Boot, Swing Arm 49006-1020 Repair

During my engine rebuild, I had to uncouple the drive shaft which involved unclamping the rubber boot and pushing back to get at the propeller shaft drive bolts. This boot had cracks in the rubber and the rubber was as hard as the tread on the tire. Next to no flex at all. New boots used to be available from Lauri who is no longer with us and I'm not sure of an alternative.
at this point I could search the internet for a replacement or repair what I have so armed with some experience from my nuclear days, time  to get to it.

Back at the plant, we made o-rings with bulk o-ring material supplied by Parker o-rings. Cut and glued with Superglue , or Crazy Glue and Bob's your Uncle. So that will be the fix for repairing the cracks.

I also found a "recipe" for softening rubber . 1 part Wintergreen Oil and 3 parts Methyl Hydrate and wipe the rubber object with the solution, so I gave it a try. Results are remarkable. Not quite as soft as it might be but more than acceptable for this application. 1 coating was all I did and I'm happy with the result. I could barely move it on the engine mount side and now it's soft supple and easy to rotate.

 

 

I'll put these 2 photos in to show the crack that I'm dealing with. I've already glued up another 3" crack and it's just fine, so I'll do this one next. I should have taken pics of the other crack pre and post gluing but got wrapped up in the repair.


 

That looks like a relatively new boot? Is that one of the aftermarket ones?

it's the original 44 year old boot after treating it with the mixture and yes, it looks like new. Got to love those barnyard remedies.