Bug guts removal

bullet · Dec 30, 2017

So I’m in the garage doing a thorough cleaning on my RT and there is some pretty well dried bug guts on the wheel rims, mostly the front, and the forks. Anybody know of an effective way to clean these parts? WD40 and elbow grease have a limited effect. There may be some postings on this subject but a search didn’t find anything. Thanks for any replies.

akbeemer · Dec 30, 2017

Good ole water and patience as it soaks and softens the bug guts. Also, hydrogen peroxide works well on anything organic, but again patience is the key rather than elbow grease.

bullet · Dec 30, 2017

I’ll give the hydrogen peroxide a try. Thanks.

mikegalbicka · Dec 30, 2017

Wet towel and long soak first helps.

bullet · Dec 30, 2017

I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to go looking for hydrogen peroxide so, 3 beers into the job, I thought I’d try some hand cleaner. The kind that has degreasers and fine pumice. Took a wrung-out rag, gave it a few squirts of the hand cleaner and spent about an hour on the wheel and spokes. Some fidgety work around the spokes for sure but it worked like a charm.

bullet · Dec 30, 2017

And another beer.

BC1100S · Dec 30, 2017

Frequent cleaning (more than once a year) helps.

wbrownell9 · Dec 31, 2017

BC1100S said:
Frequent cleaning (more than once a year) helps.

Who has that much time? If there's time to clean there's time to ride.

WalterK75 · Dec 31, 2017

wbrownell9 said:
Who has that much time? If there's time to clean there's time to ride.

Here! Here! I agree.

beemerphile · Dec 31, 2017

mikegalbicka said:
Wet towel and long soak first helps.

HOT wet towel even mo' better. Happily, bugs are water soluble.

littlebriar · Dec 31, 2017

mikegalbicka said:
Wet towel and long soak first helps.

+1 on that. The hot towel works great on the windscreen too. Grab a towel from the hotel room, soak it in hot water and drape it over the screen. 2 minutes later, wipe off bugs and dry with another borrowed towel. Clean and done.
Make sure you return the towel to the room. Don't steal them.

glenfiddich · Dec 31, 2017

littlebriar said:
+1 on that. The hot towel works great on the windscreen too. Grab a towel from the hotel room, soak it in hot water and drape it over the screen. 2 minutes later, wipe off bugs and dry with another borrowed towel. Clean and done.
Make sure you return the towel to the room. Don't steal them.

Even better, ask the hotel if they have some old sacrificial towels. They get peeved when their good towels are permanently stained, and rightly so!

Omega Man · Dec 31, 2017

One of the best overall cleaners I have found is Scrubs In A Bucket-

From the dirt or grease on hands to grease on a rug to black-streaks on the Motorhome- they work great. I keep them in a Zip-Loc bag on the bike and a full tub in each vehicle.
They do dry out but a little refreshing with water and they are good to go.
There are other brands, I have found these to be the best.
http://itwprofessionalbrands.com/1177/scrubs/hand-cleaners/scrubs-hand-cleaner-towels

OM

bullet · Dec 31, 2017

wbrownell9 said:
Who has that much time? If there's time to clean there's time to ride.

When it’s 20 below outside and the roads are covered in snow and ice, it’s time to clean up and get her ready for spring.

bullet · Dec 31, 2017

Omega Man said:
One of the best overall cleaners I have found is Scrubs In A Bucket-

From the dirt or grease on hands to grease on a rug to black-streaks on the Motorhome- they work great. I keep them in a Zip-Loc bag on the bike and a full tub in each vehicle.
They do dry out but a little refreshing with water and they are good to go.
There are other brands, I have found these to be the best.
http://itwprofessionalbrands.com/1177/scrubs/hand-cleaners/scrubs-hand-cleaner-towels

OM

I’ll look for these next time I go shopping. Thanks for the tip.

weschmann · Dec 31, 2017

bullet said:
And another beer.

Why not share some of the beer suds with the bug guts? Anything that will hydrate those guts will soften them up enough to enable a wipe off.

mikegalbicka · Dec 31, 2017

littlebriar said:
+1 on that. The hot towel works great on the windscreen too. Grab a towel from the hotel room, soak it in hot water and drape it over the screen. 2 minutes later, wipe off bugs and dry with another borrowed towel. Clean and done.
Make sure you return the towel to the room. Don't steal them.

These work great when you are traveling too.
http://www.moffett-enterprises.com/boners-bug-buster.html

lkraus · Dec 31, 2017

I rely on soaking with ample water and time, maybe some auto washing soap intended for paint. I've used many hand cleaners with pumice, and Scrubs-in-a-bucket, but i'd hesitate to use either on plastics or paint for fear of scratching. The Scrubs do have one soft side so that might work if used with care.

bullet · Dec 31, 2017

weschmann said:
Why not share some of the beer suds with the bug guts? Anything that will hydrate those guts will soften them up enough to enable a wipe off.

Seems like a waste of perfectly good beer. I have a much better use for it: catching a buzz!

weschmann · Dec 31, 2017

bullet said:
Seems like a waste of perfectly good beer. I have a much better use for it: catching a buzz!

for me individually...after a few beers, I probably waste more beer slopping it around my mug walking around than I would cleaning the shield......

besides, its usually fairly cheap, and available.....

Bug guts removal

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