Goo from wheel balance weights removal?
Discussion
You know that lovely foamy goo that sticks wheel weights onto the alloys of a Ford. What does anyone recommend for removing the old squares after the weights have been removed when wheels are re-balanced.
I have tried - Tar remover / methelated spirits / white spirits / a couple of different types of wheel cleaner (Bilt Hamber and Poor boys are 2 of the recent ones) / petrol / snow foam - nothing touches it.
I am reluctant to reach for the wire brush!
I have tried - Tar remover / methelated spirits / white spirits / a couple of different types of wheel cleaner (Bilt Hamber and Poor boys are 2 of the recent ones) / petrol / snow foam - nothing touches it.
I am reluctant to reach for the wire brush!
I've just cleaned up a few old wheels and used some strong (Autobrite) tar remover and a Lil Chizler (pink plastic thing available on eBay) to remove the adhesive from wheel weights. The Chizler is hard enough to scrape the softened adhesive off without badly scratching the wheel. It usually takes several cycles of tar remover and scraping to remove it all.
I think most tyre fitters scuff the wheel so the wheel weights have a clean surface to stick to, so don't expect to get back to a perfect finish.
I think most tyre fitters scuff the wheel so the wheel weights have a clean surface to stick to, so don't expect to get back to a perfect finish.
Two things to remove; the foam, and the adhesive. You won't get the solvent for the adhesive to work through the foam, so that has to be mechanically removed first. As above, use a plastic scraper, or a finger nail. The adhesive that's left will then soften with brake cleaner, but you'll still need to work it off bit by bit.
I suggest a plastic razor to scrape the foam off, and then for getting the residual adhesive off, WD40 can often be quire effective to break it down, then just a quick wipe with something else to remove any slight oiliness that leaves behind.
The spray version of Wonder Wipes is good, too.
The spray version of Wonder Wipes is good, too.
Thank you all!
I have really attacked it physically in the past, will try some heat - and will also obtain some goo gone, Autobrite tar remover, spray wonder wipe - and try soaking it with that for an hour or so.
I have not tried brake cleaner yet! - good call!
Will update with how it goes!
Thank you all!
I have really attacked it physically in the past, will try some heat - and will also obtain some goo gone, Autobrite tar remover, spray wonder wipe - and try soaking it with that for an hour or so.
I have not tried brake cleaner yet! - good call!
Will update with how it goes!
Thank you all!
Cut through it close to the surface of the wheel using a sawing motion with a plastic razor blade.
Once that’s done, fold a piece of kitchen roll, put it on the foam/andhesive left and douse in your choice of adhesive remover from those mentioned above.
(Upol slow degreaser is another option)
Once that’s done, place some cling film over it to stop evaporation and leave it to soak for 5-10 minutes.
Get your plastic razor blade and go back in with your sawing motion, with a decent amount of downward force to try get ‘under’ the foam, to the adhesive.
Repeat as necessary
If you can be arsed, apply some paint protection to the area; the chemicals used are often quite harsh on the wheel paint.
Once that’s done, fold a piece of kitchen roll, put it on the foam/andhesive left and douse in your choice of adhesive remover from those mentioned above.
(Upol slow degreaser is another option)
Once that’s done, place some cling film over it to stop evaporation and leave it to soak for 5-10 minutes.
Get your plastic razor blade and go back in with your sawing motion, with a decent amount of downward force to try get ‘under’ the foam, to the adhesive.
Repeat as necessary
If you can be arsed, apply some paint protection to the area; the chemicals used are often quite harsh on the wheel paint.
3george said:
Yup, this.....toffee wheel, makes short work of it.Time for a thread closure!
Toffee wheels obtained, Goo gone obtained / lost / re-found, children assisting, rain reduced to passing showers.
Wheels off - not a pretty sight.
Next I removed the funny metal caps protecting the foam pads.
Sprayed all the foam with Goo Gone.
Sprayed the rest with Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel (smelt like chewing gum, confused the kids)
Then tried the toffee wheel.....
Unfortunately this was both really slow going and splattered molten foam / toffee wheel over the rest of the alloy, which was a real pain to try remove, each one needed scrapping to get off. Even managed to stick through the resultant red slime left from the Bilt wheel cleaner stuff.
I then raided my stash of plastic silicone remover tools - the cheapest available from Screwfix, and with the Goo Gone it really worked well!
All done, looking much better!
TL/DR, spray with Goo Gone, then attack with a plastic scrapper.
(Final note, yes, those tyres had one more trip to make to the close shop to get replaced, and yes there was a very slight shake on the way there!)
Toffee wheels obtained, Goo gone obtained / lost / re-found, children assisting, rain reduced to passing showers.
Wheels off - not a pretty sight.
Next I removed the funny metal caps protecting the foam pads.
Sprayed all the foam with Goo Gone.
Sprayed the rest with Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel (smelt like chewing gum, confused the kids)
Then tried the toffee wheel.....
Unfortunately this was both really slow going and splattered molten foam / toffee wheel over the rest of the alloy, which was a real pain to try remove, each one needed scrapping to get off. Even managed to stick through the resultant red slime left from the Bilt wheel cleaner stuff.
I then raided my stash of plastic silicone remover tools - the cheapest available from Screwfix, and with the Goo Gone it really worked well!
All done, looking much better!
TL/DR, spray with Goo Gone, then attack with a plastic scrapper.
(Final note, yes, those tyres had one more trip to make to the close shop to get replaced, and yes there was a very slight shake on the way there!)
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