The Ford Barn

Lawson Cox · 05-03-2022, 08:25 PM

I had a query on this a while back which didn't help me all that much. I found a process that helped me with my particular problem and decided to pass it on. I needed to soften up the rubber nose cones on the 60HP water pumps. Mine were hard and I could not get them on the pumps. I soaked them in "odor free" mineral spirits for a day, which softened them up a little but I couldn't get them to go on the pumps and decided to soak them for one more day. Voila. They slipped on with just the right amount of pressure. I had tried the "odor free" mineral spirits on some rubber tubing and it softened the tubing with minimal swelling and seemed to firm back up after a few days. I don't know if regular mineral spirits would work or not. My problem solved to my complete satisfaction.

Robert/Texas · 05-04-2022, 05:33 AM

I keep a can of silicone spray around for things like that. No soaking and waiting.

51504bat · 05-04-2022, 08:17 AM

Just don't get the silicon spray on anything you want to paint down the road.

TJ · 05-05-2022, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51504bat

Just don't get the silicon spray on anything you want to paint down the road.

X2 on that one. Any silicone lubricant or tire dressing is not your friend when you go to paint something that has been exposed to silicones.

Vics Stuff · 05-05-2022, 11:06 AM

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I do not get it. Spraying silicone spray is going to soften the rubber ? I would think that all that would do is make the part slippery not soften the rubber.
Vic

05-03-2022, 08:25 PM	#1
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Rubber softening tip I had a query on this a while back which didn't help me all that much. I found a process that helped me with my particular problem and decided to pass it on. I needed to soften up the rubber nose cones on the 60HP water pumps. Mine were hard and I could not get them on the pumps. I soaked them in "odor free" mineral spirits for a day, which softened them up a little but I couldn't get them to go on the pumps and decided to soak them for one more day. Voila. They slipped on with just the right amount of pressure. I had tried the "odor free" mineral spirits on some rubber tubing and it softened the tubing with minimal swelling and seemed to firm back up after a few days. I don't know if regular mineral spirits would work or not. My problem solved to my complete satisfaction. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

05-04-2022, 05:33 AM	#2
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 681	Re: Rubber softening tip I keep a can of silicone spray around for things like that. No soaking and waiting.

05-04-2022, 08:17 AM	#3
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,022	Re: Rubber softening tip Just don't get the silicon spray on anything you want to paint down the road. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.

05-05-2022, 11:06 AM	#5
Vics Stuff Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 391	Re: Rubber softening tip Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I do not get it. Spraying silicone spray is going to soften the rubber ? I would think that all that would do is make the part slippery not soften the rubber. Vic