Scotch Tape Removal

[jim t]

Ok, I picked up an 84 FXRT to fix up and sell. I'll list it today or tomorrow. The deal is, the guy taped the for sale sigh to the windshield with scotch tape leaving a lot of glue and tape remnants when removed. I've tried everything I know and then some but still have this mess. Here is what I tried; wd-40 usually works, lighter fluid/naptha, heat, spray carb cleaner after a test patch goo gone. None of these things even fazed it. It still feels raised from the surface. I'm out of Ideas any one?

[brownjams]

I tend to be a smart arse so
http://www.rifle.com/Motorcycle/Harl...T-(Sport-Glide)
it sounds like you tried everything possible and a new clear shield to look through might be in order.

[jim t]

It came with an other taller windshield so it's an easy change but I don't often give up easily. I figured someone had run into this before and might have an answer. Thanks though.

[kustom_flames]

What about goof-off (I think it works better than goo gone) or the car parts store usually sells something in small spray can for removing bumper stickers and adhesive residue - not 100% sure if safe on lexan...but might be worth a shot...

Are you spraying and then trying to remove right away or are you letting the fluid penetrate the tape adhesive a bit? It may take 10-15 minutes to start working...

Pat

[jim t]

I guess goof off might be worth a try. Yea, I'm leaving things on for quite a while. I think I'll try soaking a small rag in some of thes things and leaving it on for an hour or so. I know I can tape it on with masking tape because wd takes that glue off realy well. Maby I can use wax paper or something to insulate the tape from the remover. The other thing is, these windshields are moulded to the fairing so aftermarket plastic probably won't be available. Come to think about it you probably can't get them from the moco anymore either.

[DickF]

Butter or Peanut Butter. Apply to the adhesive areas and wait about 24 hours. The oils soften the adhesive and it can be wiped off. Being thick, they stay on the adhesive without flowing off. I owned a Pressure Sensitive label coating and laminating manufacturing business and this was a trick we used to remove adhesive from surfaces that could be damaged by solvents. Kids would stick stickers all over Mom's furniture and they would call in a panic looking for help. Cooking oil works too.

[jim t]

Thanks I'll give that a try. I may have just screwed it up by using acitone. It is too hot. It melts the stuff but just smears it around. I'm going to try laquer thinner next and if that doesn't work out comes the peanut butter. This material is realy something, these solvents havn't dammaged the lexan at all.

[meadmakerman]

I use some stuff I bought at Home Depot called "Lift Off" for anything sticky, it is similar to goof-off. I never used it on a windshield but I have used it to get the stubborn barcode stickers off plastic things like water bottles, etc. Soaked some of these in soapy water over night aand could never get the dang stickers off. Used this stuff and they come right off in seconds.

[HiAngle]

Goo Gone. http://www.googone.com/products_gg.aspx

They sell it at most stores.

[Diggerpine]

Originally Posted by jim t

Ok, I picked up an 84 FXRT to fix up and sell. I'll list it today or tomorrow. The deal is, the guy taped the for sale sigh to the windshield with scotch tape leaving a lot of glue and tape remnants when removed. I've tried everything I know and then some but still have this mess. Here is what I tried; wd-40 usually works, lighter fluid/naptha, heat, spray carb cleaner after a test patch goo gone. None of these things even fazed it. It still feels raised from the surface. I'm out of Ideas any one?

Diggerpine here; How about trying rubbing alcohol? I had dried masking tape residue on my windshield and I let the rubbing alcohol soak in with a paper towel and it came off. Good luck to you!

[jim t]

Thanks guys, I slathered on some peanutbutter last night when the laquer thinner didn't do it. I've tried goo gone several times to no avail. After putting on the peanutbutter, I know it works for gum in kids hair, the thought of alcohol did occure to me. It's a different type of solvent than what I've been trying. If the gooy stuff doesn't work that's my next step.

[kustom_flames]

Lacquer thinner didn't ruin it? That's surprising, be careful with that stuff! Dig the peanut butter tip - I'd be too tempted to lick it off

[jim t]

I just did a google search and everyone said oil, peanutbutter, goo gone etc. For some reason acitone is the only thing that has touched it and it just spread it arround and made a worse mess. Acitone is hotter that laquer thinner so I thought laquer thinner might work without spreading it. It didn't. I think what has complicated everything is that it baked in the sun a lot before I got it. For some reason the lexan or ? seems still ok. I have used a window knife and a dull blade will get some off but a sharp blade wants to dig in to the plastic so even if I get it off now there is still going to be some damage.

[cts1950]

diesel oil has worked for me but if you take the windshield off so it can b laid flat put a soaked rag on it. for a day or two keep it soaked. The acetone is hot and you were lucky not out craze the material. I use toluene to clean rafts and it is a slower solvent than acetone and faster than naphtha.

[jim t]

Any thing is worth a try at this point. It's just getting worse. Is toluene hotter or colder than laquer thinner? I've already tried that with marginal results.