Rubber Donuts - original or repro ?

[Andrew1967]

I have two sets of new/unused rubber donuts.

One set are in their original Rover bags, the other set not packaged.

The unpackaged ones have the Moulton mark on them and all the other lettering APART from the 'Dunlop' mark. In that area, it looks like the name has been deleted from the moulding as you can see where it should be but just has some moulding dimples instead.

I am presuming they may be repro donuts (I've had them 10 years, maybe longer). They seem to be a bit softer compound wise compared to the Rover bagged ones (that have the Dunlop name on them).

Question is, are they any good or are they possibly the ones we have heard that collapse after a short space of time ? I'll fit them to my pick up if they are OK as I'd like to use the Rover bagged ones to replace the original ones in my '60 some day.

I can post up a picture if thats of any use ?

Cheers

Andrew

[360gts]

Andrew
My memory tells me the originals had yellow paint on them...to be honest...haven't found them to be any better than the later ones. They all suffer from the same issue...OIL...it plays hell with rubber LOL!
Let's face it...they are in the worst possible place on these cars...at the bottom and lots of drips...oil being blown back...heat from the manifold...not exactly a wonderful environment for rubber LOL!

[Andrew1967]

The rubber drive couplings certainly suffer from oil exposure Dermott.

I'm referring to the suspension donuts this time, not sure if I was clear in that

Cheers

Andrew

[360gts]

Sorry Andrew...was sitting here looking at the donuts from the local bakery...brain had a burp LOL!
D

[Andrew1967]

Sorry Andrew...was sitting here looking at the donuts from the local bakery...brain had a burp LOL!
D

These ones will be a bit chewy I think

[mk1]

I would certainly use NOS over any sort of repro when it came to rubber. Some of the aftermarket doghnuts are fine, BUT OTHERS AREN'T!

[Spider]

I think they are originals, but post up some pics so we can be sure.

[Andrew1967]

Here's three pics, two of the markings and one of the underside.

Note the two weld tacks on the nut - the bagged Rover ones I have do not have these welds ?

Any help appreciated as I'm about to fit the radius arms to my pick up

Andrew

[Spider]

Bit hard to get a good look on this little screen (I'm away just at present) but looks like the Valley Rubber ones which as far as tooling and compounds etc go, are original.

[Andrew1967]

Well that sounds good so far Spider

Anyone else ?

Apart from the Dunlop wording being missing and the welds on the nuts, they do look identical to my Rover 'Dunlop' ones.

[Tim Harber]

The Dunlop name disappeared as the copyright is owned by someone in Japan and the Moulton dissappeared when Moulton teamed up with Minisport to do the soft cones. They are from the original tooling ,just younger.

[Andrew1967]

Thanks Tim and Spider for confirming that these are original cones