Topic: WTF: Carb boot bloating!!!!

[Nortstudio]

So I decided to give a shot at softening up my carb boots with the wintergreen oil/xylene mix I read about here.  Put the first two boots in last night, and went to swap the other two today.  Please tell me you have seen this before....  One on the left is untouched by this "magic mixture," the one on the right soaked for about 12 hours, and obviously ate a bag of Doritos while I wasn't looking!

[tango911]

thats nuts

[OldSchool_IsCool]

You can sure put some HUGE AZZ CARBS on now!!  

Maybe it was the miracle mix that did the swelling.  Another possibility, did you happen to leave the boot in the mix and store the stuff in the reactor room of the local nuke plant??  

I'm going to have to remember that miracle mix, next time, maybe those Magnum condoms won't be so snug! 

Enough kidding.  I'm sure an expert who has used the miracle mix will be along in a minute.

[cookindaddy]

I had that happen to one batch where only one of the boots swelled up at the carb end (the thinner walled end) while the other three boots weren't much affected and only a little softened.

I had left the four boots in the cold mixture for several days. Previously when I'd had good luck with the method, I had heated the mixture on a bbq and stirred it occasionally and only left the boots in for an hour or so.

The good news is that the four boots have been out of the mixture for a couple weeks now and the one swollen boot has shrunk almost back to the proper size and all the boots still are softer than before the treatment.

 

[Nortstudio]

Cookingdaddy,

Do you think these could be used again?  Maybe a little time in the freezer?

[joesmotos]

I had that happen to me too...thought they were done for.

I set them to the side and went out looking for new ones..came back the next day and they had shrunk back down to normal size and were nice and pliable to boot..

Basically..you might want to just let them sit a couple days before you toss them out and see if they shrink back to usable form..i did..and it worked fine..

Just my two cents worth..
Joe

[Nortstudio]

Thanks Joe. Appreciate the positive attitude.   I'm going to hope for the best...

[Shadowjack]

+1 on letting them dry out for a few days. Be careful with them; they'll tear very easily when they're swollen like that with the softener.

[Really?]

Holy Bugezzus that is huge.  Hehe the wife had said that to me too!   

Anyway, I left mine on the cooker for 30min and felt that to be a bit much.  I just used 4oz of wintergreen oil and a bunch of water.  Enough to cover the boots and the drain lines.  The drain lines started to get too soft but are fine now.

[Nortstudio]

Well, I certainly will NOT being doing the other two like this.  maybe a quick dip, and that's all.  Maybe the Xylene did this, not sure.  But it's horrifying!

I'm letting them sit a while.  We will see what happens.

[tango911]

im thinking wrist gaurds if they dont shrink, or maybe fork protectors?  lol

[Really?]

Putting them on someones wrists waiting for them to shrink would be torture!   

[TwoTired]

Just let them dry out and they will shrink back down.

[Nortstudio]

Thanks TT. I am in the process of letting these sit, it's just so much work Any thoughts on whether the freezer helps?  Or should I just keep them at room temp?

[cookindaddy]

I think it is an air thing, leaving them out in the air to out-gas. You could try putting them outside in the breeze? I don't think freezing will hurt them in fact mine are on the bike out in the freezing shed.

[754]

If they absorbed ANY freezable liquid, freezing would probably prevent it from returning to size..

[cookindaddy]

Good point - NOT outside in the freeze.
But airing them out is what is required.
They smell nice too, if you like Wintergreen

[Nortstudio]

Thanks guys. Down in the basement they'll stay until there is a chance of a dry breeze (4 months from now???)

Will let you know how the elephantiasis of the carb boot turns out...

[Stev-o]

Thanks guys. Down in the basement they'll stay until there is a chance of a dry breeze (4 months from now???)

Will let you know how the elephantiasis of the carb boot turns out...

Good thing you didn't keep your hand in the mix!

[Really?]

It's been almost a week now and the house and garage still smell good.  Covers up the fart games my kids play.

[TwoTired]

Thanks TT. I am in the process of letting these sit, it's just so much work Any thoughts on whether the freezer helps?  Or should I just keep them at room temp?

The rubber has absorbed the solvents you placement them in and has swelled like a sponge might.  Warm dry air will allow them to out gas volatile solvents.  The heat and low humidity allow the xylol to depart, leaving the oil behind to keep the rubber soft.  Neither of the liquids you soaked the boots in actually restore the rubber cross links.  They will never be a strong as new again.  But, they may still be serviceable.

My guess is that the formula you used was too heavy on the solvents, or that you just left them too long in the solvent.

Freezing them is NOT a viable alternative.  Rubber actually expands with cold, the reverse of most materials.  Further, if the absorbed solvents do freeze to a solid, they will contract, and the fighting expansion and contraction forces within the material will likely damage the links between the rubber molecules and further weaken the structural integrity of what you are trying to recover, might lead to cracking.

(High school physical science.  Suspend a small weight from a fixed position with a rubber band.  The weight should be just enough to slightly stretch the rubber so it is in slight tension.  Apply some heat to the rubber band as with a hair dryer and the rubber will raise the weight in contraction.  Apply ice to the rubber and the material will relax/expand and lower the weight.  Most other materials will expand when heated and contract with cold.)

Cheers,

[Nortstudio]

Good stuff TT. I was most likely heavy on the xylene, having poured about 2 oz into a quart container and then making sure I had enough xylene to cover the top of the boots. This was done eyeballing it, and could certainly lead to a bad mixture percentage.

Fortunately, the boots I currently have on the bike are in decent shape, and this was an attempt to "top" the ones I'm using now, hoping for a better seal. I have checked the seal now with a quick spray of WD-40 with positive results (no engine change).  So I'm not worried if these remain bloated. I will certainly not be messing with the ones I know work decent though

[MRieck]

Thanks TT. I am in the process of letting these sit, it's just so much work Any thoughts on whether the freezer helps?  Or should I just keep them at room temp?

The rubber has absorbed the solvents you placement them in and has swelled like a sponge might.  Warm dry air will allow them to out gas volatile solvents.  The heat and low humidity allow the xylol to depart, leaving the oil behind to keep the rubber soft.  Neither of the liquids you soaked the boots in actually restore the rubber cross links.  They will never be a strong as new again.  But, they may still be serviceable.

My guess is that the formula you used was too heavy on the solvents, or that you just left them too long in the solvent.

Freezing them is NOT a viable alternative.  Rubber actually expands with cold, the reverse of most materials.  Further, if the absorbed solvents do freeze to a solid, they will contract, and the fighting expansion and contraction forces within the material will likely damage the links between the rubber molecules and further weaken the structural integrity of what you are trying to recover, might lead to cracking.

(High school physical science.  Suspend a small weight from a fixed position with a rubber band.  The weight should be just enough to slightly stretch the rubber so it is in slight tension.  Apply some heat to the rubber band as with a hair dryer and the rubber will raise the weight in contraction.  Apply ice to the rubber and the material will relax/expand and lower the weight.  Most other materials will expand when heated and contract with cold.)

Cheers,

The salient point IMO Loyd. The physics are...as always....inarguable.

[tlbranth]

So where do you get this stuff anyway? I inquired at Albertson's Food/Pharmacy and they looked at me like I was British or something........oh wait, I am British ...or something.

[Really?]

People are ordering it online.  I found it at a location town pharmacy.  Chains like CVS will look at you crazy.   Why is beyond me, they are the pharmacists, not I.  I believe it is used as an analgesic and/or to relieve pain.