Tail light sealant?

[Mosh]

I took the tail light assembly off the bike today and discovered that it is pumped full of silicon sealant which is a bit inconvenient. I'm guessing the previous owner (possibly the police) wanted to keep sand from filling the unit.

Has anyone else found/done this? Is there a good reason I haven't thought of?

 

[Deckyon]

Bought mine brand new, no sealant. Must have been something they did.

 

[Harald]

Was it sealant or dielectric grease? I would be very odd to fill it with an actual RTV sealant, but using dielectric grease is a common tactic to stop corrosion in the bulb socket.

 

[Mosh]

Was it sealant or dielectric grease? I would be very odd to fill it with an actual RTV sealant, but using dielectric grease is a common tactic to stop corrosion in the bulb socket.

Definitely silicon, Harold, it's nowhere near the contacts, just around all the edges of the unit in excessive quantities. I'm still cutting/picking the stuff off now, so much for a 5 minute bulb change.

 

[L.B.S.]

Intriguing!

Living where it's always raining, my thoughts of putting silicone in spots, naturally had me associating water, and then [*mind explodes*] picturing someone living where having to do it to keep sand out, had me