Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

About the only use I can think of for WD 40 is decal and grease removal. The stuff attacks most rubber and causes it to swell. It actually PROMOTES rust and corrosion on metal surfaces. I once did an experiment where I took several bare steel nails and attached them to a length of wood. I applied different products to the nails and then sprayed them with a mist of salt ocean water. The ones with the WD 40 and silicone spray actualy started to rust BEFORE the one that was left bare steel !! Common Vaseline proved to be as good a corrosion protectant as was any of the special marine products designed to prevent rust.

I used a hair dryer on low heat, some rubbing with my thumb, and got the fairing stickers on the black plastic (as shown above) to come off in one piece. After they come off (slowly but surely in one piece), just a dab of Meguiar's plastic cleaner/polisher and it's like stickers were never there...


Now, as for the sticker on the tank, that's a different story. I'm letting it soak in some Goof Off 2 right now. I'm not having an easy go using the same method as I used on the stickers on plastic.

Oh God.... I think I'm gonna throw up...


I just scratched the hell out of my tank getting the tank sticker off. Seriously... feeling ill. I scratched it entirely through the paint in a few places. Brand new bike... oh Jesus.


Why the fjuck did I do that?! Uggggghhhhh.

Norman, sorry to hear about your paint, i hope all ends well with some good touchup paint or a tank bra....then you wont even see it. I just left my bike out in the summer sun for about an hour, then went out to wash it, before i washed it i simply grabbed the corner of the stickers and they peeled right off, i then went after the little sticky bits with some, Maguires EZ detail spray.


Hope this helps

NorCalHunter

PS, (What were your scratching the tank with to remove the sticker?)

I'm ashamed to even admit it, but I used a double edge razor blade. I stupidly thought I could do it without causing any damage. I was even being careful. What a stupid mistake.

The Suzuki dealer has ordered some touch up paint. I will do my best to touch it up, wet sand it, seal it, and buff it. My main concern is for it to not rust. If it's somewhat unsightly after I finish, I can cover it up.

Believe me, I'm beating myself up pretty bad over it. The stickers on the plastic came off like nothin', but I really screwed up with the tank sticker.

Norman, take it to an auto body shop for a pro repair, they can touch up the area so it will look like it never happened, shouldn't cost too much?

Have to try the touch up paint, wetsand, wax, and buff method. Only because it will cost me less than $50 total, whereas a pro repair will likely be over $200, and I can't swing that right now.

You should have used a credit card or fingernail. Razor blades tend to scratch.

There has been more that one thread on this very subject.

Thanks.


I'll be over here on the ground, getting kicked... you know, if anyone needs me for something... which I doubt anyone will today.

For the sticker on the gas tank, I used lighter fluid on a paper towel, and my finger nail. It took a long, long, long time. It took a long time. I didn't try to work on the fairing stickers yet, but when I do, I'll try the hair dryer and WD40. I didn't want to put any lighter fluid on the plastic... cuz that takes a long, long, long time...

I peeled the stickers off with ZERO issues.

1) Let the bike sit in the sun and get nice and hot.
2) Buy a PLASTIC stripper (in the paint section) and Wal-Mart. ~$2.50.
3) By the Extreme Goof-Off (liquid bottle). ~$2

Use the plastic stripper and begin to take off the sticker(s). Keep using a combination of fingernail and stripper until you just have the glue residue left. Use the Extreme Goof-Off with a NON-PAPER towel. Use something soft, like an old t-shirt. Keep using a new section of the t-shirt for each new application of Goof-Off.

Like I said, zero problems, clean...no scratches or mars. I tried the razor blade technique on my old bike and learned my lesson.

Good luck!

I used a hair dryer and my fingernail to take off the warning label on the tank. After the majority of the label was removed, I used just a bit of gasoline on a paper towel to remove the remaining adhesive. I then cleaned the surface with some windex. After waxing the tank it looks like it was never there (no scratches). Much better!

Norman, I used to be an auto detailer..... Mostly we removed decals with a heat gun. But for places (you were on the right track) that can't have the heat around them.. like gas tanks, Razor blades are your friend. There is a trick to using the razor though. You need to get your hands on some mild lacquer thinner or a soap with wax additives. Pour (thinner) on a rag and hold over the sticker or smear the soap all over it then grab an edge of the sticker and hold the razor almost flat to the paint and wiggle it back and forth separating the sticker side to side. Did my tank that way and not a scratch.