Does anyone know of a thin, paint-on rubber-to-metal sealant that I can use to seal between the rubber targa seal and the targa itself. Silicone sealant in a tube is just too thick.

 

 

Thanks

 

John

How about a bitumen spray? they sell it in B&Q. I'm not saure how it'll react with rubber but pretty sure it'll stick to it.

 

Vijay

It may sound daft, but try putting some normal silicone in the microwave, this should make it go thin so that you can apply it. This method also works very well with apoxy.

It may sound daft, but try putting some normal silicone in the microwave, this should make it go thin so that you can apply it. This method also works very well with apoxy.

 

 

FFS don't tell the Mrs that :D:D:D The kitchen has all sorts of usefull appliances - the oven is fantastic for getting boost hoses ready to go back on - 20 mins at 30-50 deg C and they go straight on - oven smells a bit after that though :D Also, dishwashers are excellent for cleaning engine parts ;) If you ever meet my mrs, please don't tell her I said this :D

Vijay, not a bad idea, from my roofing days I know that bitumen will eventually deteriorate most synthetic elastomeric membranes (there are special synthetic elastomers that resist oils and bitumen, but it will take a long time to destroy it.

 

Not a bad idea fellas to put silicone in the microwave.

 

John

Just got a spray can of "Isoflex" from B&Q, I am testing it now on a strip of rubber sheet to metal, it looks like it will do the job, goes on thin enough so it wont cause the rubber seal to stand out. By the time it deteriorates the rubber seal to the targa 350 zeds will be £5000 and I wont have to worry.

 

John

Hi John,

 

I assume that the seek and seal didn't work? What's Isoflex?

 

Vijay

Hi John,

 

I assume that the seek and seal didn't work? What's Isoflex?

 

Vijay

 

Vijay

 

The seek and seal worked great, cut my leaks down from 1/2 litre to a few drops, even in a heavy downpour for hours. I was trying to get it to zero leaks, which is probably optimistic. I tried putting silicone in to get rid of the occassional drip, and it made it 10 times worse. Makes sense when you think about it, the silicone is too thick. Throughout the several weeks that the seak and seal was doing a fantastic job, I was noticing some traces of seak and seal being washed down the glass, as it never sets. I should have been happy with the ocassional drip, now I have to scrape out the silicone, get it nice and clean, and start all over with seak and seal.

 

The Isoflex (spray bitumen from B&Q) was just an idea for an alternative, but the tests I am running in the kitchen with a strip of rubber and a piece of metal dont look good, poor adhesion to the rubber, and the high solvent content of the Isoflex tends to shrivel the rubber a bit.

 

So, its seak and seal for the moment.

 

John

Why not just use contact adhesive?

Why not just use contact adhesive?

 

Contact adhesive is generally not that waterproof is it ? It also needs a little bit of substance to it to close up any irregularities and voids, I think.

 

John

Which is exactly why I suggested contact adhesive ;) It has (to a certain degree) gap filling properties and works very well with rubber....

Which is exactly why I suggested contact adhesive ;) It has (to a certain degree) gap filling properties and works very well with rubber....

 

Its worth a try Andy, Im getting tired of getting a wet arse, or sitting on plastic bin bags.

 

John

Why not try silicone rubber lubricant spray.

 

Rather than add substance to the rubber seals it simply rejuvinates the rubber and helps shrunken rubber re-expand to restore its sealing properties.

 

It also stops creaks and squeeks too....

 

Costs about £3 in Halfords for a can

 

Richard :)

Why not try silicone rubber lubricant spray.

 

Rather than add substance to the rubber seals it simply rejuvinates the rubber and helps shrunken rubber re-expand to restore its sealing properties.

 

It also stops creaks and squeeks too....

 

Costs about £3 in Halfords for a can

 

Richard :)

 

No, rejuvinating the rubber will not help, I tried it, the problem is the targa seal is not under any compression, its a one sided seal for weatherproofing.

 

John

So far so good with the "Isoflex" bitumen spray from B& Q (in the roofing section)

 

Mind you, its a bit messy, but dont worry about it running over your paintwork on the targa, it comes right off. But at least it sets up, unlike the "seek and seal"

Take the targa off, and stand it upright, rubber seal side facing upwards. Pull the rubber seal back away from the metal of the targa, and spray isoflex in. Do this for the whole length, wiping off any surplus. Allow it about an hour to set, and check, add more if necessary. Keep it upright for a couple of hours, longer the better (all night if you can)

 

Like I said earlier, this is a solvent based bituminous product, which probably will affect the rubber over the years, but by that time we will all be able to buy 350z's for £5000.

 

I just washed the car, threw buckets of water over the roof, not a drop of water inside. But, the big test will be the next downpour, but I'm optimistic.

 

John

:dance: Well, it poured down last night (and right now) very windy too, car is bone dry inside, which is a first.

Whoopee........ :) .the Isoflex worked (only for fixing the leak on the straight targa rubber, which is usually the cause of the leak)

 

 

John

well i gotno chance, cant leave the top off, some ******* will nick the car around here. bin bags it is still

well i gotno chance, cant leave the top off, some ******* will nick the car around here. bin bags it is still

 

 

Couple of hours is all it needs to set up, stand guard at your car with a 60,000 volt stun gun (make from parts from your local Maplin shop)

 

John