Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

  • The_Raven
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Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 14:57
#606319
Howyadoin,

I've got a J2 with really old and hardened holders and manifolds. They're so bad I can't get the carbs reinstalled on the bike. I was looking at spending $100 for new rubber when I happened on this solution that supposedly brings the elasticity back to old rubber. It's sold as a commercial product under the name "Rubber Renue", but the active ingredients are 70% xylene and 30% oil of wintergreen, both of which are readily available much cheaper and in great volume for soaking parts.

I'm told that a 24 hour soaking will make the rubber soft and pliable (any more than that and they will become swollen and spongy).

Has any got any experience with this concoction?
-Mark P.
Salem, MA
Widowmaker, 1982 KZ1000J2 @1100cc
Red Scare, 1994 Honda VF750C Magna
I intend to die from living.

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 15:06
#606321
I have heard the same thing also. But, if you do try this, remember that Xylene is terrible for your body and highly flammable...mix in a well ventilated area and wear gloves when using handling it.
Michael
Victoria, Texas

1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
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1975 Z2A

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  • bountyhunter
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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 15:54
#606329
The_Raven wrote: Howyadoin,

I've got a J2 with really old and hardened holders and manifolds. They're so bad I can't get the carbs reinstalled on the bike. I was looking at spending $100 for new rubber when I happened on this solution that supposedly brings the elasticity back to old rubber. It's sold as a commercial product under the name "Rubber Renue", but the active ingredients are 70% xylene and 30% oil of wintergreen, both of which are readily available much cheaper and in great volume for soaking parts.

I'm told that a 24 hour soaking will make the rubber soft and pliable (any more than that and they will become swollen and spongy).

Has any got any experience with this concoction?
Yes, I use it on tape drive belts and other rubber pieces. I don't think it fixes the rubber, it strips off the hardened surface coating.

I have heard it's better to soak the carb holders in very hot water.
1979 KZ-750 Twin

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  • martin_csr
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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 16:27
#606335
The carb holders & airbox ducts are listed as available at Partzilla, so you should be able to get new at the dealer... or elsewhere for cheaper.
At Parzilla & probably RonAyers the total cost would be around $110.
Z1Enterprises.com has them priced similarly, maybe a little less.
1981 KZ650 Competition Sports and Road

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 16:34
#606337
Yeah, I know that new parts are an option (I'd get them from Z1 - they rock), but I've got a limited budget and still have to buy tires and a battery, so I thought I'd see if anyone had had success with this "one old trick", as it were. :-)
-Mark P.
Salem, MA
Widowmaker, 1982 KZ1000J2 @1100cc
Red Scare, 1994 Honda VF750C Magna
I intend to die from living.

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 17:05
#606340
The_Raven wrote: Howyadoin,

I've got a J2 with really old and hardened holders and manifolds. They're so bad I can't get the carbs reinstalled on the bike. I was looking at spending $100 for new rubber when I happened on this solution that supposedly brings the elasticity back to old rubber. It's sold as a commercial product under the name "Rubber Renue", but the active ingredients are 70% xylene and 30% oil of wintergreen, both of which are readily available much cheaper and in great volume for soaking parts.

I'm told that a 24 hour soaking will make the rubber soft and pliable (any more than that and they will become swollen and spongy).

Has any got any experience with this concoction?



I know that mixture will work great on softening up old 1/24th sponge slot car tires!!!

I remember using that mixture along with a bit of STP back in the 60's to soften up my rear sponge tires. It made the tires grow a bit in size, plus they got real soft and sticky.

Try using a hair dryer to get the intake boots soft to get your carbs on. Even with brand new intake boots on my GSXR750,I have to heat them up to get my big carbs to slide onto my motor.
1972 H2 750 Cafe Racer built in 1974.
1976 KH400 Production Road Racer.
1979 Kz1000 MK. II Old AMA/WERA Superbike.
1986 RG500G 2 stroke terror.
1986 GSXR750RG The one with the clutch that rattles!

Up in the hills near Prescott, Az.

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

13 Sep 2013 17:36
#606344
Just in case it doesn't soften them:

Set of 4 (aftermarket) is $60 at Z1E. ($15 each).
www.z1enterprises.com/ListItems.aspx?keywords=16065-1135

They're $16.45 each at Partzilla ($65.80 for set of 4 - Kawasaki).
find.partzilla.com/?r=t&q=16065-1135&x=5&y=8

Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

20 Sep 2013 12:27 - 20 Sep 2013 12:28
#607165
I soaked my airbox boots overnight in a solution of 1 part wintergreen to 10 parts xylene. It worked amazingly and I was able to put the carbs on with much less effort. Its not a long-term solution though, the rubber hardened up again within a few days.

I paid 6$ for each 1 oz. bottle of wintergreen. Considering the cost of the wintergeeen and xylene required to make this work, might as well just buy the new parts from Z1.

www.z1enterprises.com/ListItems.aspx?keywords=16065-1135
- -[ 1982 KZ550C ]- -
Last edit: 20 Sep 2013 12:28 by timotay.

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

20 Sep 2013 13:15
#607172
timotay wrote: Its not a long-term solution though, the rubber hardened up again within a few days.

Don't waste your time with soaking your boots.
If you have to seal them up temporarily until you get new
use the black oil resistant silicone.
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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

20 Sep 2013 13:40
#607175
For me it was not so much a matter of sealing them as it was softening them so I could get enough play to put the carbs back on. Made a world of difference during the re-install. If they re-harden too much, I'll probably use the hot water and blow dryer tricks when I want to move the carbs again.
- -[ 1982 KZ550C ]- -

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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

24 Sep 2013 13:36
#607597
Straight wintergreen oil works just as good, I boiled a set of carb boots in it last year and they went hard to soft and have stayed pretty soft since. Iirc I put the boots in an old small pot I had, poured the wintergreen in and filled it with water till the boots were completely covered. The side burner on the is where I got it to a boil and then set to a simmer for 1/2 an hour or so, worked wonders.
78 Kz1000A2, 77 Cb750K daily rider, pinstriper and signpainter

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  • The_Raven
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Re: Xylene/Wintergreen solution for carb rubbers?

24 Sep 2013 23:53
#607681
PFD wrote: Straight wintergreen oil works just as good, I boiled a set of carb boots in it last year and they went hard to soft and have stayed pretty soft since. Iirc I put the boots in an old small pot I had, poured the wintergreen in and filled it with water till the boots were completely covered. The side burner on the is where I got it to a boil and then set to a simmer for 1/2 an hour or so, worked wonders.

How much wintergreen oil did you use compared to the water?
-Mark P.
Salem, MA
Widowmaker, 1982 KZ1000J2 @1100cc
Red Scare, 1994 Honda VF750C Magna
I intend to die from living.

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