|
Bama Red
|
 |
« on: May 09, 2011, 05:31:45 PM » |
|
I just bought a small consumer type pressure washer to help remove mildew from our log home so I can stain it later this summer. I also used it this afternoon to clean off my large Kubota zero-turn mower. worked great on getting mud and dried wet grass off the mower.
The manual says it can be used on travel trailers and boats, vinyl siding, etc. Can I use it (with the appropriate nozzle) to apply detergent and rinse my Valk, or will it do damage to the fat girl?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Never corner anything meaner than yourself.
VRCC Member #32561
|
|
|
|
Jess from VA
|
|
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2011, 05:45:20 PM » |
|
Even if it is an anemic electric powered washer, I would not use it on the bike, except underneath the engine or fenders for road crud. Power washers get right into wheel bearings, electronics, electrical and it is all bad. I don't even use full hose power, except for under the fenders. Otherwise, I use only a mist of water from the hose to rinse parts of the bike. A hand job takes longer, but is the proper way to clean a bike. On the other hand an electric PW is probably fine on your cars if you keep enough distance between paint and nozzle, and is great in Winter for getting salt out of the wheel wells and under the car laying on your belly. My 3000 PSI gas engine power washer will cut fingers off (with the right nozzle), and beats the hell out of scrubbing vinyl siding working over the edge of the roof. It also makes all my pressure treat fence and deck look like new come stain time (with fan nozzle). (or knocking squirrels out of a tree  ) |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: May 09, 2011, 05:47:23 PM by Jess from VA »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Valkahuna
|
|
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2011, 05:47:51 PM » |
|
A pressure washer can be dangerous for anything mechanical if used wrong.  Since you said it was a "small consumer type" it won't be quite as bad since it won't have the high pressure and volume of a commerical unit. Still, be carefull around rubber boot joints, don't spray where paint is chipped or flaking, since it can strip paint; don't spray directly at any area where the pressure excerts too much force onto sealed areas, or even electrics and switch gear on the handlebars, etc. Just use common sense. I think most if not all Valks (possibly not '97 ???) have sealed wheel bearings. Otherwise, that's another good area to not spray directly.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The key thing is to wake up breathing! All the rest can be fixed. (Except Stupid - You can't fix that)
2014 Indian Chieftain
2001 Valkyrie I/S
Proud to be a Vietnam Vet (US Air Force - SAC, 1967-1972)
|
|
|
|
Bama Red
|
|
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2011, 07:09:57 PM » |
|
This is kinda what I assumed (and thought I had read somewhere). I'll stick with washing the old girl by hand and only use the PW under the fenders.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Never corner anything meaner than yourself.
VRCC Member #32561
|
|
|
|
Mr. Nuts
|
|
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2011, 08:43:41 PM » |
|
Stay far away from your radiator fins with it too!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
“Speed has never killed anyone.... Suddenly becoming stationary, thats what gets you.” - Jeremy Clarkson
|
|
|
|
B
|
|
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2011, 08:17:19 AM » |
|
Only Joes Juice for me. A garden hose first only if it got caked on in a washout.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"if I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me." TLB-Ps.139:9-10
|
|
|
hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16787
upstate
South Carolina
|
|
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2011, 12:03:22 PM » |
|
Only Joes Juice for me. A garden hose first only if it got caked on in a washout. I use Joe's Juice too... I pulled into Ground Zero at the Whiskey Run with Smokin' Joe and some others, they all went to the car wash right after we got there... I left my bike looking dirty... it rained that night, and all the bikes were sitting out in the lot all wet... the next morning I cleaned my soaked bike well enough with two micro-fiber cloths that I got complements from the car wash crowd... water is the universal solvent... a few hours of gentle soaking makes Valkyries easy to clean   -Mike |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Weaver
|
|
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2011, 01:48:38 PM » |
|
Only Joes Juice for me. A garden hose first only if it got caked on in a washout. I use Joe's Juice too... I pulled into Ground Zero at the Whiskey Run with Smokin' Joe and some others, they all went to the car wash right after we got there... I left my bike looking dirty... it rained that night, and all the bikes were sitting out in the lot all wet... the next morning I cleaned my soaked bike well enough with two micro-fiber cloths that I got complements from the car wash crowd... water is the universal solvent... a few hours of gentle soaking makes Valkyries easy to clean -Mike We Yankees have to be careful about using good old rainwater. We have so many coal-fired powerplants up here that we are in the "high acid content" district. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. ![](http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniStates/language/www/US/IN/Seymour.gif" alt="Click for Seymour, Indiana Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="200" /></a>) |
|
|
Fudd
Member
Posts: 1733
MSF RiderCoach
Denham Springs, La.
|
|
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2011, 08:41:33 PM » |
|
I got a first class hand wash this evening.
I had it washed by 3 Hooters girls in bikini's.
The procedes went to breast awareness.......wait.....make that breast cancer awareness, a very worthy cause!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
 Save a horse, ride a Valkyrie |
|
|
|
Bob E.
|
|
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2011, 03:50:51 PM » |
|
I got a first class hand wash this evening.
I had it washed by 3 Hooters girls in bikini's.
The procedes went to breast awareness.......wait.....make that breast cancer awareness, a very worthy cause!
PICS, MAN!!!! WHERE ARE THE PICS???!!!!! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
alph
|
|
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2011, 05:13:38 PM » |
|
the previous owner of my bike use to use a power washer on it. the tranny paint, and the paint on the side of the engine has peeled off in some spots. that's why i had to buy those chrome side covers (or, that's what i told the wife....) i wouldn't use a power washer. it's not like it's that big of a deal to get out a garden hose, sponge and soapy water.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Promote world peace, ban all religion. Ride Safe, Ride Often!!  |
|
|
|
czuch
|
|
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2011, 12:20:13 PM » |
|
I toasted my wheel bearings with my pressure washer. 97 Tourer.
I never really got up close and personal but, after looking closley it might be an idea to service them after a good rainy ride. F/R within 300 miles with 67k on the bike. Probably time anyway but too close together to be random.
Still like it for digging post holes in this Arizona rockdirt.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Aot of guys with burn marks,gnarly scars and funny twitches ask why I spend so much on safety gear
|
|
|
|
