any decent tar remover on the market

[xknuts]

I've tried a few Aussie products but they wouldnt dissolve dags off a beetles arse:argh:

[pete376403]

kerosene works as well as anything, doesn't harm paint

[Grub]

I use CRC for chain oil, it might work on tar too ... it's ferk all useless for anything else.

[bell]

Auto Glym "Tar Spot Remover", or something like that. They do a good polish too. Mitre 10 Mega in case you were wondering...

[scumdog]

CRC followed by Bug&Tar remover, any type.:2thumbsup

[pritch]

For small spots I just use CRC it seems to work OK.

[SlashWylde]

Yeah, kerosene is good for removing tar, just try it on a small area of paint work first.

Another good product I use all the time is '5-star Bug,Tar & Road Grime Remover'. You can buy it from The Warehouse and I think it's about $5 for a 500g aerosol can. You spray it on, let it foam up, then scrub and rinse it off.

[AllanB]

Kero works well. Wash it off with soapy water after.

WD40 works well.

Also a product at the super market called De-Solv-it (will be in the household cleaner section) gets rid of anything and is a natural citrus base so it is fine to use on paint etc (gets rid of splattered bugs off the tank too). Also it smells nice and we could all do with a little of that :clap:

[shafty]

(believe it or not) Peanut Butter works!

[spookytooth]

peanut butter works on tar ? now how the hell did u find this out haha

[merv]

On paintwork just use ordinary car polish but make sure you rub it for a while as it takes just a wee while to dissolve it.

[James Deuce]

Turtle wax just melts it.

[vifferman]

Like everyone (?) else said - kerosene, CRC, WD40.
The aerosol products work even more betttererer if you spray a bit on, leave to soak, then spray again, applying a wee flame or ignition source to the nozzle. Extremely effective. :niceone:

[xknuts]

Thanks Guys,
:done:Looks like I'll be trying Kero & CRC

[James Deuce]

Turtle wax works better than all those and doesn't leave an oily residue or overspray that go go on your tyres. It's also cheap. Specialist products never ever work as advertised. The best wheel cleaner used to be Frend until they made is ecologically PC. That stuff used remove anything that wasn't paint or alloy.

[STUPY]

the warehouse have a product i use on the bike and the car it's called 5 star- bug, tar & road grime remover, and this stuff really works!!!!!
(i can hear you all now "the ware-house?":oi-grr:

spray it on leave it for a minute rub with a cloth/ sponge and then rinse off.

it's auzzy made but works a treat:niceone:

[homer]

Turtle wax just melts it.

scratch ands swirl remover

[R1madness]

Go to a paint and panel supply store. Ask them for a 1 lt bottle of bug and tar remover. the industrial stuff is heaps better than off the shelf at the warehouse. I get mine from RJ Pattersons here in CHCH.

[DEATH_INC.]

Last time I did this (aboot 5 yrs ago :p ) I always used turtle wax bug and tar remover, always worked well.

[Daffyd]

I use Amway Gel Bug & Tar remover. It's an aerosol.
Just spray it on, leave it for a couple of minutes and hose it off.
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune of coming across some bleeding tar on the road. It was so runny it was all over the outside of the front guard, motor, zorst, and tank.
One good spray and it all ran off.
I'm just about to order another can.

[Max Preload]

Fuelite (formerly white spirits).

[Grahameeboy]

Kerosene......had to remove a shit load of tar from all over the bike yesterday due to hitting a new road the other week, exhaust, engine, paint, you name it.....piece of cake

[scumdog]

(believe it or not) Peanut Butter works!

My mum use to be a car-detailer for a Rolls-Royce dealer in Glasgow (like waaaay back when) and she swore butter was the bees-knees for softening tar.

It works well to but you obviously have to clean up afterwards. (unless the cat licked it off first.)

[vifferman]

While we're all talking shit... er.. I mean tar :blink: I discovered recentlyish the benefits of brake cleaner, as an all-purpose cleaner. The old brake cleaners wwere basically acetone, but the New! IMPROVED!! formulations are basically one of the drycleaning solvents, and POIFICK for cleaning various substances from... well, anything really. I finally let the vifferbabe in on the secret this morning, when she said "Look! 'The boys' (i.e., "those dirty messy slobs our house is infested with") have spilt somthing on the carpet! Again!" :mad:
So, while she was wandering around the house muttering, I whippped out to the gargre, grabbed the brake cleaner, sprayed it on the unidentified spooge on the carpet, dabbed it with paper towels, and said, "Uh.. where's these stains?"
"Umm... they were round here somewhere....You've stolen them haven't you?"
"Hokay - d'ya wanna know the secret? You're gona freak out, so start waving your arms around in preparation."
[Grabs can of brake cleaner, presents with a flourish]

:eek:

After the initial Shock! Horror!! reaction, I explained it's constituent secret ingredients, and that I'd already tested in multiple times, starting with the chain spooge that somehow transferred itself from the bike to my boot to the new carpet.:confused::pinch::Oops:

But it's great! Works on clothes, carpet, furnishings, etc, and even seems to be OK on brake parts! And if you buy it from SuperCrap Ottos, it's cheaper than the horrendously expensive shit they sell you for cleaning carpets etc., and it also doesn't leave a residue like those "Spray on, vaccuum off" products do.

:niceone:

[scumdog]

Brake cleaner huh?

Best stuff yet for knocking a wasp out of the air when one appears in your workshop/gargre.

One squirt and they're dead before they hit the ground.:niceone:

[ManDownUnder]

Methanol. Hit the model shops and buy some glow plug fuel but do NOT use it on plastics...

[Owl]

(believe it or not) Peanut Butter works!

What do you use to remove Peanut Butter? :confused:

[xknuts]

What do you use to remove Peanut Butter? :confused:

Usually my tongue :rolleyes:

[Daffyd]

I use Amway Gel Bug & Tar remover. It's an aerosol.
Just spray it on, leave it for a couple of minutes and hose it off.
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune of coming across some bleeding tar on the road. It was so runny it was all over the outside of the front guard, motor, zorst, and tank.
One good spray and it all ran off.
I'm just about to order another can.

Humph! They've stopped making it!

[Pussy]

Someone mentioned kerosene....about the best advice I can give as well. I end up with 1.5 litres of the stuff every day I work. Just gave the chain on my bike a good tung-up with it the other day, worked a treat

[Bass]

There's a commercial cleaner called Desolvit (or something similar). It's not often in the supermarket but places like Mitre 10 stock it - clear spray bottle, orange label. It works like kero or turps but its water emulsifiable. Just hose it away when it's done the job.
It works wonders on fresh tar on a hot muffler - just runs away. Old, baked on tar with all the volatiles gone is a different proposition no matter what the cleaner.
I've tried all the others suggested except peanut butter. They all do about the same job but the stuff I have named is just heaps faster because of the "hose it" clean up. It's a household cleaner so has heaps of other uses too, like getting rid of chewing gum.

I run a Scott oilers on both bikes and so the front sprockets chuck a fair bit around the "hard to get at places" on the gearbox and crankcase - especially the DR cos I put plenty of oil on the chain to flush the crud away. Cleaning time = spray this stuff around, stir it up a bit and put the hose in. Presto!
I notice that all the bikers I have mentioned it to, who have actually tried it, now have a bottle on their shelf.

One note however - the work area has to be dry. As I said, it emulsifies with water and once that happens, it won't clean anything.

[Beemer]

I use Amway Gel Bug & Tar remover. It's an aerosol.
Just spray it on, leave it for a couple of minutes and hose it off.
A couple of weeks ago I had the misfortune of coming across some bleeding tar on the road. It was so runny it was all over the outside of the front guard, motor, zorst, and tank.
One good spray and it all ran off.
I'm just about to order another can.

I was about to recommend this stuff. I had some years ago and wasn't sure it was still available but it's great. Doesn't stink either and it's really easy to use.

[Daffyd]

I was about to recommend this stuff. I had some years ago and wasn't sure it was still available but it's great. Doesn't stink either and it's really easy to use.

See post #29. :angry:

[vifferman]

Old, baked on tar with all the volatiles gone is a different proposition no matter what the cleaner.
That needs to be softened up first, using heat and/or solvents, then the bulk scraped off with a plastic scraper (provided it's not on paint), then the residue can be dealt to with whatever is the tar remover of choice.

[xknuts]

Thanks Guys
I did the CRC / Kero thing this weekend on the alloy wheels and it was brilliant.
Desolvit is more of a glue remover for sticky labels. I have some so I will try it next time.

[Kittyhawk]

Either use your tongue or some spit...rub on hand rub on wheel :whistle:

[gijoe1313]

Once you done that, use some Black Knight wheel cleaner from Supercheap on it, great stuff!

[Movistar]

Wurth brake cleaner is brilliant for removing tar and other things as well. Doesn't harm paint or plastic. Just spray some on a soft cloth and the tar just wipes off. It also evaporates completely.
You need to re-apply wax afterwards if its a painted surface because obviously it removes the wax too

[Wannabiker]

Yeah butter really does work...old wives remedy....Ok....how do you clean the butter off....with a piece of bread of course... (just kiddn on the last part!)

Be careful with De-solv it...its for removing stickers and adhesive residue....it will start to lift vynil trim if its not clear-coated over. But it is bloody good stuff.