Restoring Hard Rubber Parts -- Unbelievable Results!

[Spike Strip]

Just wondering, if you boil new rubber in a Viagra solution will it make it hard ?

 

[doug720]

Not sure? But wash the pot well before you cook something in it...or be careful who you invite to dinner!

 

[SNLC]

Great to hear about your good results. I discovered the same thing, old Honda motor cycle guys use it on their carb bases. I am soon to be doing this to an entire trucks worth of rubber.

Hate to break it to ya but you paid way to much for the wintergreen oil. I also discovered from the Honda guys that go-cart racers use the stuff on their tires before racing, 100% wintergreen that is. So I found a go-cart supply shop that sells it dirt cheap.

See for yourself.

http://www.topnotchspeedshop.com/product/thor-oil-tire-prep-12-wintergreen


BTW, wintergreen oil is toxic. Where rubber gloves and don't get it on your skin. Also you must be careful how long you treat the rubber part. To long and it will swell up 3-4x original size. Although I have read it shrinks back down over time. There is a number of methods but it seems the simmer in water is the best.

For plastic, use peanut oil to restore it.

Seems more useful to guys with older Cruisers where you can't get the rubber anymore.

Cheers

 

[bapmia]

Great to hear about your good results. I discovered the same thing, old Honda motor cycle guys use it on their carb bases. I am soon to be doing this to an entire trucks worth of rubber. Hate to break it to ya but you paid way to much for the wintergreen oil. I also discovered from the Honda guys that go-cart racers use the stuff on their tires before racing, 100% wintergreen that is. So I found a go-cart supply shop that sells it dirt cheap. See for yourself. http://www.topnotchspeedshop.com/product/thor-oil-tire-prep-12-wintergreen BTW, wintergreen oil is toxic. Where rubber gloves and don't get it on your skin. Also you must be careful how long you treat the rubber part. To long and it will swell up 3-4x original size. Although I have read it shrinks back down over time. There is a number of methods but it seems the simmer in water is the best. For plastic, use peanut oil to restore it. Seems more useful to guys with older Cruisers where you can't get the rubber anymore. Cheers

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[benjrblant]

Anyone here have a long-term update on the status of their soften rubber parts? I'm curious to hear how it's held up.

 

[60 toy ota]

this is all well and good, but I think we're all wanting to know if it still smells nice and minty at the tailpipe?? maybe the emissions sniffer and the Prius at the stop light would appreciate it?

 

[4Cruisers]

I just ran across some Honda motorcycle YouTube clips - one common mixture is a 4:1 mix of 91% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol to oil of wintergreen. I ordered a bottle of oil of wintergreen online this morning Horse Care - Horse Supplements | Big Dee's Horse Tack & Supplies Big Dee's Tack & Vet Supplies. Next time I'm at the store I'll pick up a bottle of alcohol (the rubbing variety). I decided to look into restoring rubber parts for my '86 FJ60 project vehicle when I discovered this morning that the rubber seal under the rear side vents isn't a separate part, and the side vents are NLA from Toyota. Out of the six vents I have, two are not cracked, one for each side, and all six of the rubber seals are intact, but hard. I figure I'll be able to get at least two good seals, one for each side. If the softening works I should be able to gently reinstall the seals around the perimeter of the plastic vents, and from what I read about shrinkage (BTW, that reminds me of a Seinfeld episode), the seals just might cinch up on the plastic for a tight fit. I'll post the results in a week or two.

 

[FJ60Seth]

4Cruisers: Thanks for link, that's a good price. BTW denatured alcohol sells for about $15/gallon at my local hardware store. It's good for removing water or gasoline after cleaning parts.

 

[DickM]

Just a heads up. If the part you are trying to soften isn't rubber, there is a good chance that the wintergreen oil will do some funky stuff to it.
I had bad results with the front fender vent gaskets. The process destroyed them, and they had to be replaced.

 

[4Cruisers]

Just a heads up. If the part you are trying to soften isn't rubber, there is a good chance that the wintergreen oil will do some funky stuff to it.
I had bad results with the front fender vent gaskets. The process destroyed them, and they had to be replaced.

Thanks - I'll make sure they're rubber and not some kind of soft plastic. I may try this on the worst of six, I know one has a small crack, so to me it's expendable.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Any update @4Cruisers on your rubber?

 

[Infinity00]

I’ve used brake fluid to successfully expand o-rings for my compressor regulator before, but don’t know if it’s a good idea for something else...

 

[4Cruisers]

Any update @4Cruisers on your rubber?

So far it's holding up. But the '86 has been out of the sun for almost a year now, taking up garage space usually occupied by my wife's Malibu. So it's only seen about a half year of daylight since I fixed the vent gaskets.

The garage situation will hopefully change later today. Once the rear hatch glass goes back in this afternoon the '86 will be weathertight again (I hope) and it will be pushed back out into the driveway, making room inside for the Malibu. My wife will help me install the glass, maybe she's got an incentive - hmmm?

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Hahaha, that’s funny. I always get a chuckle from the spouse back and forths.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

The rubber channel that the side windows sit in is way stiff. I had to pull mine cuz the glass got cockeyed in the runners. I’ve got the channel inside and trying decide how to make it less stiff. I’ve got 3 in 1 oil or some silicone lube (yep I said it). No wintergreen. Spaced just now at store but really unsure since it’s so toxic. Hate to get something cooking on the stove and potentially put my kid in an asthma attack (he’s borderline asthmatic). Lube ain’t doing squat. Might try the 3 in 1 but don’t want to get anything to the point of causing a collection of dust/grim. I’ve read a few different plants leach the same properties as the wintergreen if crushed and warmed.

 

[Whytedood]

Oops blank message

 

[Whytedood]

what I've done for cracked intake boots for a temporary fix or permanent if you don't mind the way it looks, is saturate (work it in ) a piece of thin cloth (shop rags work well) with RTV/Silicon and wrap it around the damaged a bit further than where the damage is and then cover in RTV/silicone again until it's all smooth and looks decent

 

[morganism]

MG Chemicals 408A-125ML Rubber Renue, 125 ml Liquid Bottle

Amazon product ASIN B008O9X3KS
spendy bottle here, but looks like it is OoW with a thinner.

I had a qt bottle bookmarked for 15 bucks in Ind/Sci, but it is gone now.

Guess it was used extensively in the printing industry

and there it is

Methyl Salicylate 1000ml High Purity (Oil of Wintergreen) 26.00

Amazon product ASIN B00MR72E3U

p.s. making oil of wintergreen is a beginners project in Chem 101

 

[White Stripe]

If I recall I soaked rubber part in a bucket with water and dawn dish soap to soften the rubber.