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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bigbikerrick on February 24, 2016, 02:42:24 PM

Title: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: bigbikerrick on February 24, 2016, 02:42:24 PM
Hello Folks I am referring to the little rubber booties that go on the ends of the Guzzi cables where they enter the carb tops, etc. It may be just me, but I kinda doubt it. My bikes are always garaged, and it seems I am always replacing these little items as they crack, and split in less than a year! Just like the rubber  trim on old british cars. Has any one found an alternative to these rubber bits that actually last?
This is what I am referring to:

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=135_137&products_id=407
Rick
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: acogoff on February 24, 2016, 07:08:15 PM
     You are not alone with this deteriorating rubber cable thingies. It's gotten to the point where I just live with it when half are missing completely. Sad isn't it.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: drlapo on February 24, 2016, 07:26:41 PM
Do you have a washing machine or refrigerator in the garage?
Could the ozone created by the motors be causing the deterioration?
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: HardAspie on February 24, 2016, 07:31:45 PM
I have bootes on bicycle cables. Just fine at two years. I suspect the Guzzi cables have a higher natural rubber content.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: Triple Jim on February 24, 2016, 07:37:39 PM
Do you have a washing machine or refrigerator in the garage?
Could the ozone created by the motors be causing the deterioration?

Induction motors shouldn't be making ozone.  If they are, something is very wrong.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: bigbikerrick on February 25, 2016, 01:34:11 AM
Do you have a washing machine or refrigerator in the garage?
Could the ozone created by the motors be causing the deterioration?

Nope, no washer or refrigerator in garage. I think the natural rubber thing is correct, if tey were made of some sort of vinyl material they would last, o maybe silicone rubber?
Rick
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: lazlokovacs on February 25, 2016, 04:04:36 AM
yep, mine last about 6 months....

bike pretty much always garaged, wet climate here in london...
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: Triple Jim on February 25, 2016, 08:05:08 AM
Polyurethane can have a relatively short life too, and unfortunately is used quite a bit for low volume molding.  I buy a lot of reproduction rubber connectors that were used on Japanese motorcycles in past decades, and they're made of Buna-N rubber.  That's one that will last many years, and has reasonable chemical resistance.

The makers of the short-lived ones may not be aware of the problem.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: Gliderjohn on February 25, 2016, 08:13:23 AM
Use to have the same problem on my T-3. Don' t remember who told me but they suggested using the ones from BMW. Went to the local BMW dealer (no longer around) and bought two sets. That was over 15 years ago and I am still running them and the spare set look and feel fine.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: coastdude on February 27, 2016, 08:29:20 PM
I replaced all the cable boots on my Pantah and now rub them with silicone spray when cleaning the bike, so far no deterioration.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: motoTommaso on February 28, 2016, 02:04:23 AM
Use to have the same problem on my T-3. Don' t remember who told me but they suggested using the ones from BMW. Went to the local BMW dealer (no longer around) and bought two sets. That was over 15 years ago and I am still running them and the spare set look and feel fine.
GliderJohn

If you get the ones for the R90S dellortos they are the same as the MG ones and yeah they suck. 

I bought a pair of BMW /2 throttle cable boots part#13110042111.  I haven't installed them yet but the Airheads swear they will work on the Dells.

Tommaso
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: kingoffleece on February 28, 2016, 02:05:46 AM
Right.  I was going to say the same thing.  Some of the guys use 303 protectant and say that works also.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: bigbikerrick on February 28, 2016, 12:22:19 PM
The BMW part sounds like the solution. yesterday ,I noticed some other rubber parts I replaced on my LeMans 2 months ago, totally dry rotted and falling off. These :

http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=37_209&products_id=315

I used them where the plug wires exit the coils. Ive had good luck with most of the other repro rubber stuff, like grommets etc.
I never thought about looking for similar rubber products from japanese bikes that will fit, but that may be a solution also.
Rick.
Rick.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: cruzziguzzi on February 28, 2016, 04:45:37 PM
Those, I can sort out.

The bane of my motorcycle-rubber existence is the "leggings" on the stalks of the mirrors on my Spot. Started looking like old lady arms the second year of ownership.


Todd.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: Muzz on February 28, 2016, 04:52:33 PM
Those, I can sort out.

The bane of my motorcycle-rubber existence is the "leggings" on the stalks of the mirrors on my Spot. Started looking like old lady arms the second year of ownership.

Todd.

I have got 12 years out of the Breva ones; split from A to B now.
Title: Re: rubber cable booties....they always rot out.
Post by: cruzziguzzi on February 28, 2016, 04:55:30 PM
I have got 12 years out of the Breva ones; split from A to B now.

I think that a big part of the problem, on at least the early Sports, was that they were required to be in a very constricted twist on two axes. Poor buggers never got to relax unless one did not wish to functionally use the mirrors.


Todd.