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MG MGA - seal shelf life

I have several sets of new/packaged, oil seals, wheel cyl rebuild kits, clutch and mc rebuild kits etc that have been on the shelf for 3-4 years since purchase. These are not very expensive items, but as I'm just now getting around to using them, are they ok or should I just re-order "new" stuff.

George

G Goeppner

I am sure that you will find they are OK, particularly if they have been poly-bagged or even boxed. If they are still supple and not cracked they will be fine. These parts sit in bins in warehouses for many years with no ill effects. About the only way they could deteriorate in storage is if they were exposed to UV light or a heat source for a long time, as in stored on a windowsill or beside a furnace.

Rich
Rich McKIe

Hi Folks:

In the Navy aircraft business we throw away all rubber type components o-rings, seal, etc by directives after three years on the shelf.

Good Luck: Rich Boris
Rich Boris

George- see this site:
www.ableorings.com/O%20RING%20SHELF%20LIFE%20CHART.pdf
/ Junglebunny
Jarhead

Rich

We are totally conservative and for very good reasons in the aviation business and for those of us in Naval Aviation we probably are a lot more pedantic than most, something to do with no where to land and park a long way from land and our home base.

Hope you and all the yanks had a good thanks giving.
Shane

George,

Shelf life really depends upon what the seal is made of. If it is stored in the original package, away from heat and light, then its shelf life can be anywhere from 3 years to unlimited. Nitrile seals can be safely stored 3-5 years, neoprene type seals 5-10 years while flurocarbon or silicon based seals are good up to 20 years.
Mitch Smith

If the "shelf life" of seals, o rings, etc. is about 3-5 years, than all the cars on the road older than five years need all their seals, o rings, rubber parts, etc., replaced! Is that one of the routine services listed in the new car owner's manual? No. So, I agree with Mitch and Rich.

Blake
Bullwinkle

In reply to the other Rich, I used to work in commercial aviation and expiry dates were also strictly enforced.
However, in the case of old cars it is unlikely that they will fall out of the sky if a seal fails so there is no need to be quite so picky!

I do realise that brake seals in particular are the sort of things you don't want to fail but I couldn't pass up the chance to make that smart-ass comment!
I think that with a careful inpection using seals that are a few years old is not an issue.

Cheers,
The other Rich (Just another Dick!)
Rich McKIe

This thread was discussed between 22/11/2006 and 24/11/2006

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