| Author | Message | ||
     Blackhat |
Just wondering if anyone out there commonly uses the high pressure washers on their bikes, and are there any specific areas on the bike that shouldn't be sprayed? IE, fuse box. Any help is appreciated. Blackhat | ||
| Glitch |
Don't do it. | ||
| Buckinfubba |
elbow grease is better than pressure | ||
| Viros |
My bike has not started twice after washing it, and once died while riding in the rain. Lots of people have had trouble with their bikes due to water. This has been my only real problem with my Firebolt in 15,000 miles. The factory really missed something, XB's and water dont mix well. | ||
| Bykergeek |
Unless you're racing motoX or Enduro, Just a good soapy rag and a light rinse/towel dry. | ||
| Blackhat |
Got it, Thanks | ||
| Blake |
I've been pressure washing my Cyclone from day one. I avoid aiming dirictly at the bearings and electrics. On one occasion years ago the bike started out only running on one cylinder. I mainly use the pressure washer to get to the places otherwise inaccessible, like behind the oil filter and around the pushrod covers and under the engine between shock and pipe. A soft bristle brush does the job pretty well too. I'm lazy.  | ||
| Bads1 |
For tight spots I use Contact cleaner and then flush with water then blow out with the air compressor. | ||
| Blackhat |
Bads, What do you mean by contact cleaner? Something like simple green? I do agree that the XBs and water don't mix very well. The fuse box has no seal whatsoever, the cover doesn't have a tight fit, and the rear seat is just as bad. Water runs into the trunk and souses my insurance paperwork everytime it's in the rain. Some of the wiring seems less than adequately protected from water. Another question I had is for a good wheel cleaner. I've been using standard spray-on mag wheel cleaners, then polishing the machined areas with Eagle-One wadding in the silver and black tin. Works pretty good, but it's still alot of work, done right, about an hour for both wheels. Anybody know a better, or should I say a quicker method? My bike sees it's share of road grime, I ride it nearly every weekend from Fort Benning, GA to Navarre, FL and back. Then back and forth to work. It gets pretty trashed every week, and I get tired of scrubbing. Always looking for the quicker, easier way. Blackhat | ||
| Hootowl |
Blake, Do you put anything in the water, like a degreaser or something, or does the pressure alone do the trick? I have a small steam cleaner that gets most of it, but it doesn't put out enough volume to really do a good job, especially behind the pushrod tubes. Jeff | ||
| Glitch |
Water runs into the trunk and souses my insurance paperwork everytime it's in the rain. Zip-Lock bags do wonders... | ||
| Xben9r |
Or Laminate them. | ||
| Easyflier |
Beat your boots Airborne. | ||
| Easyflier |
Oh, I use a pressure washer on my XB whenever I wash it. I try to avoid direct blasts to the instrument cluster and the wheel bearings. I'm also not very fanatical about constantly cleaning it either, a bike that's ridden is meant to be covered in road grime and bug guts. I spray it off about once a week. | ||
| Jim_witt |
I've never had any problems arise from pressure washing any of my bikes but I usually wash them by hand at home with a pressure sprayer. My bikes look as good today as they did when they were new (actually better). In between washing I use a waterless cleaner like Meguiars spray and wipe wax. As others have mentioned I avoid direct blasting of the wheel bearings. I always use Simple Green on my engine (never near the wheel bearings) and my engine looks as good as it did when I bought the bike. HD also sells Engine Brightener (S100) that's works outstanding on a dry motor after you wash it. It also brings other things back to their original looking condition (rubber, plastic, etc.). Just make sure you follow the directions and don't put it on a HOT engine. BTW, after washing the bike I push it to a dry place on my driveway and use my leaf blower to blow off as much water as I can. Then touch up everything with cotton bath towels. When someone sees any of my bikes they think they've never been ridden and all have well over 25,000 miles on the pup(s). As far as wax goes I'm a big fan of Mequiars products (3 step process) and/or Zymol cleaner and wax. S'later, -JW:>  | ||
| Ocbueller |
Blackhat, Elbow grease and most aluminum polishes are what work. I find it easiest to do a thorough job when I have the wheel off for a tire change. Several applications are usually what works for me. A sealer of some kind can prolong the polish job. There are any number of products that just wipe on and wipe off. I use Mothers polish and just seal with whatever is on the shelf for either a paint job or wheel specific sealer. Some kind of powered polisher would speed things up but probably make a bigger mess. Have fun, SteveH | ||
| Chainsaw |
I have always used car wash pressure washers on both my bikes. Makes dead bugs and grime disappear. I have never had any trouble after a car wash. Bring a chamois in your pocket to dry off a spot to sit on. Ditto on the zip-locks. I used the 2000 psi washer at my dad's concrete pumping company in Charleston, SC once. Got to close to one of the Harley grips trying to get some grime off. Cut into the rubber! You think I'd know they clean dried concrete of of pumps with that puppy. Just one more pimp-slap from mean-old Mr. Experience. | ||
| Blackhat |
I'll take the hit, I prefer XB9R's lamination. Clear shelfing paper does the trick and is cheap at my local Wal-Mart. Ocbueller, Thanks, good info, will give the sealers a shot. EasyFlier, Keep your feet and knees together and you'll be OK. When did you come through? Blackhat | ||
| Easyflier |
Probably about the time you were looking forward to your senior year. Apr-May 1981. Back then it was 44th Company and I was roster# 818 What units have you served with? I know you haven't spent all 19 years training paratroopers. | ||
| Blackhat |
HootOwl, I'm talking about the coin sprayers with the dial-a-spray. The typical local car washes that you have to pump quarters into. In FL, I have the house hose and chemicals to do the job right. In Georgia, I rent, and (outside of a friends house), I have the car wash that dials through high pressure wash (soap), rinse, tire cleaner,and wax. I was mainly concerned about the high water pressure on seals and electronics. Haven't used it yet, just wanted to know if it was a good idea or not. Blackhat | ||
| Blackhat |
Sumbitch, I went through in Jan 85. How'd you know it was 19 years? Probable ought to read my own Bio. I was in 45th Company, had the beer machine in the dayroom. I was 18. Roster number was 228. Earliest to latest: 509th PIR (PFDR) 17th CAG Korea, Pathfinders 101st Pathfinder DET. 501st PIR (Alaska) 10th MTN DIV, Leg The DS Trail Blackhat at the 507th (ABN School) and now the 1SG of Bravo Co 507th. Easyflier, If you're ever in the area, come to Bravo Company, I will give you the grand tour, on bikes if you prefer, and we will jump the 34' tower ...... guaranteed. Always good to hear from a fellow trooper. Blackhat | ||
| Bads1 |
Blackhat I use a aresol contact cleaner/Brake cleaner from Honda that will not harm plastics, paint, rubber,etc you can find it at any Honda dealer the stuff is awesome and so is there Honda aresol polish for the paint.Anyone that hasn't tried the stuff should you'll be very pleased. | ||
| Easyflier |
I've been thinking of trying to get down that way again. I wish I was still at Bragg just so I could go and terrorize Bubba. 2-325th AIR 82d CAB (Pathfinder Plt) 3/36th Inf (Stint in Germany) 1-505 PIR 307th Lt Eng Bn Abn 20th Eng Bde USARSO (Panama) Rock Island Arsenal (retired out of it there) | ||
| Blackhat |
Bads, Years ago, I use to use a Honda brake cleaner to clean the sticky lithium grease off of the rear wheel of an '85 Interceptor. You're right, talk about cutting the grease. Blew the stuff right off on contact. If I remember right, it works off of rapid evaporation, very cold stuff. Thanks for jogging the memory. Blackhat | ||
| Blackhat |
EasyFlier, Awesome resume. Twelve Bravo? My offer still stands, all you gotta do is show up......anytime. I'll be here for awhile. Take your time. Time your visit right, and I'll sucker you into being a guest speaker for one of our graduations. You exceed all the criteria. Gotta go, I'll pick this up in the morning. Nice meeting you. Blackhat | ||
| Kevyn |
...I try to avoid direct spray at the bearings... After acquiring my S2, while changing tires, it became clear that the rear wheel bearing inner race had 'rusted welded' itself to the axle...there was no grease whatsoever on the bearings. don't do it | ||
| Blake |
How does a stainless steel bearing race become "rust welded" to a zinc plated axle that is coated with anti-sieze compound? Hoot, I use the local coin op car wash. I start with the engine cleaner and go to the high pressure soap, then the high pressure wash, and finish with the no spot rinse. Then I take it for a nice long ride to dry it out. | ||
| Dynarider |
I use the local coin op car wash. I start with the engine cleaner and go to the high pressure soap, then the high pressure wash, and finish with the no spot rinse. Then I take it for a nice long ride to dry it out. Do the same exact thing to my Dyna & have never had any issues at all. | ||
| Hootowl |
Thanks. I'll have to try that. I used to live fairly far from a car wash, and I am hesitant about spraying cold water on a hot engine. I live just a few blocks from one now. Could probably coast there, as it is down hill. My rear axle is rusty in spots. Perhaps the action of sliding it in and out wears off the plating. It is nowhere near the point of rusting the bearings together though. | ||
| Oconnor |
Hey black hat and easyflier, One of your airborne buddies showed us the ropes Aussie style a couple weeks ago at a FTX.  | ||
| Easyflier |
Looks like he's dangling by his feet in that pic. | ||
| Blackhat |
Looks like he's either having fun, or saying "Oh %#$@! | ||
| Easyflier |
Reminds me of a story when I was in the Pathfinder Platoon at Bragg. We had this new Corporal fresh out of the Ranger Battalion and we were playing on the rappel tower, some off the wall but mostly we liked going off the skid. Anyway, the Corporal went off the skid aussie style and when he went to brake used the conventional method. Needless to say, with aussie it was like no brake at all. There he lay face first in the sawdust, his kevlar helmet making a nice indentation I must say. After we made sure he wasn't hurt we asked him if he was ready to go again, surprisingly enough he said he'd had enough. I guess you'd have to have been there to know how funny it was at the time. A word of caution if you ever try helocasting make sure to let the air out of your BC before you exit the aircraft. | ||
| Oconnor |
USMC- We don't mind using our head!!!! Thanks for the Heads up. |
