Pine sap removal help

[guscycle]

I was never one to be really concerned with all the marks that my helmet gets riding in the woods but my new riding area is infested with pine and some other tree that produces gobs of sap.I usually treat my new helmet with a light coat of wax prior to use but this sap is thick and hardens quite quickly.(It could be that the almost year long intense heat /sunlight of Florida is making matters worse).Most manufacturers tell you to use a mild soap/warm water to clean(inside / out) but it ain't touching this stuff.
I am planning on retiring this helmet for a newer, light weight helmet and using the old one as back up or if someone needs to borrow one,so if anyone has some good proven methods of preparing /cleaning the shell of a new/used helmet,let me know.By the way ,I normally buy another set or 2 of liners just to keep the helmet fresh and snug so that isn't an issue with me.

Thanx
Guscycle

 

[HuskyTaylor]

You can try Mineral spirits, won't hurt the finish. Goof off should work also.

 

[juicypips]

hot water an washing up liquid... or burn the trees down no sap and an awesome desolert forest to pace through.

 

[LandofMotards]

On cars clay bars work. I'd imagine it would be the same

 

[Kevin_TE250]

WD-40 works also... just wash it afterward

 

[268fords]

Just put your favorite baseball teams logo on it and will look like pine tar on a batting helmet!

 

[Coffee]

I would need to double check, but I *believe* simple green is about the only thing I've found that would remove tree sap...

 

[LandofMotards]

Honda polish always took bugs off my helmet, I bet it'd work for sap too. That stuff is amazing. Let it sit for a few seconds and even the worst comes off. The clay bars work really well for stuff like that to and you should be able to go to an auto parts store. You could always contact the helmet manufacturer too and see what they recommend

 

[Dirtdame]

Maybe Goo Gone would help. It gets gum out people's hair, and removes sticker adhesives.

 

[WoodsChick]

I've used mayonnaise to get nasty pine sap off my seat, riding pants, hands and out of my hair.
I know...weird, but it works!

 

[Dirtdame]

I've used mayonnaise to get nasty pine sap off my seat, riding pants, hands and out of my hair.
I know...weird, but it works!

And it makes your hair soft and manageable, right?

 

[WoodsChick]

And it makes your hair soft and manageable, right?

Exactly

Seriously, though, it does work. I think it might be the oils or something. Just massage it in and it comes right out. Same with my seat cover and my riding pants. How I got it in my hair I have no idea...

 

[Coffee]

Exactly

Seriously, though, it does work. I think it might be the oils or something. Just massage it in and it comes right out. Same with my seat cover and my riding pants. How I got it in my hair I have no idea...

ummm.... I believe your screen name is WoodsChick, right?

 

[guscycle]

...thanx for all the help...manufacturer doesn't recommend any solvent type cleaners(wd-40,mineral spirits),but I kinda figured they would.GOO GONE didn't do too much..didn't have Simple Green but use AWESOME straight (is sold diluted or a no water refill) and it took almost all of it .I use this stuff with great success on the Husky and it never dulls the rims(probably would if I left it on without hosing it off)I was a little apprehensive at first but it looks to be be the ticket.Next time I get sap on it or the other helmet,I'm gonna try the mayonnaise !

 

[longdrive]

Try regular hand lotion. It works when you get it on the skin, maybe it will work on a helmet.

 

[Mike-AK]

Turpentine. Beat it at its own game.