I am not a hardcore cyclist, so have limited knowledge about bikes.
I bought a bike for my wife for X-Mas and it came with some Blackwell Research 100 Carbon Fiber rims.
Whoever was the last person to glue on the tubular tires did a really bad job and there is excess glue on the rims.
How can I get this tubular glue off of the CF rim without damaging/marring/abrading or in any way blemishing the rim or finish?
I don’t want to just go at it with GooGone, or Simple Green, etc. and find out later that there are certain things you should never clean a CF rim with.
Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Goo off, toluene or xylitol are fine for removing the glue. Use a stiff brush, finger or whatever else to scrap it off. Don’t use a steel brush as it will damage the carbon. Good luck!
Jasco/Bix varnish remover, available at Home Depot or Lowe’s or other hardware store. Will not damage your rims in the slightest.
Wipe it on, wait a few seconds, wipe it off with a shop rag. The glue comes off very easily. Might have to do it a couple of times but you won’t have to put that much elbow grease into it.
Goo Gone is fine on carbon rims. I brushed the Goo Gone on the rims and waited for about 5 minutes, then scrubbed the glue off with rags. It might take a few more attempts to get most of the glue off, but it works. After the Goo Gone, you can use some acetone or rubbing alcohol on rags to finish the job. If using acetone, be sure to working in a well-ventilated area, and dispose of the rags responsibly.
You can also run a search on the forum for more ideas.
I’m assuming that I should avoid getting cleaner/glue remnants in the holes, correct?
As much as you can. But it’s not a problem. I’ve done that. When I do I just take a little thin screw driver and poke/scoop out the remnants. No big deal
I assume you only want to remove the excess glue on the rim and not the rim bed. If so, be careful not to get any of the solvents (Goo Gone, acetone, rubbing alcohol) on the tire or where the tire contacts the rim. If it’s a really small spot of glue residue, alcohol swabs that you purchase for first-aid kits will also work really well, since they’re smaller.
Goo off, toluene or xylitol are fine for removing the glue. Use a stiff brush, finger or whatever else to scrap it off. Don’t use a steel brush as it will damage the carbon. Good luck!
I’d try the goo off 1st as zipp recommends it.
There’s a product called “GooF Off”…is that what you meant?
Yes, goof off is what i meant to say. Or xyxlene not the sugar substitute xylitol:( Goof off works good just let it sit on the rim for 2-3 minutes then start removing!
Heat gun + cotton rags. 10 minutes per wheel. Done.
Seriously?
If that’s true, that’s great!
I spent 3 hours…3 HOURS… scraping the glue off of one wheel (ONE)…and got 4 flesh wounds in the process (seriously).
At one point during the scraping carnage I was thinking, “SERIOUSLY!?!.. 3 HOURS to de-glue ONE wheel?!?..I don’t care how much more comfortable tubulars are…you tubular people are crazy.”
I tried Goof Off, but it just made everything gummy…not easier to remove by any means. Maybe the previous owners of my wheels just lathered on the glue and that’s why it wasn’t a quick process.
I went sans solvent and it actually went a “little” bit better…but still 3 hours for ONE wheel?!?
If the heat gun and rags works, then I’ll be a MUCH happier camper than earlier this evening…MUCH.
With the heat gun at a low setting, aimed straight at the glue, it will heat up and start to bubble. Quickly press with a clean part of the rag and LIFT up, don’t swipe.
I have had good results with old bath towels.
To make it completely dry to the touch you can use a chemical as the last step but that will be seconds, not hours.
