Chuck;
Doesn't rubbing alcohol dissolve and evaporate oils, like those used in manufacturing rubber? I've used small amounts of liquid dishsoap with a lot of success to remove and replace rubber grips on bicycles and motorcycles, as well as a few rubber brake hoods. Another rubber-friendly temporary lubricant is Armourall, available at any auto store or at any Walgreens in the auto care aisle. And, if you want to spend the money, you can use Griot's Rubber Preservative (www.griotsgarage.com) to slide on those hoods, and then rub some of that stuff onto the hoods every few months to keep them fresh for a long, long time.
Herb Langston
Evanston, IL
1979 Benotto - 1977 Motobecane - 1956 BMW R50
>With Super Record / Nuovo Record "world logo" gum hoods going for
>upwards of $89, you don't want to tear them putting them on. Here's my
>method:
>
>-Take brake levers off of bars after removing cables.
>-Remove remains of rotted gum hoods.
>-Disassemble levers from the bodies.
>-Slide new hood over front end of body with liberal application of
>rubbing alcohol.
>-Slide hood partially off back of body to uncover pivot hole.
>-Reassemble lever onto body and insert pivot.
>-Push hood forward to final position.
>-Bolt brake levers back onto bars and reattach cables.
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, Southern California