Silicone in Handlebars?

I pulled my handlebars so I could run some wires through them for a new set of handlebar heaters and I found the whole center section is filled with silicone. I presume this was done by the previous owner to dampen vibration.

How the heck do I get it out and should I put more back in when I'm done? I'd never heard of this before.

Bike is a 1988 R100RS.

Sillicone is very tough to get out of anything unless you soak it in a release solvent for it. Unfortunately that act may take the wires out too. There are fairly inert substances out now designed for removing body molding adhesives and other tough to remove glues and sealants such as this one:

http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/utility/showProduct/?objectID=317

and this is gaining popularity in the auto market where car makers are increasing the size of moldings etc.

Otherwise a quick Google yielded this and it may be a better solution (pun intended) too for your purpose:

A solvent developed by PROSOCO is said to "digest" the cured silicone
elastomer.

http://www.prosoco.com/Product.asp?ID=43

Dicone NC9

Description and use

Dicone NC9 is a specially formulated silicone "digestant", for
removing silicone-based sealants and adhesives, cured silicone
elastomers and silicone water repellent overspray. Dicone NC9 utilizes
new solvent technology to dissolve cured silicone resins and polymers
with a non-flammable, non-chlorinated and non-aromatic cleaning
solution. Safer and more efficient than chlorinated or aromatic
solvents or caustic solutions normally used for these applications."

It appears from the PROSOCO website, that they are an industrial
supplier. If you are serous about cleaning the cured silicone
completely (which you would want to do before attempting repair since
new silicone will not stick to old silicone), you may wish to call
PROSOCO to see if you can wangle a sample from them. Very often these
"new" cleaners are citric products which are increasingly used as
"poor" substitutes for the real stuff (toluene, acetone, MEK, etc.)
for cleaning up. You can reach PROSOCO at (800) 255-4255

Here is the link for the Dicone itself:

http://www.prosoco.com/ProductDetail.asp?ID={F6DF7CD4-4A03-4D4F-A490-19E68FC6CFA4}

Silicone handlebars

You have the special edition "Pam Anderson" handlebars. Put them on Ebay and buy new plain ones for yourself.

Friedle

Friedle said:

You have the special edition "Pam Anderson" handlebars. Put them on Ebay and buy new plain ones for yourself.

Friedle

Click to expand...

+1 It would be easier to start over.