Rubber is just not what it used to be...

[Multiphonikks]

Aha! Got your attention now!

Which brings me onto the subject of water hoses. I replaced my entire water pipe system last year. The actual heater hoses were replaced some time in the autumn, but the radiator hoses were replaced last July the day after the National.

Guess what?

Already they've started to perish. Quite badly by my reckoning.

I know Hebe's 40 this year but I'd expect the pipes to last a bit longer than 9 months! - Okay, so Hebe's been outside most of the time, but 9 months?!?!?!

I'll try to get a photo up when PyoorKate gets back with a camera. *grumbles at the fact that all my digital camery goodness is still in Reading... with the rest of my stuff..*

Heh... anyone know of a house going for rent in the Brizzle region?!

[Willie]

It may be a question of where you bought them? My hoses have
now been on for over eleven years and are perfectly ok except for
the 1/2"heater hoses which had gone a bit hard so were changed
when I uprated the heater.

[jonathon]

If your interested , I can supply a full set of rubbers! in silicon, they will not perish or degrade, but do cost a bit more. Feel good too!!

[Cam]

Nikki, mine have gone the same way! The ones with the 'Kevlar' labels on them! I have spoke to a few people that have had the same trouble.......

[Onne]

Better phone Jonathon then for those silicon (ex- P. Anderson) hoses....

[simmitc]

I'd confirm that I've had similar problems with the "improved" kevlar hoses. Apart from perishing, the top hose was too short and the bottom one did not line up with the heater return. Conversely the old stock standard ones have always been perfect and generally last fifteen years !!! So much for improvements.

[aupickup]

i tend to agree with the fact that the outlets do not line up on the bottom hose
i will keep my old ones on as long as possible
also i am told that the new windscreen rubbers split after a short while as well

mind you i feel this is the same for a lot of new stuff we are buying, would we much rather pay a little more for something taht is going to last a longer time, also this is the case with chrome as well, i tend to get mine from auto jumbles a smuch as i can

[guydenning]

Aha! Got your attention now!

you're a BAD girl - you know us too well

on the letting front - try

http://www.ukpropertyshop.co.uk/s/letti ... stol.shtml

i'll keep my eyes open on the notice boards inthe hospital too - how many morris minors will you need garage space for madam?

[Kevin]

I have also noticed that although those Kelvar hoses say reinforced there is no reinforcing in them at all and they feel very flimsy.

[Peetee]

also i am told that the new windscreen rubbers split after a short while as well

Interesting. I've had problems with my new front screen rubber. I thought at the time the rubber texture seemed a bit 'plasticky' and inflexible. It doesn't sit flush against the roof edge and is allowing water in.
I don't know where I stand on this either. Can I return it? It's 'not fit for it's purpose' but it's not 'returnable, unused' either!

[rayofleamington]

I have also noticed that although those Kelvar hoses say reinforced there is no reinforcing in them at all and they feel very flimsy.

I never had the determination to check what was in them! Now I wish I'd known that as the ones I've bought in recent years also looked perished within 12 months so if they are also not reninforced properly they are just not worth having.
None of them split within a few years, but as I keep selling cars I can't really say how long they last.

[jonathon]

I think we may all be victims of clever marketing here. Unfortunately the quality of the standard rubber parts was becoming sub standard, hence a knee jerk response to add the kevlar. If we could just have good old fashioned quality back then the original rubber items would prove most successful.
Again this is just another case of you get what you are prepared to pay for. We know that some of us would pay a reasonable price hike if we were assured of the quality, however the common denominator is pressure from the majority of minor owners to run and maintain their cars at a minimal cost. I don't believe, as the more synical of you will say that its just a case of the suppliers trying to increase their earnings.by cutting quality.But then again I'm not a supplier, and like you I buy from the same sources. Unless its a kit or part that we produce ourselves.
We only have to look at chrome( already covered in another posting) to see this conflict of interest. As a restorer, it really does make me spit that most minor products are of such a low quality. as it makes my job more difficult in having to explain to customers that there really is not a choice, and when in a few months the chrome will peel off, I will have to strip all of these parts off, and replace at my own cost. While the suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank. I could go on, but for my sanity and your boredom I will refrain.

[dermot]

I read similar comments from restorers of MGB cars in another magazine. It seems that people want the job jone as cheaply as possible and the quality of the parts reflects this. I suppose if someone offers premium parts (as long as they really are premium quality) we may have to pay the price.

[Vernon]

I have just ordered the standard top & bottom radiator hoses from Bull Motif and told them I don't want the reinforced ones as they crack after a few months. They said that they are supposed to crack but they won't split. I am not convinced, as a reinforced bypass hose lasted only 9 months before splitting.

[ptitterington]

Its not just rubber and chrome. It is everything we buy. As a builder I have seen prices of many items remain similar or drop but the quality fall massively.
One good example is the wheelbarrow. Can you remember when they lasted for years and were heavy. Now you fill a new one up with blocks and it will fall to bits, yet they are cheeper than they were 10 years ago.

Id rather pay for an old heavy one that I can actually weld back together.


End of rant......

[Cam]

Yeah, tell me about it! I started to use two barrows when I was paving my garden last weekend. The new one was just flimsy and useless, but my dad's old one was great (after oiling the squeaky wheel!).