Removing stickers/ tank pad

[Little Miss Trouble]

My new precious should be arriving today :woohoo: unfortunately a previous owner has put a hidious tank protector pad on her that I want gone ASAP.

I know stickers can be removed using a hairdryer, asumingly the tank pad will come off the same way? Any other tips on the best way to do this?

[Mom]

Invest in some Desolve It. It will take care of any sticky residue without damaging the paint surface.

[Headbanger]

I used iso to remove the glue after removing some stickers off my tank.

[Pixie]

Use a hair dryer to gently heat the label and try to peel it off.
Wax and grease remover from an automotive paint supplier to remove the adhesive residue.

[3umph]

depending on the gule residue you may need to try different things.... meths or turps works as well

[vifferman]

depending on the gule residue you may need to try different things.... meths or turps works as well
That's right.
Start with something aggressive like petrol, then maybe meths, then finish up with something mild like Pledge. (No kidding - Pledge has all kinds of solvent carriers, and is great for removing glue, tar, chain spooge, etc, then dries leaving a nice polishy residue. But don't use it if you want to stick a new tank pad on).

[CookMySock]

When you peel the sticker off, don't wrench it or you might bring some paint with it. Add some weight to it, and just leave the weight on it and let it come off in its own time. If it's really reluctant, snap a pair of pliers onto a corner of it and hang a weight on it. You might have to take the tank off to do this.

Steve

[Swoop]

turps works as well
+1.

Start with the mildest solvent and then work up to the most vicious.

So, what is the new ride Miss.L?

[Pussy]

Avoid meths..... it gives most frame finishes a hard time (particularly the " anodised" finish on some frames)
Heating the tankpad with a hairdryer will be good enough, then remove the goop residue with D-Solve-It

[R6_kid]

Avoid meths..... it gives most frame finishes a hard time (particularly the " anodised" finish on some frames)
Heating the tankpad with a hairdryer will be good enough, then remove the goop residue with D-Solve-It

This guy knows what he's talking about.

[EJK]

<center><img src="http://morenursing.com/files/images/chisel.jpg" /></center>

[imdying]

What are the chances it was put on to mask damage though?

[Little Miss Trouble]

What are the chances it was put on to mask damage though?

Well I'll be putting another one on anyway so no biggy if it was, I just don't want to have to look at the current one

[HenryDorsetCase]

another vote for D Solv It. its great. definitely do the hairdryer thing, and away you go after that.

[R6_kid]

Be fairly conservative with the hairdryer though, it doesn't take long to put too much heat onto the tank before you'll start to ruin the paint.

[Squiggles]

Did you buy a GN?

[YellowDog]

Pledge is really good.

[3umph]

Hairdryers take some time to stuff paintwork... heatguns are a different story....

you do not need much heat really.... best to wait for a hot day and leave the bike in direct sunlight and that will work if you dont have a hairdryer...

[Pixie]

D solve it appears to be a citrus oil based product.It will attack paint and soften it.
Wax and grease remover is what the industry uses to prepare paint work for repainting.

[BigOne]

I have found that a slow trickle of hot water from an electric jug just after boiling is more effective than the hair dryer. The thing about this is that it wont get over about 90deg, but hair-dryers can get hotter if you go too long. And water transfers heat better.
Pour slowly over the sticker for 10sec or so, the glue will soften dramatically, then pull very slowly. Pour a little more hot water as the glue releases, until the sticker is off. Then use De-Solv-it to get rid of residue.
This method works very well for those unsightly orange OEM nag stickers on new bikes.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Here she is :love:

[Little Miss Trouble]

Oh and the nasty tank protector is gone, hairdryer + desolv-it took care of it nicely :)

[R6_kid]

I take it that your budget grew somewhat from what you were telling me before christmas?

[Little Miss Trouble]

Lets just say I'm good at getting what I want...