.  I previously used a product from Polyglaze Dash and Trim Care, not as greasy as Amorall and cheaper than Black Max. I can only get Black Max now from one place now, the one on Ebay, but he is local. Previously a Autobarn store did stock it but now doesn't, he also suggested a product called 303 Protectant interior and exterior.  I have a bottle and will report if it is as good as Black Max. From a previous post might be helpful. http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7703.msg54318.html#msg54318
Regards Martin.

[F14CRAZY]

UV light, heat and petroleum are bad for rubber

[Brad-Man]

I may be wrong, but I believe products like ArmorAll leach the oils from the interior of the rubber/vinyl.

Once you use it on something you HAVE to keep using it or you are quickly worse off than before.

I use wintergreen oil and acetone or xylene mixed 50/50 to restore hardened rubber bits.

If you leave them soaking too long they swell up, but taking them out of the solution and letting them air dry a few days and they go back to normal.

This has worked well for rubber bushings, footpeg rubbers and the rubber dampeners used to quiet head fin ringing on my RD's.

I believe a UV protectant would be your best bet.

[Laitch]

I believe a UV protestant would be your best bet.

What? Catholics aren't up to the task? Let's see the data.

[Martin]

Brad I used to use Armorall then Polyglaze which is very similar, now I use Black Max with UV protectant. Switching products doesn't seem to have done any harm. The 303 interior exterior protectant also has a UV blocker and seems to be as good as the Black Max. The Black Max is a thicker product applied with a pad, the 303 sprays on then you wipe it. I am going to do each tragkorb with a different product for a comparison. And I believe mine are Buddhist.
Regards Martin

[Brad-Man]

What? Catholics aren't up to the task? Let's see the data.

damn smartphone..

I'll have to get the Black Max then - I sure will never use ArmorAll again...

[Martin]

I have tried both the Surf City Black Max and the 303 Protectant on the Brick and the Honourable Minister for Finance and Recreations car. The Black Max is easier to apply (pad applicator) and it covers better it is also glossier. The 303 is harder to apply in a controlled manner ( spray application & wipe with a soft cloth) especially in the car on the dash without getting it on windows and other parts not requiring treatment. It does tend to streak occasionally requiring a second application it does however give a matte finish. Both products claim the same things UV protectant will restore faded bleached trim, non greasy. As I have been using Black Max longer it has lived up to most of the claims I'm not sure about restoring faded bleached trim, both seem to work to a point. Pretty even on how good they restore faded plastic as long as it is not to far gone. I will stick with the Black Max only due to the ease of application and it seems to go farther. Hope this helps someone. As this is an American product I am interested to see if anybody else is using it.
Regards Martin.

[jay1622]

When I started my tear-down last year, I immediately cleaned all of the plastics (remember that pic from the kitchen sink), and hit everything with an aerospace protectant an aviation interior builder recommended. As the months went on, and I reached for my plastics, bit by bit, I was amazed at how well it all held up. For those of you who've seen the finished pics of my rebuild, I never reapplied the stuff. My hoses, plastics and other guts were inmediately transformed and still look and feel as good as they did when applied. There's also a butt-load of UV stuff.

https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant

[irtubes]

Rubber doesn't really “dry out” in the same way as a liquid. Aging can involve oxidation, ozone exposure, heat and UV, along with changes or loss of some additives in the compound. These processes can gradually reduce elasticity and cause hardening or cracking. A suitable protectant may help with surface condition, but it won't reverse deeper material degradation.