Red rubber grease: Real Voodoo or Sears Voodoo?

[748cc]

What's the deal on this stuff? It's imported from third wolrd countries In unmarked/unbranded cold creme jars & claimed to be the 'only' grease suitable for rubber components bar none. $12 for 2oz. - for real?? I thought 'Lubricam' was bad....well, that's crazy pricey too! Anyways, do you guys keep a jar of this gop in the box for 'that one project' you don't ever want to face again?

All replies appreciated Thanks in advance (this outta be fun).

[Steve]

How can you "keep a jar of this gop in the box" if you have never heard of the gop?

.

[GregT]

Penrite do a red rubbergrease which is probably the same stuff. Made in Thailand. "NLGI Bentone based grease with castor oil"
From memory, I paid about $8NZ for a 500g container. Good stuff. Use it on brake caliper seals and rubber manifolds.

It was cheaper than the caliper greases I'd been using for years from brake parts suppliers and seems just as good.

If "Bentone" is extracted from Bentonite, there's a bentonite clay quarry up the road from me. Most of it is exported.

[748cc]

How can you "keep a jar of this gop in the box" if you have never heard of the gop?

.

Good question...I guess you couldn't. But now that you know of it ya just gotta have a jar of it, don't ya?
But like you say, in all my years I'd never heard of or had a need for it till the GS came around. There's web-wisdom claiming that petrol-based grease products (and even synth formulations) do more harm than good for rubber. However, this stuff is a perfect match...but never EVER use it as a metal to metal 'bearing' grease! Now my personal definition of 'grease' is all tacked up ('grease' that doesn't lubricate??). Now that you know, go get some TODAY!!

[748cc]

Additionally, I learned of this stuff from the Matchless petcock rebuild tutorial on Bascliff's website, and it got me wondering: Is <I>this<\I> the magic elixir that's needed to create a successful, long living petcock??

Now, I have plenty of other greases on hand that I was all ready to bring up as substitute for 'rubber grease'. But because I know how poor the success rate on petcock rebuilds are, I hesitated & researched what 'rubber grease' is all about. Never heard of nor seen it before, and not one auto parts store chain carries it (one guy tried passing off dielectric grease as 'the same thing'-really??). I nearly bought it, but already have it-put it on your breakfast donut counter guy!!

So, my petcock rebuild is now on ice until this 'vial o' spider venom' arrives from the Congas, so as that I might get the finest lifespan from my sickly vacuum-activated fuel valve.

[greg78gs750]

every once in a while a topic comes up here that has not been discussed ad infinitum, this is one of those for me.....

[Big T]

My friend, who rebuilds British motors from the 50s/60s/70s, swears by seal grease
It's both slick and tacky

[Grimly]

My friend, who rebuilds British motors from the 50s/60s/70s, swears by seal grease
It's both slick and tacky

And those who've ever tried wrestling a seal can vouch for that.

[748cc]

Nearly made me spew my beer, Grim-Not Cool!!
Man, those seals are slick as-is. Can't pin'em down no how!
But seriously, if it's so critical to have why isn't it more readily available, especially on the States side?

[GregT]

Nearly made me spew my beer, Grim-Not Cool!!
Man, those seals are slick as-is. Can't pin'em down no how!
But seriously, if it's so critical to have why isn't it more readily available, especially on the States side?

A quick google showed several brands of seal or O ring grease on the market. There have been greases specific for use on rubber components like caliper seals available since before WW2. Just a case of looking in the right place I'd think. A shop which rebuilds forks and shocks would carry it.

[748cc]

Sure there are, but the majority are either synthetic or silicone based. Using those on natural rubber will attack it rather than protect it. Why, even 'Vaseline' isn't suitable because it's petroliem based. Race-Tech has a product designed for o-rings, but they don't mention contents nor do they state what material it's good for other than 'o-rings'. Caliper seals & slide boots? OK. Neoprene? Sure. Viton? uhh, yeah! Petcock diaphrams?? Errrmmm...idunno.

[GregT]

Sure there are, but the majority are either synthetic or silicone based. Using those on natural rubber will attack it rather than protect it. Why, even 'Vaseline' isn't suitable because it's petroliem based. Race-Tech has a product designed for o-rings, but they don't mention contents nor do they state what material it's good for other than 'o-rings'. Caliper seals & slide boots? OK. Neoprene? Sure. Viton? uhh, yeah! Petcock diaphrams?? Errrmmm...idunno.

I'm actually pretty old, LOL But I can't remember the last thing I saw that was "natural rubber". Petcock or carb diaphragms definitely not.

Edit - Possibly the eraser on the end of a pencil might be natural rubber still.

[748cc]

I'm actually pretty old, LOL But I can't remember the last thing I saw that was "natural rubber". Petcock or carb diaphragms definitely not.

Edit - Possibly the eraser on the end of a pencil might be natural rubber still.

Honestly, I'd be unable to tell one from the other. I'm just under the assumption that 'quality' petcock diaphrahms are natural rubber due to its' resiliency to gasoline over time, vs. the synthetic counterpart. I began to believe some of this is because of its' sheer thickness. If a (vaccume-activated)petcock could get away with a thicker diaphrahm of synthetic construction I'd think it'd be the clear winner in every aspect including cost & longevity. Somebody tell me if I'm really, really overthinking all this