Rejuvenating diaphragms

[davidwyby]

By @Vintage Engine Repairs

wintergreen oil might be the best

 

[Nutball]

I'd like to know:
What causes the diaphragm to get stiff?
What does the brake fluid do to help, and why it doesn't last?
Is there a safe fuel additive that will make them soft again and keep them that way? I don't know how good it is to put brake fluid in the gas, or to breathe it's fumes, or if you can even put enough in the gas to both run well and still keep the diaphragm soft.

@davidwyby you should post this in the random video thread you know where.

 

[davidwyby]

There are three other “enes”, solvents in ethanol gas and they dry the rubber.

See comments on vid on YT for suggested better product

I’m not tracking on which thread @Nutball

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Or just rebuild the carb with new parts when needed because these quick temporary fixes just seem to put off the inevitable. Kinda like that transmission fix in a bottle it may hide the symptoms for awhile but they’ll be back and probably at the worst time.

 

[davidwyby]

Or just rebuild the carb with new parts when needed because these quick temporary fixes just seem to put off the inevitable. Kinda like that transmission fix in a bottle it may hide the symptoms for awhile but they’ll be back and probably at the worst time.

But it's fun to tinker.

 

[Nutball]

I’m not tracking on which thread @Nutball

At the tree house.

 

[davidwyby]

At the tree house.

I think they are more into trees than saws...

 

[Vintage Engine Repairs]

As in the video, it’s good if the diaphragms are NLA from the dealer and you have to wait, or proof of concept. You don’t add anything to the petrol. You just soak. Wintergreen is better, you need an alcohol to soften the diaphragm before the oil penetrates.

 

[huskihl]

As in the video, it’s good if the diaphragms are NLA from the dealer and you have to wait, or proof of concept. You don’t add anything to the petrol. You just soak. Wintergreen is better, you need an alcohol to soften the diaphragm before the oil penetrates.

Did you try a different brand of brake fluid? With regular (not synthetic) brake fluid, diaphragms go from crispy to soft in about 10 seconds by rubbing a couple drops onto them. No need to soak that I’ve seen

 

[Nutball]

I think they are more into trees than saws...

But they use saws, and may need to know how to perform a quick fix, but I guess a week long isn't quick compared to getting a new carb kit delivered, unless what huskihl said is true.

 

[Al Smith]

The older soft parts of a carb ,gaskets, check valves , diaphragms are made from Buna-N which is not combatable with ethanol .Some of the newer rebuild kits do have parts that will work or at least last longer

 

[Nutball]

The thing I can't stand is not knowing the truth about what in gas really does the harm to certain materials. Some say they've performed experiments that show the stinky additives in gas harm various soft fuel system parts, while ethanol (which is safe to drink) does no harm other than attract water.

 

[Nutball]

Napa says that 303 Aerospace protectant won't be available anymore.

 

[davidwyby]

Napa says that 303 Aerospace protectant won't be available anymore.

I ordered mine from amaze-on

 

[huskihl]

Got rid of my X Wing and Millennium Falcons. No longer any need for Aerospace protectant

 

[isaaccarlson]

I have heard of guys using atf to refresh rubber or plastic parts. I don't know the details.