How do I get chewing gum out of my radiator fins?

[mattian]

After an awesome day out, riding around Auckland all day I get home and wash my bike and, notice that some Mofo has smeared their chewing gum onto the radiator. It must have happened when I had it parked up somewhere, probably out at Sylvia Park today. I know it wasnt an accident because, you can tell that it has been smeared right into the radiator fins. Needless to say.... I am fucking fuming that some cunt would do such a thing. From now on I'm not parking my bike more than 5 minutes away from where I'm going to be.

Whats the best way to get it out? Its next to impossible to dissolve. I have tried picking most of it out with a paper clip.

[AllanB]

Hmm - maybe wait until it is cold and it may pick out easier.

Turps/kero/petrol will dissolve it but it will be a messy process.


Have you tasted it? I'm just wondering what flavor it is.

[mattian]

Hmm - maybe wait until it is cold and it may pick out easier.

Turps/kero/petrol will dissolve it but it will be a messy process.


Have you tasted it? I'm just wondering what flavor it is.

haha! it had a minty aroma.

Yep, will wait a while and try again tomorrow.

[disturbedair]

try prepsol first if that doesn't work then try universal thinner's the thinners might wash off the black paint on the radiator but it will be easy to fix just get a can of black paint and spray it, one of those should deal to the dirty fucker's mess, what a fuckin asshole to do such a thing,

[Big Dave]

De-solv-it - Mild Citric acid based. Won't damage paint.
Even gets gum out of kid's hair.

[grusomhat]

Peanut butter, do it after the engine has been running and you should be able to get a slice of bread onto afterwards and make toast.

You sure it hasn't been flung out of a car window in front of you?

[steve_t]

WD40 has a million uses. Chewing gum removal is supposed to be one :drinkup:

[mattian]

Peanut butter, do it after the engine has been running and you should be able to get a slice of bread onto afterwards and make toast.

You sure it hasn't been flung out of a car window in front of you?

I had considered that possibility but, this had been smeared flat..... right into the fins.

[hellokitty]

De-solv-it - Mild Citric acid based. Won't damage paint.
Even gets gum out of kid's hair.

Desolvit for sure!
Gets tar off carpet, sticking plaster goo off skin (safe to use on skin so must be okay on other surfaces?)

[mattian]

Awesome ! thanks for all your advice so far.

[varminter]

The standard punishment for these sort of arsehole actions is superglue down the eye of their dick...well, you gotta dream.

[porky]

i hear your pain. Just found a lump of glass in my rear tyre, yup f@@@n beer bottle colour, tyres only 2k old, dug it out, nice hole, a good 5mm deep. Now trying to work out how to fill the crater thats left behind. When you have finished with the gum i could have a use for it.

[kevfromcoro]

I would contact Skidmark,,,
with the choppers he has got
he would nibble that gum out in no time at all,,,:yes:

[Owl]

Shit, I was just reading about a cleaning product for removing chewing gum from carpet, but I can't remember where:facepalm:

It worked the opposite way though and turned gum hard, so it could be pulled off in one piece.:scratch:

[Spazman727]

Bear Grills told me last night (on Worst Case Scenario) that you could either freeze it or use automotive degreaser to get it off a shoe. I'm sure the same would work for a radiator. I don't really see how gum on your shoe is in the same class of worst case scenario as being chased by dogs or crashing into a boat but oh well, Bear Grills knows best I'm sure.
Hope you can sort it out.

[schrodingers cat]

If the de-solv-it doesn't work (and the recommendations so far are adament it will) try a can of spray freeze and dig it out with a pick or little screwdriver

[Antonio]

After an awesome day out, riding around Auckland all day I get home and wash my bike and, notice that some Mofo has smeared their chewing gum onto the radiator. It must have happened when I had it parked up somewhere, probably out at Sylvia Park today. I know it wasnt an accident because, you can tell that it has been smeared right into the radiator fins. Needless to say.... I am fucking fuming that some cunt would do such a thing. From now on I'm not parking my bike more than 5 minutes away from where I'm going to be.

Whats the best way to get it out? Its next to impossible to dissolve. I have tried picking most of it out with a paper clip.

First of all, they may have not done it on purpose, if you are riding and someone through it out then it will end up right intoyour radiator fins like bugs.
How to get it out?! Use degreaser spray, try to solve it and then wash it with high pressure og water.
I hope that helps.

[grusomhat]

First of all, they may have not done it on purpose, if you are riding and someone through it out then it will end up right intoyour radiator fins like bugs.
How to get it out?! Use degreaser spray, try to solve it and then wash it with high pressure og water.
I hope that helps.

I would be careful spraying high pressure water at radiator fins.

[Antonio]

I would be careful spraying high pressure water at radiator fins.

I didn't say water blaster or something like this, I meant like the garden water hose set to hi pressure rather than splash mode :)

[hellokitty]

If the de-solv-it doesn't work (and the recommendations so far are adament it will) try a can of spray freeze and dig it out with a pick or little screwdriver

Thats a good idea - I got chewing gum on a leather bag once and then got it all over my skirt :angry: I put both in the freezer and then picked the hardened gum off, so I can see how that would work :yes:

[beyond]

i hear your pain. Just found a lump of glass in my rear tyre, yup f@@@n beer bottle colour, tyres only 2k old, dug it out, nice hole, a good 5mm deep. Now trying to work out how to fill the crater thats left behind. When you have finished with the gum i could have a use for it.

Lucky you. I only get 2,000kms out of a set of tyres :(

[Maha]

Have you tried licking it till its all gone?...not straight after you have riding it of cause, dont want you to burn your lips.

[Edbear]

Thats a good idea - I got chewing gum on a leather bag once and then got it all over my skirt :angry: I put both in the freezer and then picked the hardened gum off, so I can see how that would work :yes:

I do hope you took the skirt off before you put it in the freezer... :innocent:

[MIXONE]

I do hope you took the skirt off before you put it in the freezer... :innocent:

Fridgid now possibly...

[hellokitty]

I want to know if mattian got the gum out???

[mattian]

I want to know if mattian got the gum out???

Thanks!!! Yes, I got about 95% of it out so far.... just using a straightened paper clip. I will tackle the rest of it with a bit of that De-solve-it stuff everyones going on about.

[Jonno.]

Hopefully the fucker got cut putting it in :yes: