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Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 1:31 pm
by marksmiffy
Afternoon fellow Stormers
Just been cleaning mine and wondered if it's ok to pressure wash engine etc

and is there anywhere i should be careful of

Coz bike starting to look pretty clean and round the engine area looks pants
Also what cleaning products do you use and for where?
Thanks in advance

Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 1:38 pm
by Eclectic
I personally wouldnt pressure wash. My brother pressure washes his fazer, but I leave that to him.
If you gonna pressure wash, avoid the chain, wheel bearings, rear linkages. Even the sump has a seal Id be worried about. Just get ya self a toothbrush and some degreaser (Auto Glyms wheel and brake cleaner works a treat - but dont let it dry, and dont put it on ya swinger, leaves a white residue :/). Also a small pot of petrol works a treat for degreasing ya stand and nuts etc. Just strip off what ya can and make a day of it.
Also T-cutting the engine casings works wonders. Mine was a dirty girl when I got her, shes getting much better now, shiny and new
The problem with pressure washing is it forces itself into small crevices as youd expect, but around linkages it can drive the grease out, same for the bearings in the chain.
Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 2:30 pm
by Eclectic
Eclectic wrote:I personally wouldnt pressure wash. My brother pressure washes his fazer, but I leave that to him.
If you gonna pressure wash, avoid the chain, wheel bearings, rear linkages. Even the sump has a seal Id be worried about. Just get ya self a toothbrush and some degreaser (Auto Glyms wheel cleaner works a treat - but dont let it dry, and dont put it on ya swinger, leaves a white residue :/). Also a small pot of petrol works a treat for degreasing ya stand and nuts etc. Just strip off what ya can and make a day of it.
Also T-cutting the engine casings works wonders. Mine was a dirty girl when I got her, shes getting much better now, shiny and new
The problem with pressure washing is it forces itself into small crevices as youd expect, but around linkages it can drive the grease out, same for the bearings in the chain.
Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 2:56 pm
by marksmiffy
Thanks eclectic

looks like there aint any shortcut

Just elbow grease and time

Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 3:34 pm
by Eclectic
Is always the bestest way. God knows how I manage to quote myself haha.
Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:47 pm
by tinysmall
Eclectic wrote:Is always the bestest way. God knows how I manage to quote myself haha.
I was wondering that. Have to agree though. Elbow grease and time spent is always the best way. I don't even use a normal hose pipe near mine. Just keep filling the buckets up and you know you're safe.
Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 7:01 pm
by alec
Eclectic wrote:Is always the bestest way. God knows how I manage to quote myself haha.
fancy coming down to kent and showing me how you would clean my bike mate

Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 7:26 pm
by Eclectic
HAHA, I reckon Ill pass on that one bud

Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 7:28 pm
by alec
Eclectic wrote:HAHA, I reckon Ill pass on that one bud

worth a try i suppose, dont ask dont get lol

Re: Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:17 pm
by tony.mon
Going to have disagree, although it is, of course, a personal choice.
If you stick your hand (not recommended) just in front of a jetwasher nozzle, you'll quite probably lose skin.
But if you stick your hand four feet down the jet, it's fine, if you don't adjust the nozzle to give a single tight jet- use a fan nozzle.
After all, just riding it in rain means you get water hitting the bike at up to a hundred MPH.
The bits to avoid are chain, linkages, head bearings, and electrical connections.
And unless the paint is in good condition it will flake off of wheels, subframe etc.
But I use one to get into all the little nooks and crannies around the engine, behind the starter motor, between the cylinders, around the carbs, under the undertray and blasting grease from the clutch slave and sidestand area.
I spray first with Muc-Off or any of the equivalent products, then brush on hot soapy water, car wash soap seems fine, I use double strength to cut through grease from the scot oiler, then hose or jetwash off and dry, finished with polish.
Don't forget WD40 works fine as a degreaser, especially around electrics.
Pressure wash????????
Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 9:34 pm
by Miztaziggy
Mine was a dirty thing when I got it too
I am in the process of stripping it down to completely clean, derust and degrease. Both wheels off to refurb swing arm, sub frame and front forks, fairings off to clean the engine parts with a tooth brush and the exhaust off to polish that up.
Going to be a long job....10 hours so far today and I'm aching quite badly now :-(