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keeping slip joint rubbers supple
hi how can keep the above mentioned rubbers soft and usable as these are from austin 1800 and are like hens teeth to find but these ones are still in good shape for their age
roger mcnab

If they are original manufacturer they are usually good for years. The problems arise with the after market ones.

If you have old rubber parts which have hardened/shrunk but not cracked, try soaking them in a mix of 3 parts isopropyl alcohol to 1 part methyl salicylate for a week. Methyl salicylate is available by the liter from horse tack stockists, commonly known as Oil of Wintergreen.

The classic motorcycle guys use that recipe for the rubber concertina/bellows between the carbs and airbox, and I had similar success when I was rejuvenating the rubber seals on my Churchill hydrolastic pump.

I don't know how long the effect is good for, but it definitely works to make them supple again - at the expense of expanding the volume slightly, and making it smell like peppermint.

You can reportedly (I haven't tried) also use the highly concentrated 'homeopathic' version of Oil of Wintergreen, one 5ml teaspoon of oil to 300ml of water, to do the same job but in a matter of 5-10 minutes - but in that case you have to warm the water to get the reaction activated.

IMPORTANT: Concentrated methyl salicylate is highly toxic, so take adequate precautions.

Glycerene from the chemists is good for reviving old rubber.

Gummi Pflege, if want a ready made product

hi
i think these are original i have not tried to remove them from the drive shafts as yet maybe tomorrow if they are good i will put them in a safe place that i might remember where they are but while looking for them i could find the others that are in a safe place such fun