Keeping the water out - WD-40?

[DMP]

Ref CrossCurrent AIR, a few months old

Love this bike (other than the rear brakes), when it works, but unfortunately reliability is an issue and I need something reliable for commuting.

One persistent problem is flaking out in the rain, and I live in the north west, where it rains.

Tech support suggested water might be getting into the connectors, so I wanted to ask, has anybody experience with spraying the connectors with a water displacer such as WD 40? Used to work a treat on the spark plugs of my old car when they got damp but that was much higher power. Is there any reason not to try WD40? Any other suggestions or experience with this of note?

Thanks. If I can get this one solved I can ask about the other issues....

 

[rich c]

Personally, I'd try die electric grease before I tried WD-40. Unless you are trying to drive out moisture that is already there. Then I'd use the WD-40 for that. I'd ask with the manufacturer first though.

 

[Reid]

Agreeing with Rich.

By the way, WD-40 is simply low odor mineral spirits plus light mineral oil. Mineral spirits displaces liquid water far faster than oil alone because of its low viscosity.

All greases and oils and their hydrocarbon solvents are essentially dielectric, in the sense relevant here that they do not conduct electricity.

If the water-sensitive joint can be packed with a synthetic or petroleum grease, or a silicone grease-like compound, good.

Among ways to deliver a grease into a non-accessible joint is to dissolve the grease in plastics-safe solvent, such as naphtha, to make the solid temporarily fluid, and thus, sufficiently penetrating. The solvent will fully evaporate over time leaving a greasy film more persistent than oil.

 

[DMP]

Rich C - thanks for the advice, I've orders some di electric grease as a future preventative measure. The WD40 question was more for cure than prevention.

Reid, are you a chemist ;o)