Any tricks for restoring old rubbers?

[Bird Brain]

Got some eyelet grommets out a set of 50+ year old Sebac shocks im working on. Any trick chemical creations anyone used before besides the usual tire shine products for putting some fresh on there appearance?

 

[panchothedog]

Armoural. I've had it help old cracked tires.

 

[Bird Brain]

Armoural. I've had it help old cracked tires.

Thanks for the input, ya tire shine products are whats closest available. Rubber rejuvenator products i can order but ive used before and there about as good as tire shine and much more costly. Was just looking to condition them more than shine really to perhaps give them another 50 years. Il probrably just throw some Vitalis on them and call it a day.

 

[panchothedog]

Maybe You've already tried Armoural. On the tires it did more than just make them shiny. 2 or 3 good coats actually seemed to help the rubber a little.

 

[creia]

I have used this for many years and found it to be superior to ArmorAll.
https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant/
Michael

 

[Skipp]

I have used this for many years and found it to be superior to ArmorAll.
https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant/
Michael

I’ve been using that for years… tonneau cover salesman turned me on to it….

 

[sparkwizard]

I have used this for many years and found it to be superior to ArmorAll.
https://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant/
Michael

I use that stuff on tractor seats and pedals.
Boat guys spray in on everything.

 

[Mark G]

Got some eyelet grommets out a set of 50+ year old Sebac shocks im working on. Any trick chemical creations anyone used before besides the usual tire shine products for putting some fresh on there appearance?

Soak em in some brake fluid for a little bit. Fuel oil (home heating oil) also works well.
No need for anything fancy (although that 303 stuff is good for tires).

 

[Bird Brain]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. Also have a clutch cover/chain guard i been cleaning up aswell and its about as supple as a Doritto after 50 years. I would have thought it would have been metal like all other Bird creations ive seen, ive never seen this style guard on this sight or anywhere else however it is original to the bike. Might have been an early vac. moulding design they abandoned because of the clutch heat drying it out, then it cracking apart and cutting somebodies calf open in a minor layover. Or maybe theres a bunch of them and i havent seen them. At any rate thanks.

 

[Harquebus]

I always throw mine away.

 

[novadose74]

I’ve used formula 303 for ever, I use it on all my rubbers and all my vinyl seats and plastic clutch covers stuff works awesome

 

[Bird Brain]

I always throw mine away.

Ha good point! Another reason they could be like hens teeth. Dont think i ever had one on a bicycle longer than 2 days myself. Not to mention the clutch heat on these distorts them out of form such as this one if you look close at it. The builder folks im sure figured they would last as long as an aluminum bore engine would and most did. Probrably never invisioned us toying with these 50 years later. The simplicity of them for me is the hook in todays so modern society. As basic as it gets is the charm of them.