Removing Gasoline Stain

**davisjj** · #1 14 Jul 2005

I had a gas leak during the last 50 miles of a ride recently. Luckily I didn't go up in flames, and the cause of the leak (cracked fuel line disconnect) was easy to fix. The problem is that the gas that ran down the crankcase cover on the right side stained the silver surface of the cover, and I can't remove the yellowish stain. I tried (in this order) soap and water, mineral spirits, denatured alcohol, and, finally, automotive rubbing compound. My dealer says there is no way to remove the stain. Any ideas?

Jim Davis
Athens, GA

**Neilio** · #2 14 Jul 2005

Jim,
Is the crancase painted or laquered? If it is really unsightly then spraying it silver might be an option, if it's laquer that has stained you'll have to remove it with some kind of paint stripper and then re-apply it. Or just look at it as part of the "patina" of the bike, i.e. the inevetable signs of aging that affect everything and give them character.

**MartijnP** · #3 28 Sep 2005

Hi, I have the same issue. Did you manage to fix it, i.e. remove the yellow?

Martijn

**davisjj** · #4 29 Sep 2005

I wasn't able to remove it. I tried everything I could think of, soap and water, mineral spirits, denatured alcohol. I tried rubbing it out with polishing compound for hours and it didn't make any difference. It looks like the only options left are repainting or replacing it. I'm still amazed that gasoline could cause so much damage.