Continuous process for preparing organopolysiloxanes containing triorganosiloxy terminal units

A continuous method for preparing organopolysiloxanes having trioganosiloxy terminal units, which comprises introducing an organopolysiloxane mixture containing cyclic organopolysiloxanes and organo(poly)siloxanes having triorganosiloxy terminal groups into a tube reactor that has been heated to 80.degree. C. and which contains a static catalyst bed, in which the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of acid activated montmorillonite, aluminum silicates having a molecular sieve structure, sulfonated carbon, acid activated carbon black and cation-exchange polymers having sulfonyl groups as the ion exchange elements, and thereafter recovering an organopolysiloxane whose composition is different from that of the organo(poly)siloxane having triorganosiloxy terminal groups which has been introduced into the reactor;

• in which the temperature of the contents of the reactor in the area between one-third and two-thirds of the distance between the point where the organopolysiloxane mixture enters the reactor and the point where the resultant organopolysiloxane composition leaves the reactor, is at least 50.degree. C. below the temperature which is immediately prior to the point where the resultant organopolysiloxane composition leaves the reactor.