Preserving rubber parts

Question:

My question concerns the longterm storage of rubber items such as belts, hoses, door and trunk seals, intake bellows, and anything of that sort. Many of us have bought these items for our projects only to be put on hold by other circumstances.

I seem to recall that keeping these items in talcum powder, baby powder or similar products helps in preserving them. With today’s silicone-based sprays or liquids maybe this approach has gone the way of breaker point ignitions and carburetors.

Answer:

There are a lot of silicone dressings available for rubber items that are installed on your car. I just use 303 AeroSpace dressing from Gold Eagle Co. for that purpose (goldeagle.com; 800-367-3245). But I am old school when it comes to preserving parts that are to be used in the future. I still use talcum powder and store the parts in boxes in a dark place. Sunlight and air pollutants as well as high temperatures will shorten the life of any rubber or synthetic rubber component.

Help me find a dry-ice blaster Perhaps a year ago, I read an article in Auto Restorer about a fellow that planned to take on a mobile dry-ice blasting franchise. I’ve tried for months to find a company that will either come to me, or my Tiger and I will go to them. ( am doing a trunk compartment restoration.) I didn’t find anyone on the Internet, and I found no joy in the local Yellow Pages. Any leads on how I can hook up with this kind of service?

Answer:

The biggest and oldest firm in the business is Cold Jet, and they can tell you where to take your Tiger for that kind of service. They have local franchises around the country.

Try them at: Cold Jet LLC, https://www.coldjet.com/

Splash lubricating systems and oil foaming I have a question on oil used in engines with splash lubricating systems. I was just recently told by an expert on Whizzer motorbike engines not to use detergent oils in any engine that has a splash lubricating system. He said that detergent oils foam, whereas non-detergent oils do not foam, or at least not as much. Is there anything to this statement? In addition to a Whizzer motorbike I own a 1933 Chevrolet, which, of course, has a splash system for lubricating the rods.

According to my sources at A.P. Fischer Classic Car Motor Oil, all modern motor oils have anti-foaming agents in them, and detergent is not a factor as far as foaming is concerned.

I have personally used detergent oil in Splash lubricating systems over the years with no problems. The system that feeds the rods on your Chevrolet is more than adequate for normal driving when set up properly, and I would assume the same is true for Whizzers, though I have no personal experience with them.