75 year old rubber . . .

[Brandis]

Knee pads on the tank are original '47.  I removed them with the plates.  Is there anything I could do to make them look a bit better and last another few decades ?

PS:  Merry Christmas to all.  Including all those freezing Canuks and broiling ANZACs.

[Tim I]

Vinylex should help.

[muskrat]

G'day Brandis.
I've been thinking the same about my original knee grips on the 51 A7. I've ordered a can of Wurth RPR RUBBER & PLASTIC REJUVENATOR. I've used a few Wurth products and all have worked so I'll give it a try.
Cheers

[Triton Thrasher]

Boot polish.

[Colsbeeza]

A very interesting topic. We all have some very old bikes with rubber to match. Some good feedback on how the various treatments perform would be handy.
I have one bike with knee rubbers with no apparent means to attach or remove. I eventually found two slots cut in the rubber which allowed me to insert a small screwdriver. I used soapy water as lubricant, but it distorted the rubber though, and a good treatment may have minimised damage.
Col

[KiwiGF]

Knee pads on the tank are original '47.  I removed them with the plates.  Is there anything I could do to make them look a bit better and last another few decades ?

PS:  Merry Christmas to all.  Including all those freezing Canuks and broiling ANZACs.

This armor all stuff works https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/armor-all-armor-all-original-protectant-500ml/1156.html#q=Armor&lang=en_NZ&start=22

[BagONails]

The cheapest thing I've found which works very well on plastics and rubber is Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly). It rejuvenates and seems to protect sun and age hardened plastics restoring colour, blackness and texture to aged and sun damaged surfaces. It comes from the same source as most plastics so has a natural affinity to them I suppose.  Not sure exactly how but it does seem to work and last for quite a while.

Happy Yuletide to all wherever your are.
Cheers Bagga

[fffcycles]

I have used xylene and Wintergreen oil mix sprayed on items then sealed in a plastic bag for a few days successfully on really old objects I wish to reuse and the Wurth’s rubber renew is a product my buddy and I use quite a bit with very good result.
Frank

[Bsareg]

Would that work on cracked tyres🤔😁

[Brandis]

The knee pads have no weight bearing/flexing under load issues. They are ugly but not cracked. The results I'm looking for are purely cosmetic. I imagine that cracks in the tire are signs of bigger problems.  And nothing, to my knowledge will 'heal' the cracks.

[Greybeard]

Is there any way to restore the flexibility of these 1965 Durex Condoms;  they chafe a bit?

[Brandis]

In N. America, we use KW Jelly.      It's also good for installing the windshield seal on '51 Mk V Jaguars. 
And other stuff.
Now get some sleep.  You've got a busy day tomorrow.

[muskrat]

G'day Brandis.
KY has a lot of uses especially with the bar trophy
I've just got home from lunch, only 4 beers. Now it's my turn
Cheers

[Rex]

I have a couple of original tank rubbers which though unworn have a slight "crinkle" in them and no longer lie flat to the tank. And suggestions to make them more flexible or supple so they can be reused and look good again?