Silicon Adheasive sealant

[Machine Man]

I have a tube of black silicon and I only use a little on occasion to seal crank cases on go kart engines. The stuff gets hard in the neck of the tube so I try to cut it out with a #11 blade and I also run a drill in there by hand but the stuff doesn't want to come out. It's still very fluid in the tube itself. Any tips for getting it to flow? Thanks.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have a tube of black silicon and I only use a little on occasion to seal crank cases on go kart engines. The stuff gets hard in the neck of the tube so I try to cut it out with a #11 blade and I also run a drill in there by hand but the stuff doesn't want to come out. It's still very fluid in the tube itself. Any tips for getting it to flow? Thanks.

I usually use a deformed (take one side and make it straight like a pseudo key)paper clip to clean out the top before I put the lid on, usually works okay just put the lid on tight (won't matter with getting it off unless it's something glue like). You can also use it to clean after the fact (poke holes) but the flow will be reduced if you don't remove the "cured" portion. Worst case scenario I just cut off the top of the tube then fold it over and tape it up when I'm done; messy though.

 

[RonB]

Slit the tip from point to the tube down the center.Pull apart,remove cured plug,tape spout together with electrical tape.You are ready to go and next time only need to unwrap the tape.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I often run a long sheetrock screw into the cured sealant and the pull out the plug like a wine bottle cork, but I must say I do want to try this method:

Slit the tip from point to the tube down the center.Pull apart,remove cured plug,tape spout together with electrical tape.You are ready to go and next time only need to unwrap the tape.

 

[LG63]

I often run a long sheetrock screw into the cured sealant and the pull out the plug like a wine bottle cork, but I must say I do want to try this method:

I do the same thing with a deck screw but don't really worry about getting the entire plug out. The deck screw creates enough of a passage to get the job done.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Use a 1/4X3" round head Phillips screw.
Hit it with the drill for a spin or two c/w then cc/w to remove- no "cured" plug to remove.