Heater bellows

I've just removed my heater bellows and they are pretty worse for wear, can anyone recommend a silicone replacement?

 

In what way are they worse for wear?

 

Split and the ends are shot. Pretty sure the white inserts are asbestos

 

Get shot of those inserts and get the new rubber replacements ...from JK or VWH
Have you got the original heat exchangers on too ?

 

You could just replace the bellows with silicone hose
There's places on eBay that sell different types and diameters

 

Yes I think I'd rather use silicone, anyone know the correct size without me having to get my verniers out

 

I'll get my verniers out lol

 

60mm

 

Good man thanks

 

This is the one on ebay a very helpful person pointed me to a little while back:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60mm-Blac...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Thank you

 

The bellow are also mufflers and do a surprising good job of reducing the sound of the fan. I fitted straight tube and above 50 if you wanted heat you had to put up with fan noise. Went back to refurbishing the original with cut up silicon bun cases for the inlets. Coiled coat hanger wire for a large spring in side the bellow and the wool insulation instead of glass fibre.
Keep your old bellows any how so you can go back if needs be.

 

^this. The stuffing in the originals damps engine noise coming up the heating.

 

Do not be tempted by the JK bellows. Zed (remember Zed) had some and they melted, and now I find mine have too. Maybe the latest versions have fixed this.

 

Odd. My JK ones with steel collars are fine after ten years.

 

I bought 1 from gsf. Is doing what it was designed to do. The other side I unscrewed it took the inner out. Re insulated and screwed back together

 

If you have original heat exchangers you might melt the JK bellows. Otherwise they are Ok with the newer heat exchangers.

 

...with original HEs...

 

They brought out some bellows specially made for them maybe 3-4 years back. The inner part is a plastic lattice which isn't sufficiently heat resistant. Zed gave them hell, but I don't know whether he got anywhere. I don't think there's any metal in them at all.

 

I had to buy the collars separately from VWH. Clamping them straight to the HEs wouldn't be a good idea.