Cleaning Pine Sap

[Rob52]

Any ideas on cleaning pine sap off my 4320? From mowing and moving through white pines, sap is all over loader arms, hood and fenders. I've tried tar and bug remover, although it was old, and it didn't make a mark on it? Maybe I need new bottle? Don't want to discolor or scratch that beautiful GREEN!!!!!Any Ideas.............?????Safe Solvents......??????
Thanks guys

 

[jdbower]

A hammer and chisel followed by a wire brush on a drill work great.

On my truck I've had good luck with Goo Gone (an orange-based cleaner), but you may want to follow up with a good wax topcoat (I like Klasse followed by a good carnauba wax, but this refers to my truck again).

 

[mikim]

diesel won't cut it? ... that woulda been my first thing to try ....

 

[Rob52]

Diesel wouldn't touch it!

 

[mikim]

guess I need to be more careful around the few pines I have ....sounds like that stuff would make a good argument to treat the trees with a chainsaw.

 

[1bush2hog]

A little Goof Off on a rag will do it - I just used this on my daughters car.

Follow with a good coat of wax on the treated area

 

[jdbower]

guess I need to be more careful around the few pines I have ....sounds like that stuff would make a good argument to treat the trees with a chainsaw.

I've had to give several trees a Husqvarna Haircut in my yard, but mostly because they were very ill. My grandmother's ancient pines can trap an SUV in sap like a fly in amber...

 

[dbdartman]

Although I've never used it to remove sap, I find brake cleaner to be amazingly versatile & would be the first thing I'd try.

 

[jd110]

Yikes! I'd be a little careful with brake cleaner. I have seen that stuff eat right through paint. You might try some penetrating oil. The stuff John Deere sells is amazingly good at getting stuff off of paint and glass. Just be sure to wash and wax the treated area.

 

[StopherJ]

WD 40 and a soft cloth works well and will not harm the paint. For older sap, let it sit and soak.

 

[Ziggy2305]

In my business, I have the need to keep methanol around. I use it for racing engine fuel. I have ended my mowing chores feeling like a giant fly catching strip, with my clothes stuck to me and my new 2305 actually striped with the cursed sap. I have tried several things but have found that straight methanol works the best on all surfaces, porous and non porous, and leaves no residue or odor. No paint damage, outside of removing all the wax,and on a hot day, the cool feeeling it gives while evaporating is welcome.

 

[knute_m]

I haven't tried it on my tractor, but Crisco shortening works great for getting pine sap off my hands.

Knute

 

[dbdartman]

Yikes! I'd be a little careful with brake cleaner. I have seen that stuff eat right through paint.

I'm sorry, but I've NEVER had brake cleaner remove paint (or powder coat, or attack plastic or rubber) as it's usually the first thing I spray on something to clean it before working on it if it's greasy/dirty. Used it to clean the stop solenoid on the fuel pump of my 4400, this spring, before removing it. I'm sure I got some on the plastic panels in the process, & it didn't remove the paint on the pump, or discolor the plastic panels. (that I could see). Even using it for cleaning brakes (gasp!) it won't take paint off backing plates, caliper mounts, or the body where it gets sprayed (notably on door hinges prior to lubricating with anti-seize compound). It's also the only thing I ever found that will remove anti-seize compound plus it'll CLEAN sand-blasted glass (this amazed the guy I was working for at the time, as he'd been in the glass biz most of his life & his "method" was lots of water & glass cleaner 3-4 times if not more to remove the streaking... the brake cleaner turned the glass about 70% translucent on contact, water won't do that, & cleaned it completely in one pass leaving no streaks).

 

[jd110]

I'm sorry, but I've NEVER had brake cleaner remove paint (or powder coat, or attack plastic or rubber) as it's usually the first thing I spray on something to clean it before working on it if it's greasy/dirty. Used it to clean the stop solenoid on the fuel pump of my 4400, this spring, before removing it. I'm sure I got some on the plastic panels in the process, & it didn't remove the paint on the pump, or discolor the plastic panels. (that I could see). Even using it for cleaning brakes (gasp!) it won't take paint off backing plates, caliper mounts, or the body where it gets sprayed (notably on door hinges prior to lubricating with anti-seize compound). It's also the only thing I ever found that will remove anti-seize compound plus it'll CLEAN sand-blasted glass (this amazed the guy I was working for at the time, as he'd been in the glass biz most of his life & his "method" was lots of water & glass cleaner 3-4 times if not more to remove the streaking... the brake cleaner turned the glass about 70% translucent on contact, water won't do that, & cleaned it completely in one pass leaving no streaks).

Hey, whatever works is great. I have found that some brands can damage paint and I never remember which ones. So I am afraid to try it on paint since i usually buy the cheapest brake cleaner I can find. What brand do you use that you find safe on paint?

 

[Rob52]

I think a lot of people mix up the Brake Cleaner and Brake Fluid thing about paint damage! I'll start with the Goo Gone first, maybe even a new can of tar remover, then move up to the brake clean. Methenol, I really don't have on hand!
Thanks

 

[dbdartman]

What brand do you use that you find safe on paint?

Typically CRC brand "BRAKLEEN", but I'll use anything that's on sale.