Help needed!! Super glue on my gas tank disaster!!!
#21
03-02-2011, 09:54 PM
The active ingredient in any commercial "super glue remover" or nail polish remover is acetone. Assuming this is a modern catalyzed clear topcoat paint job, such as a factory paint job, acetone is not going to ruin it. Of course, test it out on an inconspicuous place to be sure. It might dull the clear coat a little but just polish it out by hand with automotive POLISHING compound after you get the superglue off. DON’T USE RUBBING compound.
If the acetone does bite into the clear, you can use good quality automotive fine wet sand papers to sand off the superglue. Use a hard rubber or cork sanding block to support the sandpaper and just kiss the areas where the superglue is until it’s off. Don’t use the sandpaper unsupported (IOW don’t use just your hand or fingers) or you’ll be following the contours of the “hills and valleys” of the superglue and your paint job. You want to knock off the high spots (superglue) and not touch the low spots (your paint job). Obviously, follow the contours of your tank or you'll flat spot the paint. I would start with 600 wet sandpaper to get the glue off, then go to 1500 and higher until the paint is shiny again. Then use polishing compound to polish it to a mirror finish.
If the acetone does bite into the clear, you can use good quality automotive fine wet sand papers to sand off the superglue. Use a hard rubber or cork sanding block to support the sandpaper and just kiss the areas where the superglue is until it’s off. Don’t use the sandpaper unsupported (IOW don’t use just your hand or fingers) or you’ll be following the contours of the “hills and valleys” of the superglue and your paint job. You want to knock off the high spots (superglue) and not touch the low spots (your paint job). Obviously, follow the contours of your tank or you'll flat spot the paint. I would start with 600 wet sandpaper to get the glue off, then go to 1500 and higher until the paint is shiny again. Then use polishing compound to polish it to a mirror finish.
#22
03-02-2011, 10:02 PM
Stellar HDF Member
See now, I was thinking . . . ya gotta look at the bright side and search out the opportunities here. I mean every cloud has it's silver lining . . . right?
Have you considered parking your bike on the ceiling of your garage? Super Glue is pretty strong and it might hold till spring at least.
Have you considered parking your bike on the ceiling of your garage? Super Glue is pretty strong and it might hold till spring at least.
#25
03-03-2011, 07:11 AM
I have no real advice - by age 3 people know you have a kid, so if he disappears suddenly, people will notice.
Harley paint is pretty hard - I've used lacquer thinner on it to clean off hardened oil stains several times, with no harm at all to the paint. I doubt lacquer thinner will take off super gule, but follow the directions in the links above and your paint is more likely to survive than what's on most cars.
Harley paint is pretty hard - I've used lacquer thinner on it to clean off hardened oil stains several times, with no harm at all to the paint. I doubt lacquer thinner will take off super gule, but follow the directions in the links above and your paint is more likely to survive than what's on most cars.
#27
03-03-2011, 11:48 AM
Road Captain
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Good idea! If your tank had a good wax job on it, the glue might just fall right off. Just be careful with scraping while the paint's hot.
#29
03-03-2011, 09:13 PM
Do it the easy way. Report it to your insurance company, pay your comprehensive deductible, and let them fix it. They'll probably pay you for a new paint set and then upgrade to a custom paint set.
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