Removal of Accessories

[mastrjo]

Hi All,
I had some of my accessories painted prior to install, and although they looked sharp at the time (2010), they are now somewhat faded. I am getting them redone, but I cannot figure out how to get off the ‘shark gills’ on the fairing. They are installed with 3M tape, and I am afraid of pulling too hard & braking them, using any kind of solvent - afraid it could melt the plastic, I'm leery about using a heat gun, and using floss did not work… at all....it just broke. I thought about sitting it out in the Georgia sun and heat to see if that will loosen it, or trying fishing line. I would greatly appreciated any suggestions. The sooner I can get all the parts off and sand down the chips, the sooner I can get back on the road. Thanks.

[wingpilot08]

You said that you tried dental floss...that is normally the best way to remove the stuff that is 3M taped on...would recommend that you try that option again after letting the bike sit out in the sun..

[Ghostman]

I would try parking it out in the sun midday for a few hours and then try to remove them. Thats what I did with my chrome trim with lights that mounts on the radiator. I wound up getting them loose but you have to wiggle,pull, and generally try not to break them as the plastic is more brittle due to radiator heat. You can also use a hair dryer but watch your heat setting,but sitting in the summer sun always worked best for me. I do the same thing with my switches. I let the bike sit in the sun and heat the switches that stick,then get them moving and lube them.

[Viking]

And if dental floss won't work, because it breaks, you got a bad batch of dental floss. I have always used fishing line, especially the spiderwire.

[Big Bob]

The shark gills I just installed on my 06 are held on with a adhesive/glue type product, not double faced tape. Dental floss or fishing line might work....good luck!!

Bob

[mastrjo]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Ghostman was correct. The sharkfins were not on with 3M tape the way everything else was. It was on with silicone. Had to use the heat gun - on low- but also used a releasing spray (with a small straw) to help it along. It does not come off all the way, so I need to put on another trim piece to hide the residue. No problem there, going to get it - and the other parts - wrapped.

[Terry D]

GOO GONE will take the residue off. Spray it on the affected piece and also on a soft rag. Keep the rag soaked with it.