Morris Minor Owners Club

I have removed the gearbox crossmember, and I found two wee rubber blocks. These are still very nice and soft, but a bit wrinkly. What is the best way to clean them and get them ready for the next 50 years?

I don't intend to replace them, since modern rubber is of poorer quality.

Onne

How about a bit of a scrub with a stiff brush ?
Maybe give them a bit of a soak in soapy water (fairy liquid ?) first.

Make sure the rubber isn't coming away from the plates & they should be OK to use by the sounds of it .

ONNE...see under 'General Discussion'.....Clutch Judder. if yours are too soft
due to their age you could be heading for Rogers symptoms?

And I wouldn't want that. How can I determine if they are too soft?

Well, if they feel 'plastic like' then they are probably too hard. A lot of the modern replacement ones are like this. They won't be too soft. Like Scott says, if they are still attached to the plates and they have not started to break up then they should be fine.

I believe frosts do a product to revitalise rubber.

As mentioned already - once they have started to part company from the plates they need replacing.

I don't intend to replace them, since modern rubber is of poorer quality.

Not all new parts are rubbish!! (although a fair % are).
Modern 'rubber' is better however you get what you pay for. The cheap nasty parts that are purchased by many suppliers are such poor quality materials I can't understand why they sell them to the public instead of reject them back to the manufacturer!

On the whole I have to say I'm happy with mosty of the parts I buy, but that happy feeling is spoiled by a handful of shoddy parts.

The old rubber feels good, is all in one piece, and i don't actually know if I can get replacement rubbers for the sidevalve

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=9004

says it fills small cracks although it is for window rubbers

Onne, yes the engine & gearbox mounting rubbers for the sidevalve are available.

cheers for that. I might give a similar product a go

Yeah i thought about a tin but its at Frost's usual prices (not that i'm implying anything)

Well, frost isn't an option for me, since I live in Holland, but they do seem to be steeply priced

What is wrong with the rubbers to warrant treatment/replacement? Or are you being madly overcautious again, Onne?

Of course I am. I want to know now, if I should replace, saves a horrible job for the future, all the gear is out now

It's a great job! and an excuse to work on your lowlight. Mind you, you will probably be elbow deep into your next project by then.

Probably yes. I'll stick to the old ones. I don't yet know what I want for the next project. LCV sounds nice...

Split-screen one though of course!

Don't you dare! If you see one, it's MINE!