kahrs

I have ancient tubular rims with dead tires on them. I'd like to rehabilitate the rims and glue on new tires. Any thoughts on how to remove 40 year old glue? Seems to me they are long past the solvent era. I recall reading one suggestion to use a wire brush on a bench grinder. Any other ideas?

noglider 

You don't have to remove the glue. Just add glue.

Last ride 76 

What you callin' ancient you young whippersnapper.
Generally as Tom said, you can just apply fresh glue.

I choose with especially nice wheels to:
1)If the glue is dry and powdery or flaky, a wire brush works fine. To remove any dust and to do a final prep for new glue, I use acetone. Others use less volatile substances. Then do as with a new rim.

2) If the glue is still solidly adhered, AND still sticky.... I add a thin layer of new to the rim and a normal layer to the base tape, let them dry and mount.

3)If the glue is rock hard and thick, I use some sort of degreaser to soften and then scrape off as much as I can. (I'm always trying new ones, 'cause I hate them all). When the glue is really rock hard and doesn't even chip off, a wire wheel may help, but be careful. Easy to do damage.
If I can get the surface down to fresh-looking glue that is somewhat softish, I go back to step 2. If not, I go down to as new as I can, and follow step 1.

I let them sit for 24h and then try to roll the tire off. If it's difficult.... I consider them riddable, though I check them each time after pumping.

Wildwood 

....and there is tape....

Classtime 

The old red glue? I take a small screwdriver and chip
It off.

Chombi1 

You can zing petrified glue off old tubular rim real easy by just using a rotary wire brush tip on a Dermel.
It will only take you a few minutes to blow them away into dust. Forget trying to soften the glue as that is working backwards and will just add to your time and effort taking off the glue, never mind the additional mess that the solvent you might use will cause. Only thing you need to watch out for is to avoid breathing in the old glue dust from using a rotary wire brush on it. Nothing that a cheap dust mask cannot handle. Also, do not worry about the wire brush harming the rim as it won't. It does never even affected the dark anodizing on my many rims that I have cleaned old glue off already, using the wire brush method.
You do not even have to apply lots of pressure against the glue, you just let the Dremel tool "work for you" with just minimal pressure against the lumps of glue you are removing.
Just one tip, when you buy the rotary brush for your Dremel tool, make sure you get the one with Stainless Steel bristles as they will last a lot longer than the one with plain steel bristles. The little bit extra you pay for the stainless version is more than made up when you do not have to change out the brush tip as often.
Oh, and remember to wear eye protection as the Dremel throws off those bristles like eyeball seeking death spikes!

crank_addict

I typically will leave the residue as it helps bonding to a fresh layer plus grip to base tape. Though if too crusty, flakey and or chips off, a simple scrubbing with a harsh grit 3M scuff pad takes care of it in short time.