| Author |
Message |
MikeM (209.52.92.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 2:10 pm: | |
I gather that the best thing for the rubber in tires is to be rolling on the road, perhaps the same for the airbags? However many of our conversions can be sitting for long periods and used for only short periods during the year.
Is there anything that can be put on tires and airbags to preserve them while sitting long periods? Spray Silicone or something of the sort?
Thanks,
Mike. |
TWO DOGS (65.177.144.233)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 2:26 pm: | |
BRAKE FLUID>>>>BRAKE FLUID>>> |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.26)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 3:25 pm: | |
Doesnt BRAKE FLUID damage the rubber?
What was it that they were using to fill the filters with after changing, Trans fluid or Brake fluid????
My the alternate uses abound!
"Imagine"
cd |
TWO DOGS (65.177.145.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 3:47 pm: | |
Look under your car & look at those rubber brake lines...how long do they last,20,30 years? |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.158.227.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 4:20 pm: | |
Those aren't rubber hoses. Rubber will swell bigtime when in contact with brake fluid. As will brake lines and piston cups if in contact with motor oil.
Jim |
Jose (63.190.105.173)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 8:53 pm: | |
Brake fluid and rubber go together !
Jose |
Ace (24.28.44.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 11:17 pm: | |
You can apply Brake fuid if you so choose and it makes the tires look good and gives them that modern look of being wet all the time BUT be sure to clean it ALL I mean ALL off before traveling. Brake fuid removes paint quickly! ANY residue from the tires that will positively get thrown on the paint is sure to wipe out a good OR bad paint job without a doubt!
Too add, it's very hard to get rid of it once it's applied!
Ace |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.47.94)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 2:34 am: | |
I though components used in brake systems are made of neoprene, not rubber. Or do I have this confused with fuel. Whichever, Brake fluid is excellent for cleaning off your hands after working with urethane caulking or adhesive. |
TWO DOGS (63.185.65.124)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 2:59 am: | |
I have an empty tuna fish can,a 1" paintbrush,one fill does three 24.5 tires,fill it up again and do the other three,it DOES look good,but I don't do it for that,it preserves the rubber,I should know,I live in the desert...and it soaks in takes 15 minutes,I do it twice a year.... REAL simple ...BRAKE FLUID.... |
BrianMCI96A3 (69.34.169.67)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:46 am: | |
Jim is right on the money, brake fluid and rubber aren't a happy combination.
The reasons why are complex, but I'll try to keep it simple...
A tire will continue to cure from the moment it is
pulled from the mold, until long after it goes to a tire pile.
The oils in the tire migrate to the surface and evaporate away.
When a tire is brought up to road-going temps the oils within the rubber are redispered.
In using brake fluid on a truck that is in continuous use, the brake fluid will soften the rubber on the surface of the tire, and cause oils to migrate from the tire's interior where it will evaporated faster.
Since the oil in the tire is redistributed evenly
a well used tire won't show the depleting effects of brake fluid until the later stages of it's life. When depleted oils in the tire will cause surface cracking.
Bad enough... BUT for our particular hobby it can be very bad, as the oils are evaporated off the surface in a tire that is not brought up to road temps often, the cracking caused by the expenditure of oils near the surface will be greatly enhanced.
Brian |
BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:54 am: | |
The best idea I have heard lately for preserving tires, besides tire covers (which I have installed on my wheels) is Mop & Glow floor wax... it wears like iron, looks great on the tires, and also provides uv protection. I tried it on a one ton I bought and I'm really impressed, the wax seals the surface of the tire and slows the loss of oil from the rubber.
Ever uncovered a piece of rubber sealed under a couple of coats of paint to discover that after years, maybe decades, in the elements the rubber is still pliable and appears to be like new?
Sealing the surface of the rubber will prolong the life of the tire sidewall especially when the tire is not brought up to road temps often enough to supply the sidewall with redisributed oil from the core of the tire.
Just about anything that changes the chemistry of the surface of the sidewall, shortens the overall life of the tire.
Brian |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (12.75.169.51)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 6:56 pm: | |
There is no prescribed maintenance procedure that I have ever read or heard of, in my 42 year bus industry career!!!! When I was running buses, we just did regular pit inspections to check on their condition as well as the rest of the under-carriage.
When I purchased a "NEW" to us, used bus, If the bellows were anything but close to "NEW", we replaced them before we put the coach into commmercial service. I never had to change an air bag in our fleet after that. I have many folks with GM's & MCI's to whom I sell all new bellows, as they rebuild their undercarriage before they start their conversion.
As I have said before, the BUS is the "FOUNDATION" of the house that you are building. The HOUSE will only be as strong as the foundation you build it upon.
Just some food for thought and I Hope it HELPS!!!!
Happy & SAFE!!! Busssin' to ALL.
LUKE at US COACH |
MikeM (209.52.92.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:04 pm: | |
Thanks for all the input.
I am not looking for a magic fix to old, worn and should-be-replaced tires and air bags. I am merely looking for ideas to help maintain these pricey items in good condition. In my case my conversion will be sitting still more than it will be running down the highway.
I have been searching and came accross this product that the local auto parts stores say they cannot keep in stock due to it's popularity.
303 Aerospace Protectant
http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=tires
Any constructive feedback on this product or any others that you have found succesful would be appreciated.
Thanks. |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (209.247.222.96)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:38 pm: | |
Hi Mike M;
Just before I leave for the day, you are talking about a "Machine" that was built to run down the road!!
There is no replacement for operating it, to exercise each system on the coach.
If all it does it sit, and is only exercised once or twice a year, then there is a good chance that you won't even have a successful trip, in my opinion!!!
I do more parts business with folks you only excercise their coach infrequently then I do from folks who are fulltimers and put a bunch of miles on their coach each year.
If nothing else, take it for a ride once a month, keep it exercised, it will cost you a lot less!!!
I Hope this HELPS!!!
LUKE at US COACH |
Ian Giffin (Admin) (64.228.43.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:32 am: | |
There!
Did I miss anything?
Ian
www.busnut.com |
bowlingshoegiverouter (63.185.80.167)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 10:38 am: | |
Great job I@N |
Johnny (4.174.70.222)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 11:21 am: | |
I'm with 2 Dogs--my uncle used brake fluid to preserve the heart-stoppingly-expensive tires on heavy equipment. I use it on my car trailer--after ~5 years, the Tow Master HR78-15 tires look new, with no cracking at all. |
bowlingshoegiverouter (63.185.73.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 1:42 pm: | |
that two dogs is a good guy |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.154.119.98)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 4:51 pm: | |
Seems like two dogs disappears and bowlingshoegiverouter appears. Hmmmmmm? |
Airless in Mississippi (69.92.6.98)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 2:22 pm: | |
Both use sprint. Both are coming from Texas... IT might be a rattlesnake in disguise. |
cgoodwin (208.12.29.127)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 11:43 pm: | |
Go to a good automotive detail shop and ask what they use, detail shops buy the stuff in gallon jugs for about $20 and if it doesnt last or does damage, they loose a client. The shop that does my detailing uses a product from "blue coral" and it lasts about 2 weeks of daily driving and does not attract dirt or turn yellow as many do. Everyone argues about armorall and the like on dashboards of expensive cars, I have never been able to get a straight answer from anyone....
I however would not use brake fluid. It eats paint and destroys various rubber compounds. Brake lines and seals are made from many compounds and there are many different fluids, some mineral oils, etc. Mercedes uses one, Audi another, etc. If you use the wrong one you have to replace the entire brake system...Personally I would not put brake fluid on anything that was not intended to have brake fluid on it. Look at the brake booster on any old car, just under the master cylinder flange you will see that the paint is gone from a previous master cylinder failure leaking fluid on the paint...If it eats automotive paint how good can it be for rubber tires....Are your tires even rubber, or some poly compound...
A lot of used car lots use brake fluid...but they also spray paint old parts to look new...In some parts of the world people sleep with sheep, doesn't make it a good idea just because other may do it. IMHO
Chris |