K2 / Proflex Riders Group

General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: Willie_B on November 01, 2008, 05:26:42 pm

Title: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: Willie_B on November 01, 2008, 05:26:42 pm
Just saw these up. How lucky do you feel?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-OLD-STOCK-K2-PROFLEX-ELASTOMER-LOOK_W0QQitemZ250317943985QQihZ015QQcategoryZ156523QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 02, 2008, 05:46:21 am
oooeerrr!!
i have emailed the seller to see if he will ship to u.k.....(holding my breath) :'(

might have to buy 2 if he doesnt have one at 68mm...

if only i had a part number??
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: Willie_B on November 02, 2008, 07:35:37 am
I will be glad to forward it along if the seller does not want to post to the UK.
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 02, 2008, 03:13:44 pm
I will be glad to forward it along if the seller does not want to post to the UK.

nice one!!
any idea how much postage will be to you?

and how much to post on to me? nottingham u.k

i have an 862 with the 656rsoft kit fitted from rds but it's still rock hard!.

also anyone got a set of the purple cup washers they dont want  ;D



Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: Willie_B on November 02, 2008, 06:29:25 pm
It would be $12.95 to have it sent to me, probably about that same amount to send it over to you. Let me know if you are interested. I will bid/buy it and then send it over.
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: keith on November 03, 2008, 12:41:44 am
Don't these things deteriorate wheter there on a bike or on a shelf? Will they be any good?
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: dcarr1971 on November 03, 2008, 08:56:46 am
Don't these things deteriorate wheter there on a bike or on a shelf? Will they be any good?

Good question...I thought I'd seen a post that indicated the problem had something to do with UV light causing them to deteriorate, but that may only account for the "melting" piece of the problem...
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: proflex252 on November 03, 2008, 09:08:39 am
don't do that!

they are surely hardened.

just follow the sticky ... hey! where is the sticky gone to?

ok, follow the link:

http://www.rapiddescentscotland.co.uk/index.php?&MMN_position=1:1 (http://www.rapiddescentscotland.co.uk/index.php?&MMN_position=1:1)
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: rapiddescent on November 03, 2008, 01:01:41 pm
the 656rs shouldn't be rock hard - I reckon it will be pretty soft for anyone over about 75kg...  unless the bike has a problem?  If you are much lighter than that then the MCUVECTOR1 kit will fit the rear as well but it is really really soft and won't last ling on a heavier rider.

What i can't figure out is: How can this elastomer be fresh?  It looks like it is in an airtight bag - but it would also have to have been shielded from light as well to stay fresh.  Try and get one from the bottom of the box!!

callum
rds
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 03, 2008, 01:39:23 pm
these thing's could be as old as 9 years old at a guess?

shovelon arent you still running one of these on the old serrota pro-flex?

callum
i think these are harder on my 862 cause of the difference in leverage to that of a 56 style frame..

anyone else run these on a 1992 bike? proflex252 what you still running on?

emailed seller and no reply as yet to see if he will send to u.k

(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd24/purplegerbils/037.jpg)




Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: shovelon on November 03, 2008, 09:33:13 pm
these thing's could be as old as 9 years old at a guess?

shovelon arent you still running one of these on the old serrota pro-flex?

Well yes, but I made mine from solid black urethane not microcellular.

I don't think I would trust elastomers more than 5 years old.
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: proflex252 on November 04, 2008, 01:11:40 am
After the MCUs on my 853 and 252 were solid as a rock (Germany is cold enough, wo they don't melt) I found a manufacturer for recumbent bikes in Germany who uses elastomeres for one of his bikes.
They sold me two sets of elastomeres for 20 euros each. just had to shorten them.

And I insist: Original MCUs from the 90s can't work any more! They have to be hard. That material is aging rapidly.
You can bath them in hot water an they will work for some weeks, but thats all.
Maybe this guy had them in hot water, is selling them and you'll hate him after a few weeks.
Possibly
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: Willie_B on November 04, 2008, 06:03:03 pm
If you do hear from the seller, the US post office has a flat rate international box that can be used for up to 4 lbs and is only $12.95. The post office even provides the box. The seller may not know this if they have never checked into it. They can even just take the item to the post office and box it up there, couldn't be much easier. But as I said, how lucky do you feel about the age of these?
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: rapiddescent on November 05, 2008, 04:51:38 am
if anyone here wins this auction - get in touch because I'm interested to see if the elastomers have lasted.  I only keep a small supply of elastomers in stock at any time so they don't stay on the shelf for more than a few weeks.

having said that - I think the credit crunch has hit because our sales are the lowest in 7 years!  not that I mind - doing more riding!

callum
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 05, 2008, 09:35:13 am
oh well seller cant be bothered to email me back with even so much as a no!!! ...tosser.... >:(

willie i would like to take a chance!!   :o
if you could try and win me two of these please.
for a very small amount of cash that is!! as i begrudge giving this man my cash if he wont even email me back..

please let me know via pm


Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: DugB on November 05, 2008, 01:48:39 pm
I wouldn't be so sure about the softness of the old elastomers. I recently picked up a Vector I/VectorII fork package on US eBay, and the V1 still has completely intact elastomers (40/60 combo) that are in excellent shape and still springy.

The thing I'm wondering about the ones he's selling is what is the resistance/hardness number??

- Doug
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: jwebster on November 05, 2008, 05:01:17 pm
Quote
The thing I'm wondering about the ones he's selling is what is the resistance/hardness number??

DugB, I sent the seller an email asking exactly that 4 days ago and have heard nothing back. Good luck finding out. I've placed an order with RDS instead.

Joel
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: The Mont on November 06, 2008, 02:06:39 am


I've had a reply back regarding the spring rate, the seller dosn't know, he gave me the part number and asked me to check on the net, the number is visible in the ad anyhow, but I can't find any info relating the part number to the spring rate and it's the only number not quoted in my fork owners manual.
He hasn't replied regarding shipping to the Uk though.
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: rapiddescent on November 06, 2008, 05:11:30 am
Most of the MCUs made for Proflex had a number stamped in black ink on one end of the elastomer.  Usually 60, 70 or 80. 

At first, I thought this was the DIN 'Shore A' standard for elastomer density - but after testing them against modern DIN rated elastomers I couldn't get a good match.  This could be because the elastomers I was testing against were already 7 or perhaps as much as 9 years old or indeed, its some internal standard for numbering and doesn't mean anything. 

remember that if you are using these on the 856/956 then there were some problems right back at the beginning:
+ the spindles for the ods shock came back from manufacturing being made out of a different alloy than the design!! - they were meant to be polished, but weren't - so you have to drill out the centre of the elastomer a little or use a NON-OIL based grease.

callum
rds
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: The Mont on November 06, 2008, 07:52:11 am
Most of the MCUs made for Proflex had a number stamped in black ink on one end of the elastomer.  Usually 60, 70 or 80. 

At first, I thought this was the DIN 'Shore A' standard for elastomer density - but after testing them against modern DIN rated elastomers I couldn't get a good match.  This could be because the elastomers I was testing against were already 7 or perhaps as much as 9 years old or indeed, its some internal standard for numbering and doesn't mean anything. 

remember that if you are using these on the 856/956 then there were some problems right back at the beginning:
+ the spindles for the ods shock came back from manufacturing being made out of a different alloy than the design!! - they were meant to be polished, but weren't - so you have to drill out the centre of the elastomer a little or use a NON-OIL based grease.

callum
rds

I have a NOS ODS front shock with original elastomers on it in the attic, I've just had a look and on the lower containment washer are two stickers one with 50 on and one with 70, the larger MCU has 70 stamped on the end and the small one is blank, this must be the spring rate as in the owners manual spring rate charts 70/50 is for a rider of weight 120-160lbs.

I've mailed the seller again to see if there any numbers on the ends of these elastomers.

Monty
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 06, 2008, 11:40:48 am
ive done my homework on these numbers on the bottom of the elastomers...

starting at 40 .....which means rider weight in kilograms =90lbs rider
60=130lbs and so on upto possibly 100 for a 250lbs rider....on 1992-93-94 style frames...
so that means i would need a 80 for a 180 to 190lbs rider = to a 400lbs spring...
has anybody sent the part number to k2?? to see if they have any info on computer still..
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: sid on November 06, 2008, 12:09:20 pm
Ive also ordered some from RDS , just out of interest anyone know how many weeks it takes to recieve your order after placing ?


Cheers all
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: The Mont on November 06, 2008, 01:01:49 pm
Selller has mailed back there is no numbers stamped on these elastomers, so your only hope is to cross ref the part number,
this is the only number I don't have in the owners manual  :(
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: The Mont on November 06, 2008, 02:07:27 pm
ive done my homework on these numbers on the bottom of the elastomers...

starting at 40 .....which means rider weight in kilograms =90lbs rider
60=130lbs and so on upto possibly 100 for a 250lbs rider....on 1992-93-94 style frames...
so that means i would need a 80 for a 180 to 190lbs rider = to a 400lbs spring...
has anybody sent the part number to k2?? to see if they have any info on computer still..

There is a "Huge K2 / Pro-flex spring and shock compatibility chart" on this site that shows all the part numbers against spring rates.
Most of the elastomers start 13943-2 the same as the one in the sale but then have another - and the spring rate number e.g. 13943-2-70

so the part numbers in the sale appear to be incomplete !
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on November 06, 2008, 03:25:16 pm
ooooohhh i was so close with the spring rates...

i thought i had worked it all out by my self and there's a damn chart!!

hey he finally emailed me back!!    saying there is no other number......but i didnt ask him that..i asked him if he would ship to u.k
so ive waited all this time to get someone elses reply!!

also quoted postage supplied by willie b..

(holding breath)
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: Willie_B on November 24, 2008, 01:24:22 pm
I got two in today for purple gerbil. They are NOT hard or gooey. I will be sending these out to the UK Tuesday to him. I have noticed that the seller has two more up on ebay at the moment.
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: The Mont on November 26, 2008, 02:22:25 am
I got two in today for purple gerbil. They are NOT hard or gooey. I will be sending these out to the UK Tuesday to him. I have noticed that the seller has two more up on ebay at the moment.

Just got a reply back from them, they are not willing to ship to UK at this time  :(
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: rapiddescent on November 27, 2008, 12:58:26 pm
someone asked about my mailling times.  We're not getting many orders at the moment so i tend to go to the post office once a week at the moment.  Earlier this year i was going twice a day!!!  anyway, UK deliverys are next day (after I've posted them!), Northern europe takes a couple of days, USA East takes 4 days, USA West takes 6 days (unless you are out in the sticks and it takes an extra day), Australia is 5 days for Vic and NSW but 7 for WA and NT, NZ takes 6 to 8 days.

the good news is that the usa postal system is working quite quick again after the anti-terror measures from a few years ago. (where it took 15 days minimum)

I am a postal system bore.  At least with rubbish sales I am riding 3 times a week.!!!

callum
rds
Title: Re: Elastomers on eBay-US
Post by: purple gerbil on December 06, 2008, 04:29:15 am
!!!!WARNING!!!!

big thanks to willie b for getting these over to the u.k for me....

but it turns out there to soft :-\ OR im just to fat ??? 190LBS
no seriously! these elastomers are in 100% perfect condition no break down melting or hardening...
there alot slimmer than i remember...these must be for vectors...at 45mm each i had to cut them down by 10mm each to fit my system..70mm
so if anybody else is thinking about these for maybe a 130LBS rider and only for vectors these might be o.k but its a risk you take...