Poll

Is soaking carburetor boots in automatic transmission fluid a good idea?  I intend to put them on the bike in 6 to 8 weeks, they're not cracked and seem stiff but not super-hard or brittle.

It would help a lot.
0 (0%)
It could help a little, but not much.
6 (40%)
It wouldn't help or hurt.
3 (20%)
It could be a problem.
1 (6.7%)
What a stupid idea!
5 (33.3%)

Total Members Voted: 14

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Offline UnCrash

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ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« on: April 28, 2008, 07:44:29 AM »
There have been so many oil and how much is my bike worth threads lately that I thought I would throw this hair-brained (probably not original) idea in the mix. 

I'm in teardown mode on a cafe build of a 750F and have my carbs stored in a plastic bag awaiting re-installation.  In general, I know ATF is good for rubber parts.  Since these are just hanging out in a bag in a cabinet I was wondering how soaking them in ATF until they go back on the bike would affect them.

What are your thoughts?

I'm thinking that it would marginally improve them by making them slightly more supple for re-installation.  But then again I'm most likely completely wrong. 

And yes, I probably have much better things to worry about -- it's this kind of drivel that usually occupies my mind though.
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Offline andy750

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2008, 08:24:27 AM »
You know once you have new carb rubber, getting carbs on/off the bike literally takes less than 2 mins (if that!). It makes it soooooo easy. Buying new is like investing in your happiness and well being, taking the stress and frustration out of life  ;)

I know this dosent answer your question but this is my input on your "problem"  :)

Armor All will also work if left in a zip lock bag for a couple of weeks.

cheers
Andy
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Offline Soos

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2008, 08:33:05 AM »
Dunno on the results with that one.

I would recommend new boots.
I got a new set for my cb650 this year... and WHAT a difference!!!

Short of new ones, anything that doesn't hurt them can't be bad... can it?


Good luck there,


l8r
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2008, 02:48:51 PM »
I have a set that have been soaking for a year or so in ATF, you can crack nuts with them. Totally useless as are all the other cures. The elastic polymers leave the mixture in time and you can't put them back in. You can use a solvent to break down the rubber, so now you have broken down rubber. New boots are not expensive.
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2008, 04:07:48 AM »
As much as I agree that new rubbers are the ants pants, we should all be aware that once a bit of gas gets on them a few times, they're screwed.

I was surprised at how quickly a new set of OEM inlet rubbers went hard on my K2 engine, so I'm not prepared to laugh off all of the crackpot "rejuvinating" scams just yet.

I tried the armorall in the bag trick for several months and it did nothing at all but made them slippery, but I'm hoping someone out there will come up with something soon, I've got 10 or 12 sets of hard rubbers I'd like to "recycle" one day..................  ;D   
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troppo

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2008, 04:13:00 AM »
Yeah well armour all is NO GOOD for rubber or vinyl, it actually causes it to harden and crack, especially in the aussie sun, i used to be a detailer and the boss always said no armour all EVER, quick fix long term damage.
Was reading in another thread about wintergreen oil being good for rejuvenating rubber, anyone know where to get it in aus????
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2008, 02:55:03 PM »
Quote from: troppo on May 01, 2008, 04:13:00 AM
Yeah well armour all is NO GOOD for rubber or vinyl, it actually causes it to harden and crack, especially in the aussie sun, i used to be a detailer and the boss always said no armour all EVER, quick fix long term damage.
Was reading in another thread about wintergreen oil being good for rejuvenating rubber, anyone know where to get it in aus????
You can get Oil of Wintergreen in a drug store, Pharmacy, Apothecary, Chemist or whatever you call it. It is used for sore muscles so use can use it for something else.
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Offline malcolmgb

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2008, 02:59:46 PM »
I'm looking to soften up the rubbers between carb and airbox, they don't appear to be sold separately, will 'Wintergreen Oil' do these too?
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troppo

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2008, 02:50:01 AM »
Quote from: BobbyR on May 01, 2008, 02:55:03 PM

You can get Oil of Wintergreen in a drug store, Pharmacy, Apothecary, Chemist or whatever you call it. It is used for sore muscles so use can use it for something else.

i`ve looked and i`ve found it in a few places as an essential oil, but at around $10 for 12ml i cant afford to soak one boot, unless theres somewhere i`ve missed .
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2008, 08:05:45 AM »
Almost the same as buying new ones. I would call a Drugstore not a Chain store. Tell them you want the cheap stuff, not organic and blessed by Shaolin Monks.   
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

troppo

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2008, 08:09:13 AM »
thanks bobby, will try that

love the monks line :D
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Offline mystic_1

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2008, 08:19:14 AM »
Lots of wintergreen oils available on eBay, this one is US$5.96 plus US$3.99 s/h for 4oz (~118ml). 

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-oz-Wintergreen-100-PURE-ESSENTIAL-OIL-Wholesale_W0QQitemZ360040468970QQihZ023QQcategoryZ19258QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

Same seller has 32oz listed for US$42.48.


mystic_1
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troppo

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Re: ATF + Carb Boots = ?
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2008, 08:29:53 AM »
Just checked ebay (didnt think of that) and it seems its 10 times as expensive over here

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/AROMA-QUEEN-Essential-Oil-WINTERGREEN-10ml_W0QQitemZ230248281686QQihZ013QQcategoryZ105771QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How much do you reckon ineed to do a boot or two? may have to get some from ebay usa...
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