Hitchcocks Forum

Hi, finally got my rebuilt rear wheel back and asked for clarification as to the shock mounting rubber incerts.
On the wheel side the rubber bits took a lot of moving and had no lubricant wheras the rubber to metal contact with the chain part (that remained with the bike with the wheel off) seemed to have a graphite (black) lubricant.
What is this lubricant? The service agent says only talcom powder and another "expert" says Vasaline.
Qualified/experienced information please so I can put things back together.
Thanks a lot

Oil, grease and Sunlight will perish rubber. Use something like ArmourAll which protects rubber.

Rubber grease or silicone grease/oil (armorall) is preferred. The rubber buffers are (supposed to be?) made from Buna-N and should cope with contact with mineral oils.


Heat is the main potential damaging effect on the rubber buffers; dont inadvertently over-adjust the rear brake in an attempt to minimise pedal travel free-play!


Should the brake make unintended contact due to the changing Brake-Rod angularity relative to suspension movement the drum will rapidly over heat, cooking the linings, the rubbers and the 6005 hub bearing!


Or to put it another way: The rear brake is able to apply itself when over-adjusted due to conflicting angular movements between Swingarm/suspension travel, brake-pedal pivot point, brake rod, and brake lever.

Thanks for the info. - very informative. On closer inspection the lubricant used would seem to be clear origionally but turned black in the contact areas. Seeing as the bike has only done 400 miles it seems odd that the white greaase has taken on the black of the shock parts during this short time - was the origional grease petrolium based?
Anyway I've found some pipe fitting lubricant that is Silicone so I'll assemble with that. Cheers