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Cleaning an oil soaked tire

Burning1

Burning1

I'm scareoused!
Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Location
Mountain View, CA
Moto(s)
GS500E, K1300GT
Name
Chris
Is it possible to completely clean an oil soaked tire?

Background information:

About a month ago I experienced a pretty severe oil leak on highway 9, due to a problem with my cam chain tensioner. The bike leaked oil, coating the right side of the rear tire, and then sat for a few weeks. I cleaned the tire, and replaced the chain adjuster, only to create another leak. Now, I'm very weary of getting the bike over on the right side.

Tire was cleaned with Engine degreasers (all marked rubber safe) and electrical contact cleaner.

Is the tire safe to ride on, or can the oil soak into the rubber in a way that cannot be easily removed? Was my cleaning method effective? Is there anything else I can do? Should I replace the tire?

Thank you!
 
Paint thinner takes off minute surface layers of rubber. Sanding takes off even more. Fresh rubber exposed after sanding autta be safe. Random Orbit sander with 100 grit.
 
I just scrubbed the oil off a tire I oiled 2 years ago:wtf when I blew the engine on my track bike.

NOTE: I did not reinstall it on a track bike, but on my street bike

I had the tire out in the bright sunlight, sprayed it with non-dilute Simple Green. Scrub with plastic brush, rinse lightly repeated three times.

I was a little weary at first, but I've put about 1K on it and had not a single twitch included during some spirited twisty riding on the coast on Sunday in wet fog. :ride

This was a rear tire.

Hope this helps.

Sue
 
Huge help, Sue. I oiled my Pilot Road 2, so these definitely aren't going to be seeing the track. I'll break out the simple green, that sounds like it'll do the trick.

CaliSuperbikes: I oiled the side of the rear, so I guess I'll have to do donuts. :laughing
 
I had a pretty good size oil leak where i lost about a quart and a half while riding. the only reason i noticed it was due to looking back and seeing a car with oil all over the front of it:rofl

i sprayed the rear tire down with simple green and used a towel to scrub as much as possible off and then rode it like normal and it seemed to do the trick. but i will warn you first ive been riding a long time and can usually tell when a tire is going to slip or slide, when i say ride it like normal that doesnt mean go up to hiway 9 and go crazy if you normally would, just ride around at a normal pace till you notice there isnt any oil on your tire after you scrub it down with the simple green:thumbup
 
spddrcr said:
I had a pretty good size oil leak where i lost about a quart and a half while riding. the only reason i noticed it was due to looking back and seeing a car with oil all over the front of it:rofl

i sprayed the rear tire down with simple green and used a towel to scrub as much as possible off and then rode it like normal and it seemed to do the trick. but i will warn you first ive been riding a long time and can usually tell when a tire is going to slip or slide, when i say ride it like normal that doesnt mean go up to hiway 9 and go crazy if you normally would, just ride around at a normal pace till you notice there isnt any oil on your tire after you scrub it down with the simple green:thumbup
Click to expand...

Thanks man.

FYI, I live on 9, so there isn't much I can do to avoid it. :thumbup
 
You'll be fine. If you feel nervous, go over it with rubbing alcohol as well.
 
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