Removing adhesive tape on handlebars?

Post Here Thanks may have said:

I bought a bike and it had some clear adhesive tape on the handlebars after removing the cork tape.
I'm having a b*tch removing it. I can peel it off slightly then apply some adhesive remover
solution I picked up Walmart but this is very tedious because the tape doesn't remain intact when
removing it. Is there something that just melts away clear adhesive tape without damaging the
rubber on the shifters or the metal handlebars? Just post here. Thanks in advance.

There are many materials the tape could be made from. Finding the solvent that would act on the tape
could be a long trial-and-error process, and while the bars are unlikely to be damaged, in my
opinion, the grips should not be left in place if you're going to try solvents or other chemicals.
If the Wal-mart adhesive remover is working, I'd say that the thing to do is pull the grips, use the
stuff you've got mixed with a little elbow grease, and reassemble when the tape's off. More
aggressive solvents tend to be more hazardous as well.

If you have a heat gun, you might try that to see if it will soften the tape and make it easier to
peel. Beware of getting the bars so hot that the grips could be damaged, particularly if the bars
are aluminum. (Aluminum bars conduct the heat fast, and more of the bar will get hot than you
might expect.)

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

"Post Here Thanks" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I bought a bike and it had some clear adhesive tape on the handlebars after removing the cork
tape. I'm having a b*tch removing it. I can peel it off slightly then apply some adhesive remover
solution I picked up Walmart but this is very tedious because the tape doesn't remain intact when
removing it. Is there something that just melts away clear adhesive tape without damaging the
rubber on the shifters or the metal handlebars? Just post here. Thanks in advance.

I bought a Cinelli bar for my track bike that had tape stuff all the way to the clamp. Took some
automotive brake cleaner to it, and the gunk came right off with minimal effort. FWIW, I was using
non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Since I had a bare bar to start with, I don't know what it'll do to
rubber, so if you go this route, I'd take the shifters off first.

Mike

Post Here Thanks said:

I bought a bike and it had some clear adhesive tape on the handlebars after removing the cork tape.
I'm having a b*tch removing it. I can peel it off slightly then apply some adhesive remover
solution I picked up Walmart but this is very tedious because the tape doesn't remain intact when
removing it. Is there something that just melts away clear adhesive tape without damaging the
rubber on the shifters or the metal handlebars? Just post here. Thanks in advance.

This sounds like the adhesive backing that helps keep the cork tape in place. It's really very thin
and insignificant once you put the fresh tape on. I pick off any loose pieces but there's no need to
be fanatical about it. If you could feel the stuff through a layer of handlebar tape then you'd be
more sensitive than the Princess & the pea.

Mike S.' mikeshaw2@coxDOTnet may have said:

FWIW, I was using non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Since I had a bare bar to start with, I don't know
what it'll do to rubber, so if you go this route, I'd take the shifters off first.

Your caution is well founded. Some of those will expand and soften resilient stuff like grips; it
depends on what the grips and the brake cleaners are made from.

"Non chlorinated" brake cleaner is just not made from trichloroethane, which is what most of them
previously contained. The replacement products are often much nastier.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.