Cleaning old Schwinn without removing the decals?
12-05-09, 07:03 AM
#1
afraid of whales
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Cleaning old Schwinn without removing the decals?
I've got a nice 1971 Sports Tourer I bought off the 'bay and it's has really nice paint/decals. How should I clean it without removing all the nice factory water slide decals? There's just mud and grime, nothing bad like road tar.
12-05-09, 04:38 PM
#5
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I use Simple Green for general frame cleaning.
12-05-09, 04:48 PM
#6
You gonna eat that?
If the decals are dirty, use Scratch-X. It will clean them up without removing them; just don't over do it.
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12-05-09, 06:51 PM
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I have had two very different experiences with Schwinn decals. Some you can rub with scratch X and have zero issues, Others have been very fragile and would clean right away with the dirt. Test a small area that you are less likely to notice, if it does not rub off you should be ok. By the way, on my 1973 Collegiate all of the frame decals were stead fast but the chain guard decal basically turned to dust.
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12-05-09, 07:06 PM
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It might sound brutal, but this is what I would suggest: Take your bike to one of those coin-operated car wash places. Blast it with soap cleaner at high pressure, rinse it, blast it with degreaser at high pressure, rinse it, wax it, rinse it. Make sure that the bike is against the wall and that you are keeping a hand on the bars, otherwise the high pressure might make it drop... Towel it dry and lubricate afterward.
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