removing nasty smelly goop from the handlebars
04-01-05, 02:51 PM
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removing nasty smelly goop from the handlebars
i'm in the process of totally stripping and restoring my mom's 70s nishiki road bike, and i just took off the handlebar tape. there's this terrifying (as i mentioned, smelly) goop all over where the brake levers attach. it seems that the stuff got melted on over time. i've been picking away at it with a flathead screwdriver, with meager success. is there any sort of solvent i can use? i really want to keep as many of the original components as possible, but if i have to get new parts then so be it. 
help!
help!
04-01-05, 03:18 PM
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I agree that rubbing alcohol is a good place to start. You want to use the least agressive product that wil do the job,
04-01-05, 03:19 PM
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Use what you have and see what works.
Do you have any WD-40 or Mineral spirits (paint thinner)?
If that doesn't work do you have any acetone, trichloro ethane, benzene?
If that doesn't take it off you may have to use "Goof-off" or equivalent
Most of these are available from a hardware store or Home Depot.
Tip - Get most of it off with a single edge razor blade first.
Do you have any WD-40 or Mineral spirits (paint thinner)?
If that doesn't work do you have any acetone, trichloro ethane, benzene?
If that doesn't take it off you may have to use "Goof-off" or equivalent
Most of these are available from a hardware store or Home Depot.
Tip - Get most of it off with a single edge razor blade first.
04-01-05, 06:37 PM
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I bought a bike with some old handlebars, with handlebar tape goo baked on from 16+ years. It FOREVER to scrape it all off. I ended up using gas to get it off. Rubbing alcohol, or goo gone stuff did nothing to get this goo off.
It a good 45+ minutes of soaking and scraping with a putty knife to get all that goo off. If you are going to use the gas route, work OUTSIDE, and try to avoid breathing in any fumes. I left the bars in the sun for a few hours to bake off all that gas.
It a good 45+ minutes of soaking and scraping with a putty knife to get all that goo off. If you are going to use the gas route, work OUTSIDE, and try to avoid breathing in any fumes. I left the bars in the sun for a few hours to bake off all that gas.
04-01-05, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by rt_hat
What about rubbing alcohol ?
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04-02-05, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by DieselDan
Wd-40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
04-02-05, 01:41 PM
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Paint stripper from the home depot works wonders on that stuff. It will also take your paint off your frame so be really careful
04-02-05, 05:06 PM
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Charcoal lighter fluid.
Available locally in the Fred Meyer's chain is "Motsenbocker's Lift Off" a toluene (I think) based multi-use solvent. Lighter fluid is probably cheaper.
I have a pint of acetone in the shed which I've resorted to sometimes.
Some of these solvents will damage plastics.
Available locally in the Fred Meyer's chain is "Motsenbocker's Lift Off" a toluene (I think) based multi-use solvent. Lighter fluid is probably cheaper.
I have a pint of acetone in the shed which I've resorted to sometimes.
Some of these solvents will damage plastics.
04-03-05, 06:55 PM
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Leave it on to help hold on the new hoods.
