Adhesive Removal
 

I removed some stickers from my wheels, and they left behind some adhesive. My wife suggested some Zippo Lighter Fluid, but it didn't do all that much to remove the adhesive.

What other chemical could I apply to this adhesive to get it off with the least amount of scrubbing needed to clean the sticky adhesive off?

Acetone

Goo Gone
Just undecal-ed my Neuvations and this worked great.

Before attacking the residue with any of the solvents suggested, you might try using adhesive tape to remove as much as possible first - - so you have less gooey mess to contend with. Cloth tape works really well, but other tapes might work too (never had good luck with duct tape though).

To use, wrap a bit of tape around your fingers with adhesive side out. Push down on adhesive residue and pull away using a straight out motion. If all is well, each time you do this a bit more adhesive residue will be lifted off. Sometimes warming the surface with a hair dryer or heat gun aids in the process.

WD-40 on a scrubbing pad works well.

+1 for WD-40...

spray it on a sponge or shop towel, then rub.
don't spray it on the rim and rub, bad way of doing it.

+1

Great product.

Don't use acetone if the surface is powdercoat, it'll soften the powder. I'd use WD-40 or rubbing alcohol

-R

That lighter fluid should do the trick. You need enough to soak the adhesive for a few seconds to soften it up - a lightly damped rag won't get it done. WD-40 as mentioned by others works well since it doesn't evaporate as quickly as some other materials. Sounds like you just need to work at it a little harder...and congrats on having a woman that has some know how - lighter fluid is a good suggestion other than the being slightly dangerous.

For this application, is WD40 > lighter fluid?

I guess while I have the WD40 out I will go ahead and lube my chain. Just kidding...

lighter fluid, kerosene, is designed to be very light.
WD-40 is heavier compared to kerosene and won't evaporate as fast, so it has a longer chance of attacking the adhesive.

Avon Skin So Soft works great. Took the dealer logo off a new car without harming the paint.

goo gone +2

Acetone is like nuclear solvent. Do not use it on any painted or clear-coated surface either.

Something you may already have around if you're a bike devotee is one of the citrus degreasers/solvents -- works about as well as Goo Gone and generally doesn't jeopardize the finish.

Xylene works well too. Doesn't evaporate as quickly as acetone. More cutting power than ligher-fluid or kerosene.

No, lighter fluid = Naphtha which is VERY volatile. It is not kerosene.

Kerosene is much less volatile and will work very well as a solvent to remove the adhesive. WD-40 is a light lube in Kerosene as a carrier so it's just an expensive (but handy) form of Kerosene if used as a solvent.

As noted, Acetone is very agressive and will attack most paints and coatings so only use it on bare metal. I've used it to remove decals from a Litespeed frame (bare Ti) but I'd never use it on any painted frame.

really? didn't know that... I'm still used to those kerosene stoves :lol:

I have a few different products that I wanted to try.

I have some WD40, which works well on some of the adhesive. Then I have some brake parts cleaner and some engine de-greaser [not the citrus kind, but the aerosol kind they sell at Autozone]. I wanted to check in here before using on the bike. Will either brake cleaner or engine degreaser damage paint? I will thoroughly let the rims dry before putting them back on the bike as I am sure either would contaminate the brake pads.

I will hold off on the acetone. Thanks for the advice.

As above, WD-40 is just Kerosene if used as a solvent. It is not going to harm most paints.

Brake cleaners are, or at least used to be, chlorinated solvents (1,1,1-trichloroethane or perchloroetylene) and are very agressive. I would not use them on any painted surface.

Older engine degreasers used to be highly caustic and will badly attack aluminum parts. They are likely to damage most paint also. Newer degreasers probably do not contain caustic since so many modern engine components are aluminum but they still have to be pretty agressive solvents. Read the label to see what the cautions are.

Usually Step 1 is "Warm up the Engine."


Okay, but I'm not sure what that has to do with my bike...

Neither of the chemicals damaged the powder coat [or anodization, not sure on the wheel]. I could get some of it off, but some of the decals have an adhesive that I just couldn't get to come off.

I think I will try goo-gone next. Is it commonly available? Where might I find it?

I think I will try goo-gone next. Is it commonly available? Where might I find it?[/QUOTE]

Any WalMart or Hardware store