Just got some used X0 DH carbon cranks, the original heli tape is just worn through in a spot so I've pulled it off to replace, is it OK to use surgical spirit to clean up the adhesive residue?
Yes, will be fine. Nothing you have in the household will attack it, used as a cleaner.
Probably find isopropanol wont be that effective on the adhesive though, use lighter fluid or something. Might remove the printed graphics though.
You'll need something more potent than alcohol to clean the sticky stuff off. Acetone will do the trick. If the surface looks a little dulled afterwards hit it with some t-cut then wax polish and will bring em up like new. Moderately deep scratches can be taken out with some fine wet & dry (800 or so) then polished.
Have been known to use the black color magic back to black car polish on carbon.
Fills the small cracks with black pigment rather than white that you get with T-Cut and white car polish.
Wont leave little white dull patches.
thanks. I figure a bit of cleaning and polishing, new heli tape and some crank boots and they'll look pretty good again.
Buy a bottle of sticky stuff remover - amazing at removing glue residue, tar spots, etc
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/8976/Sticky-Stuff-Remover?src=gfeed&gclid=CJ6eq8fbobUCFYLHtAodanMA3A
GT85 is good for removing sticky stuff
Not really IMO, white spirit or nail varnish remover are vastly more effective if you want something you're likely to have around.
If they are scratched, rub them down lightly with some fine wet & dry then give them a coat of clear lacquer from a rattle can. I have restored scratched black plastic road brake hoods in this way, they looked like new plastic.