Goop Hand Cleaner To Soften Dried Rubber?

[PabloCruise]

I have heard that you can use Goop Hand Cleaner to reconstitute old rubber fittings that has dried/hardened.

Has anyone done this?

I have some rubber pieces on my 55 that are hard to find, so I would like to do anything reasonable to get these pieces back to service.

If anyone has any input/guidance to restore these pieces, I would love to hear it!

 

[BigRedFJ40]

white lithium grease works well. Or, I believe (please double check) that PB blaster works to rejuvenate stiff rubber pieces.

I know that have used the white lube and it worked well.....

 

[FJ40Jim]

Yes, plain old Goop creme hand cleaner, works wonders sometimes. Cleans & softens dirty old rubber parts while you do the dishes.
Use soft bristled brush to work it into the dirt, then wash w/ cool water. Don't use soap for a final wash, or the hand softener (which is protecting the new-ified rubber) will be washed away.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Kind of OT for this thread, but I've been using linseed oil on the hard gray plastic parts, like the blinkers on a '78. It works great. It wouldn't hurt rubber for sure.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Kind of OT for this thread, but I've been using linseed oil on the hard gray plastic parts, like the blinkers on a '78. It works great. It wouldn't hurt rubber for sure.

What does it do for the plastic? change the shine, change color?

Where is linseed oil sold?

 

[DSRTRDR]

linseed oil is sold where oil paint is sold - artist supply stores, hobby stores

I have been told brake fluid is the magic potion

 

[cruiserloser]

Cleans & softens dirty old rubber parts while you do the dishes.

Love it Jim....."you're soaking in it" Palmolive....old school, brother.

Where is linseed oil sold?

Home Depot or home paint supply.

 

[FJ40Jim]

linseed oil is sold where oil paint is sold - artist supply stores, hobby stores

I have been told brake fluid is the magic potion

I have heard the same thing, BF will soften and darken black parts temporarily. Also heard that it will quickly fade, since BF is hygroscopic and is drawn back out of the rubber by atmospheric moisture.

Have also heard that the BF trick is dangerous on some rubber/plastic pieces because it can dissolve things.

Never tried BF because I'm a

 

[DSRTRDR]

I used brake fluid on the rubber strip the goes under the windshield - it's holding up quite nicely - tip came from Tools R Us

I also used it on a spare rubber strip that I store in a ziplock bag - made it look black again, and still looks good after a year

 

[landcrusher909]

Good Thread ! I have been wondering what I was going to do with the LV window rubber. Since the window rubber cant be replaced I need to try to restore it then fill in the cracks with something. Thanks

 

[skidplate]

I use "Sil-Glyde". Its a slicone based grease made for rubber parts, like when rebuilding wheel/brake cylinders. The stuff is clear and works great.

 

[PabloCruise]

Love it Jim....."you're soaking in it" Palmolive....old school, brother.

That reference was not lost on me either. Good one Jim!

I use "Sil-Glyde". Its a slicone based grease made for rubber parts, like when rebuilding wheel/brake cylinders. The stuff is clear and works great.

Where does one source the Sil-Glyde?

 

[skidplate]

I think I got it at Car quest, Kragens, or Auto zone? If not there, any brake shop should have it.



Where does one source the Sil-Glyde?[/QUOTE]

 

[PabloCruise]

Thanks!

I was actually at Auto Zone last night.

They did not have Goop. They had other waterless hand cleaners, do any of them work for the rubber?

 

[Fast Eddy]

What does it do for the plastic? change the shine, change color?

It changes the dry, chalky plastic to a more original, shiny appearance. My parking lamps/blinkers have held up now for about 6 months. I'm going to try it on the super-chalky rear-view mirror today, now that I'm thinking about it.

I used brake fluid on the rubber strip the goes under the windshield - it's holding up quite nicely - tip came from Tools R Us

Brake fluid eats right through paint though. Maybe not if there's not much of it?

 

[FJ40Jim]

I think I got it at Car quest, Kragens, or Auto zone? If not there, any brake shop should have it.



Where does one source the Sil-Glyde?

Yeh, local CQ had it when I bought a new tube a year ago. New tube looked just like the last 2 tubes I 'borrowed' from the parts department 18 years ago.

 

[DSRTRDR]

It changes the dry, chalky plastic to a more original, shiny appearance. My parking lamps/blinkers have held up now for about 6 months. I'm going to try it on the super-chalky rear-view mirror today, now that I'm thinking about it.



Brake fluid eats right through paint though. Maybe not if there's not much of it?

I took the rubber strip off the truck - applied brake fluid by rag, liberally - dried it off with another rag some 5 minutes later - waited another 10 minutes or so (this being in Arizona dry air) and installed it again

the spare rubber strip is still in the ziploc bag, which is intact after a year

 

[numby]

Yes, plain old Goop creme hand cleaner, works wonders sometimes. Cleans & softens dirty old rubber parts while you do the dishes.

Madge!

Linseed oil is also known as flax oil.

 

[skidplate]

Madge!

Humor is lost only to the wipper snappers!

 

[Ziffdaddy]

Man, brake fluid is asking for trouble...I've had tiny drips that just eat through paint in seconds... awful big risk with other products out there...
Careful of linseed oil, too....it attracts bugs. Some people use it as a quick wood finish for 'ready for camera' situations on outdoor shows, and the decks are infested with termites very quickly. I know our rigs aren't wooden, but I sure don't want to invite bugs in...
my .02