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MG MGA - Ideas on how to soften rubber?

Does anyone know a way to soften rubber windscreen surrounds, or any hardened rubber for that matter? I have a fibreglass hardtop that is a replica of the factory aluminium ones, and the screen rubbers for these are not available. The original rubber is still in one piece, and reusable, but has become quite hard.

Any suggestions?
Gary Lock

Bit of Dot 5 silicon fluid? Quite a bit on the web. Silicon is mentioned, also glycerine and even WD40!

I remember coating the rubber bands of my model aircraft in the 50s. Wish I could recall what it was, but something akin to silicon. When I mean rubber bands I mean strands of rubber several feet long. These aircraft went to several hundred feet - Wakefield class I think.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Don't know about softening rubber but I believe that Todd Clarke of Clarke Spares may have the rubber parts that you need. I just got an update flyer from him and he lists all manner of side curtain parts including pieces for the original factory hardtops. You could e-mail him a picture of the profile that you are looking for. His stuff is always top quality. ClarkeSpares@att.net
Keith Lowman

Keith, I buy quite a bit from Todd, however he doesn't carry the screen rubbers..what he does carry is the rubbers for the side screens.


Thanks Steve, will try some of these.
Gary Lock

Gary, Try sending the profile to:

Bill Thompson Auto Rubbers
(03) 9870 1728
3/ 19 Scoresby Rd
Bayswater VIC 3153

They have a vast array of profiles.

Barry
Barry Gannon

Gary,
Try using WD40. Contrary to popular opinion, WD40 is a solvent, not a lubricant. It will soften rubber, dissolve glue residue, etc. I used to use it to soften go-kart tires when I was racing. Could get a couple more races on old, hard tires. It only works on the surface material, however. And it may cause a black residue to run onto your paint, which normally can be removed. Heat will often soften rubber enough to allow it to be worked without cracking, but this is temporary.
Cheers,
Gerry
G T Foster

Power steering fluid. It will soften them and cause them to swell up. It might work.
Mike Parker

DOW CORNING® 111
Silicone compound

This should work..
J Williams


Drag Racing Traction Fluid.

Maybe banned now but it sure makes old rubber soft.

I still have some but use two masks when using it as the fumes are intense.

Mark

Mark Hester

I have worked dialectic grease into small rubber parts as well as leather, and is seems to hold-up well.
David Werblow

Hi Gary
I know that acrylic thinners or gun wash will soften rubber if soaked in it over night, but when rubber absorbs solvents it normally swells up and breaks easily.
Barry Gannon has the right idea,I also have a fibre glass top when I want screen rubbers I will buy it in lenghs, it dosen't have to be continuous it fits on a flange and has a locking strip either black rubber or chrome plastic.
MGAndy
A D Hitchcock

Gary, the reason the rubber hardens is that it vulcanizes over time with exposure to the sun. Basically the sulpher added to the rubber to give it more strength is only partly linked when manufactured but over time more and more links bond until the rubber is very brittle. Heat is the catalyst for this which is why rubber parts that have sat in the sun become more quickly brittle than those sat inside.
Solvents will soften the rubber for a short time but normally in an irregular way and eventually the rubber will fall apart as weak points are created. The best thing you can do is buy a new rubber, it is less work in the long run.

Neil
Neil Purves

Makes me really happy that Bob let me have the last VDP top rear seal that he had in stock.

There's also another great catalogue for rubber profiles here
http://www.coh-baines.co.uk/media/cohbaines-catalogue.pdf
dominic clancy

Hi Gary,
I have a repro hardtop & got the original profile rubber from Spectrum Rubber & Panel (02) 9623 5333 www.spectrumrubber.com.au
I Hazeldine

This thread was discussed between 25/04/2011 and 27/04/2011

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