Rubber side steps.

[gas1man]

Hi everyone,
Anybody have any great ideas as to how to get these side steps to stretch?
They have been in the Cali sun for 30 odd years and even in boiling hot water , can not get them to stretch far enough.



Any ideas considered guys. No place to attach a grip to pull from both sides without damaging them.
They are not repro ones so would like to use.

J & P

 

[chad]

This?

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cn0fAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT266&lpg=PT266&dq=how+to+make+rubber+more+malleable&source=bl&ots=NTbjuR6VSF&sig=ktoFLqDvu515B2u7w3iSeXYruiY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwie2q6h1LbMAhUMM8AKHWZyDMsQ6AEINDAE#v=onepage&q=how%20to%20make%20rubber%20more%20malleable&f=false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[lemur]

Hi mate,
I'm an injection moulding technician
Rubber will not break down it's structure till upwards of 150 degrees c, and that's new rubber, so my advice would be to use a heat gun (like what you would use to strip paint off a door) and gently stoke along the step at a range of 5" away but for a while, do this from the underside just in case you cause any marks, but in my experience if you keep it moving all will be well.
Repeat duration till happy with flex

hope that helps.
Liam,

although it will shrink back somewhat once fitted.

 

[gas1man]

Thanks for the advice chaps..........To be continued.

J & P