I'm fixing to order rubber grommets for side covers, it burns my butt to pay $2 to 4 for a 5 cent piece of rubber. Anyone able to recommend a source better than Partzilla? BDC
I got mine from MikesXS, but they were about that price also :o
I've seen them in the specialty hardware section at my local Lowes.
My local Lowe's grommets weren't even close to what we need on sidecovers. bdc
If you Google "rubber grommet supply, images" you will get a significant array to choose from. From those images you can contact the suppliers for more information or search their catalogues.
Thanks Mike, mind boggling info on grommets. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted from any of the larger suppliers so I'm going to start a new thread on feasibility of 3-D printed grommets. BDC
Most of the grommets we need are a dedicated part and not just a universal item. The 3D idea is interesting. Also might find some grommets on older bikes at a dismantler's yard.
We have a place called tractor supply, they have all std O rings, good price
Good to know about Tractor supply, but we need the grommets that fit in the frame tabs to plug the side covers into, which are not O rings.
Looking at the 3D printing suooly area there are tough 'elasto' plastics, harder flexible plastics, and hard plastics. The problem I see so far is these plastics available for 3D printing are termed "not waterproof". Maybe they are porous, or maybe the melt when wet.
So here's an idea...
Use hot melt glue to make a 2 part mould of a good grommet - a coating of WD40 will act as a release agent.
Use the clear silicone stuff you use around baths (Selleys all-clear here but probably something else in USA) for the grommet. Don't worry about the hole as you can drill that out later.
Should stay flexible forever and it's UV stabilised.
Vulcanise a flat rubber washer either side of a smaller one and drill if needed to suit?
Real problem is making sure side cover wont blow off or doesn't get broken while being removed. Original grommet setup didn't blow off but did create a shortage of left sidecovers due to difficulty of removal. Engineering problem that needs remedying. BDC
As suggested earlier, junk yard should be able to provide all the grommets you need. Apply grease to grommet and its male counterpart for ease of install and removal for years to come. If the broken off male part is available, use J-B Weld to provide a sturdy reattachment.
would stacking rubber washers of different sizes work?
These work for the grommet that sits in the bottom edge of the fuel tank (nowhere else) .... don't forget the lube.
McMaster - Carr has what I think should be a reasonable substitute for the larger frame mounted grommets. Their item # 9600K69 is a bag of 50 grommets for $9.41usd.
I'm still looking for the small frame mounted ones.
Check this stuff out for making grommets -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBRfK_DaS5k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBRfK_DaS5k)
Looks like a cool product. Showed wife and asked if she needed anything made and she told me to buy a big bag of it. ???
If you got enough you could make a whole new wife
Each small packet costs $25usd, so (tasteless comment deleted). :police: ;)
Quote from: ProphetOfDoom on December 27, 2014, 12:54:36 AM
If you got enough you could make a whole new wife
Yes, a fine idea indeed but the curing would be the problem. Women can't be cured. Then there's the complexity....
Hey, I just celebrated the 53 anniversary with my first wife. Believe me, you don't want a whole new wife. BDC
Quote from: Re-Vision on December 22, 2014, 10:40:43 AM
Thanks Mike, mind boggling info on grommets. I couldn't find exactly what I wanted from any of the larger suppliers so I'm going to start a new thread on feasibility of 3-D printed grommets. BDC
I thought I replied on this point, but I guess not.
There are some promising new flexible 3D printing filaments out there, look up NinjaFlex.
Another option is to 3D print a mold and cast your own grommets out of another material. I just did something similar to this for some vibration isolators on an RC project. http://repables.com/r/431/
(http://repables.com/images/gallery/7dcd340d84f762eba80aa538b0c527f7_7ad1f04baae089731b0a7f797ff21cf1.jpg)
If you can get me dimensions, I could at least design the mold for you. Then I can either print and ship it, you can go to a library with a printer, you could find someone on 3Dhubs or makeXYZ, or you could just order one from Shapeways...
That Versimold stuff looks like a good candidate for remaking intake manifolds if it's fuel proof. Now, to clean the rubber stuff off the metal parts.
Jim, can you actually make grommet molds if I get you measurements? How much will that cost?
I can draw you up a mold, sure.
Think of it like this...they last about 25 years. 5 bucks or so isn't that much.
Making your own molds is okay but I'd worry about getting a proper material for the grommets. I've lost enough side covers over the years that I have to agree with you about buying the overpriced OEM grommets.. BDC
Kwells, are you going to race your XZ again this year?
I might. I haven't seen a schedule announced yet though. Blackie's motor has started smoking some so I think I need to get another donor motor to beat on.
Hey Kevin, long time no see!! Are you and Ben still hanging out, Good to here from you
I've recently had my computer worked on and I've lost a lot of information regarding where I intended to buy parts from. I had found a source that had better prices than Partszilla. Can anyone recommend a good supplier of rubber parts? BDC