Cleaning soft slicks

[Ian_Brandon]

Following clutch failure and an unplanned tow off of a hillclimb, I have managed to pick up more than the average amount of stones and debris on my slicks which has duly buried itself (especially in the supersoft fronts).

 

I have heard that using a heat gun and scraper can ease the removal process, but I'm a little hesitant - anyone got any experience of this or any other useful techniques to stop me running in a class with Fred Flintstone next time out?

 

K Series R500 no 34

[peterg]

Get along to your local horse supplies place and get a stiff plastic Curry Comb (you see them used in hillclimb paddocks every weekend) rubbed hard over the tyre it will get rid of the stones and other crap and then you can use a Surform to clean off the bits of rubber and give a newish surface

 

 

[Ian_Brandon]

Thanks Peter,

 

I have seen the horsey things but imagined they weren't up to the job, but I will relook at that and also have a look for a likely suriform.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Ian

[u01rsb]

Horse brush thing works well, just use some soap and water and it should get any stuck stones / etc off, might need to pick some of the more embeded ones out with your finger nails. Once clean you can use a sureform to get rid of any stuck rubber but wouldn't recomend using the sureform until after you have all the rubbish off.

 

I've also used a heat gun and scraper which also works like the sureform with less effort but I'm not sure if it really does the tyres any good in the long term.

 

Rob

[taffyracer]

heat gun and stiff scraper is the usual method, if you do it right then you're only heating up the pick up and not the tyre enough to do any harm to it, makes all the difference on 1st/2nd lap

 

C7 YUM

[Ian_Brandon]

Thanks both - curry comb got rid of the stones more easily than I imagined. Need a new Surform to get rid of rubber, but will give that a go before trying the heat gun.

 

 

 

 

 

K Series R500 no 34