rubber cable booties....they always rot out.

[bigbikerrick]

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

[acogoff]

     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.

[drlapo]

Do you have a washing machine or refrigerator in the garage?
Could the ozone created by the motors be causing the deterioration?

[HardAspie]

I have bootes on bicycle cables. Just fine at two years. I suspect the Guzzi cables have a higher natural rubber content.

[Triple Jim]

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.

[bigbikerrick]

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

[lazlokovacs]

yep, mine last about 6 months....

bike pretty much always garaged, wet climate here in london...

[Triple Jim]

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.

[Gliderjohn]

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

[coastdude]

I replaced all the cable boots on my Pantah and now rub them with silicone spray when cleaning the bike, so far no deterioration.

[motoTommaso]

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

[kingoffleece]

Right.  I was going to say the same thing.  Some of the guys use 303 protectant and say that works also.

[bigbikerrick]

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.

[cruzziguzzi]

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.

[Muzz]

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.

[cruzziguzzi]

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.