Hi Guys, have a question for you. Most all of my sets still retain the original rubber in places such as CRT brackets, padding on the yoke and other places. I have cleaned each rubber part as I work on them, most specifically the RCA T120 that I am working on for prepping electrical restoration.

Is it a good idea to coat the original rubber in a sort of lubricant to prevent the rubber from drying up down the road. I also have been using alcohol to clean the rubber, as on this T120, stupid idea since I am pretty sure will dry out because of this, but it is in great shape for its age.

Below are two pictures of the rubber parts I was talking about on the T120, just an example of what I am taking about above.
Thanks

Jon

Alcohol should be fine for the rubber. BTW rubber doesn't 'dry out' it chemically degrades due primarily to UV light ozone and certain chemicals. For this reason you should NEVER apply petroleum based greases to rubber parts and try not to handle rubber parts with grease on your hands. They make rubber preserving coatings, look in an auto-parts store, but I can't say for sure which one is best.

-Matthew

I've been using Armor All for CRT brackets and such for the past few years. I apply it liberally and let the part sit for 30 minutes or so then wipe off the excess. So far no issues.

It's gone sixty years, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

If it's still soft then a little Armor All probably wouldn't hurt, probably won't hep either unless you take it apart every six months and reapply it.

I have used both armor-all and milspec silicone grease on rubber parts but I don't know if that would be ideal for your needs, or not. The silicone grease at least seems to work longer. And maybe it depends on what sort of "rubber" you are talking about? Maybe a difference with silicone rubbers and natural rubbers, etc. If you use the grease, I would work it in and remove any excess. There may be commercial rubber rejuvenators on the market somewhere, too. GC electronics makes something called Re-Grip that "cleans and revitilises rubber belts and drives" to prevent slippage etc. if you need to fix rubber drive components. Silicone grease seems to somewhat restore shine and appearance to old hard rubber insulation parts in 20's radios for me. Like on knobs, panels and terminal caps.

The best, IMHO, is 3M Rubber Treatment and Tire Dressing. The best auto parts houses carry it, and it's hard to find.

I use lacquer thinner to remove a thin layer of oxidized rubber off the part, then dress it. Gaskets, like the ones found on Zenith Portholes, I clean then place in a poly bag soaking in the 3M stuff, and leave it for a week or so. It permieates the rubber and it comes out new again.

I found a great way of restoring Rubber if it has gone hard & is no longer malleable , I went to a car parts supplier & I bought a bottle of Transmission Stop Leak, I then soaked my rubber parts in it & the next day they were like new. Before I had treated the Rubber parts they were hard from time & heat.
I also restored a 1964 Honda dream & the tank knee pads which are rubber had gone hard & out of shape from not being on the bike for many years. I Rubbed KY Jelly on the tank pads & they returned to a flexible state which allowed me to put the back on the tank.
Transmission stop leak is designed to make the rubber seals in gearboxes soft again . Worked great for me , Soaked my 40 year old boots in it too .
/ Peter

You know, it's the hard oxide finish on the rubber surface that's been protecting it all these years from the outside elements 7jp4-guy mentions. So by making it look all purdy and new, you may actually be shortening its lifespan.

Personally, if a rubber part is still in good shape after 50+ years, I would leave it alone. If anything was going to happen to it, it probably would have happened by now.