cleaning motor cases

[pancho]

I have seen some pictures of some sparkling clean aluminum motor cases,, mine are looking a bit shabby.... What process and product do you guys with the pristine looking cases use?

[hubcapsc]

They're painted... don't polish off the paint like I did to my starter, though
your cases won't then rust, like my starter did.

I hope you get some good responses, I wish mine looked better. "repaint
them some tedious way" is all I can think of...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Mildly corrosive wheel cleaner, engine degreaser, S100 (my favorite), with stiff bristle brushes of various sizes to reach all the hard to get spots.  Wear nitrile gloves; I always cut myself doing this job and it burns like hell.

This stuff can etch if not rinsed very well, and I do the bike in sections, never letting it dry, and always followed by hot soapy water on each section.

I have still lost my Kuryakyn pedal rubbers and other odds and ends that the corrosives tend to dissolve the adhesive.

Even though it says it can be used on the whole bike, I only use it on the engine and underside and brakes and (unclearcoated) wheels.

[Pete]

I use any good degreasing/cleaning agent with a brush followed by car wash soap and lots of clean water. For extra shine use a cleaner/wax on the painted or cleared surfaces, and hand buff.

On the black surfaces I clean well and use a  good quality tire dressing to dress the non shiney black and cleaner/wax on the shiney black.   (if you have any black surfaces)

[Chrisj CMA]

Mean Green.  Dollar store or Lowe's.  Spray it on with the engine just warm, lightly brush worst areas with a tooth brush.  Then rinse with a hose with low pressure, not much more than a trickle.

[Bighead]

Simple green for me. Spray it on let it sit a couple minutes spray it off then wash with soap and water. 100% of the bike the same.

[pancho]

Wow,, that red is hard on the eyes,, don't think I'll do that again!! 

Yeah,, I already did that with the starter Mike,, it's now painted. I will probably paint the motor cases at some point, I would like them black, but not ready to tackle that job at this point... . Jess, I just don't believe in those harsh chemicals,, I don't use them on anything,, don't even own any,, I mean you're talking about melting the adhesives off your bike!! too harsh for me brother. You the man to be using that stuff.

The rest of you guys are talking about what I will go for,, Chris, Bighead, I think you told me about the Mean Green and Simple Green awhile back, and I got distracted and forgot about it. I have a Dollar Store close so I will pick up a jug tonight or tomorrow and give it a try. Your motor is the look I am trying to get Chris.

[Jess from VA]

Not for nothin', but I notice you guys with the more perfect bikes ride where there is never any salt or chlorides on the roads for snow and ice.  Not that it can't be cleaned up, but it does more damage and takes a lot more work.

Ponch, I experiment and will use anything that gets the job done quickly and efficiently.  Starting a wheel polish with this stuff saves a lot of time and rubbing (and low back and knee pain).

I've used battery acid on skin cancer and warts too.   

[hubcapsc]

Your motor is the look I am trying to get Chris.

Start looking for one of those mythical still-in-the-crate Valkyries... 

-Mike

[pancho]

"I've used battery acid on skin cancer and warts too."   HA,,,  your my kind of guy Jess.

Although I grew up in Pittsburgh and have lived in Rochester NY, it has been awhile and I forgot about the conditions,, the road treatments certainly can make a mess of machines. You're right,, it's much easier to keep a bike clean here.

If you want to experiment with something for your lower back and overall pain removal for the entire body, see if you can find a programe called "classical stretch" by checking the program schedules of you local PBS channels. Takes about 23 minutes a day,, took twenty years off my beat up body. And no harsh chemicals needed.

[Jess from VA]

Well Ponch, I am really doing fine on the orthopedic front.  Much better than my 62 years and lack of good diet and exercise warrant or deserve.  But working down low around the bike, or any job really, does make me sore.  So I try to do it as little (or as fast) as possible. 

What I'm getting really good at in retirement is naps... man if that was an Olympic sport, I'd really be competitive. 

Rained like Armageddon here awhile back, and my sump pump woke me up. 

And BTW, you have a lousy selection of liquor there.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Your motor is the look I am trying to get Chris.

Start looking for one of those mythical still-in-the-crate Valkyries...  

-Mike

Lol, thanks Mike.  Ok, yes it is true, we don't have much snow on our roads, but keeping a bike clean is much easier than getting a bike clean.  There is over 150k on my bike (and motor) and it still looks exactly like that picture thanks to Mean Green and frequent wipedowns.  Panchos engine looks like it will shine up just fine

[pancho]

" but keeping a bike clean is much easier than getting a bike clean"   

 I agree with you 100% Chris, I usually don't ride in nasty weather unless nasty weather catches me while I'm riding.  I'll be going after the motor with the Dollar Store cleaner and a toothbrush soon,, see how it comes out.

"And BTW, you have a lousy selection of liquor there."  Yeah, that's the stuff for unwanted guests.

[h13man]

WD40 and nylon scrubbing brushes of choice. Non corrosive and clean all parts w/o any side effects. I use a micro fiber towel and WD40 to keep my wheels clean.

[Steve K (IA)]

I've been riding 49 years now and have always thought that to keep a motorcycle looking new, it has to be kept clean.  Never leave crud on any surface for an extended time.  Never store in the winter months while dirty.

Chris said it best   " but keeping a bike clean is much easier than getting a bike clean".   

[pancho]

And NEVER touch a dirty shiny surface with a dry rag.

[da prez]

Chris , what make are the carb vacuum coverror please. I have a set and have  not been  able  to  identify  them.

                     da.prz

[Chrisj CMA]

Chris , what make are the carb vacuum coverror please. I have a set and have  not been  able  to  identify  them.

                     da.prz

Mine are Cobra....If they have ribs sticking up instead of grooves, then they are most likely Big Bike Things

[pancho]

Well, you guys were right about Dollar Store cleaners and a toothbrush. I had the carbs off so I decided to give it a try. I used a product called Fantastic, it is called a tub and tile cleaner. It isn't perfect, but I can tell you that it didn't look this when I started.

[Fazer]

Pancho--why not desmog while you have it all exposed?  Good guide in shoptalk.  I added the Dan Marc  fuel shut off when I did mine.

[Tfrank59]

I hate to be the one to throw cold water on this, but I'm always afraid some of these cleansers have stuff in there that can erode rubber, metal, composites, wires, etc.  I know if you rinse off quickly it mostly reduces that, but once chemicals get inside of places, water (even with compressed air--which introduces its own set of issues) doesn't always remove the residue.  I want a pretty motor and bike like everyone else, but that's my fear and it makes me hesitate to grab a spray bottle.  BTW, I use Simple Green (sparingly) on certain parts of my bikes, though I've heard and read some horror stories on its effect on aluminum.

[John Schmidt]

Get some Krud Kutter in a white jug, has to say "good for sonic cleaners" and lists all the various metals it's safe to use on. Plus, it doesn't affect rubber or plastic but be sure to get the formula mentioned here. I've put it in an old spray bottle, spray an area and let sit just a bit before using an old toothbrush or similar. It cuts all kinds of stuff for that first major cleaning, then go to Chris's "Green" stuff to maintain. I get the KK at Tractor Supply but probably available many places.

[big poppa pump]

Get some Krud Kutter in a white jug, has to say "good for sonic cleaners" and lists all the various metals it's safe to use on. Plus, it doesn't affect rubber or plastic but be sure to get the formula mentioned here. I've put it in an old spray bottle, spray an area and let sit just a bit before using an old toothbrush or similar. It cuts all kinds of stuff for that first major cleaning, then go to Chris's "Green" stuff to maintain. I get the KK at Tractor Supply but probably available many places.

It's called Krud Kutter parts cleaner and available at Tractor Supply for 14.99/gallon.

[pancho]

Pancho--why not desmog while you have it all exposed?  Good guide in shoptalk.  I added the Dan Marc  fuel shut off when I did mine.

Naw,,  I like it all in there Fazer,,, I still have my wisdom teeth, tonsils and appendix too, just figure the reasons for all that stuff being put in, are still valid today.

I said I got Fantastic,, mis spoke,, they had no Simple Green or Mean Green, so I got Kaboom, a bathroom cleaner, used it like you guys said,,, works great! 

I understand your concerns Tfrank, but I figure those hoses, fuel and vacuum, are formulated to be resistant to many chemicals and heat, I think they can withstand 5 minutes of the stuff that is in those cheaper household products, plus, you want to rinse it off pretty good. I really don't see a reaction like Johns wheel dampers, but, if all my new hoses fail prematurely, I'll let you know. 

[Tfrank59]

Fair enough.  I'm not saying NO cleansers, just that I don't wanna get too happy with them--esp those with acids in there--and that the ones that eat dirt the best also eat other stuff too.  It's like chemo on cancer--kills everything in its path.  As far as stuff rotting/failing prematurely--our bikes are almost two decades old (and will likely outlive most of us), so not really an issue, at least not one we'll have to deal with.

[pancho]

Pancho--why not desmog while you have it all exposed?  Good guide in shoptalk.  I added the Dan Marc  fuel shut off when I did mine.
[/quo   
    Yeah, I have an electric cutoff valve on my "watching" list on eBay,, but not right now.  My rebuilt petcock (had to do it twice in two years) but it's working fine now, and the carb valves are in good condition.      Knock on Wood.

I didn't use it everywhere as the picture might suggest Tfrank,, I have my bike apart at least once every year and I always clean up like everything with water and on some things solvent damp rags,,  everything,, so most of it was pretty clean already.  The Kaboom, while it is mildly acidic, just seems to loosen oil based stuff in the crevices pretty easily, and cleans up nice.   

I with you on the longevity,, I think I'll be keeping mine.

[pancho]

You know,, If I would have just cleaned my motor cases, which was my intention which led to me using the Kaboom tub and tile, I would stick to my guns about defending it's use. But I didn't,, when I saw how well it was working, I went ahead and cleaned the carb bank and airbox with it also. Finished up the carbs and when putting the airbox back on, I remembered what an exotic compound was used to make the boots, (completely flexible and able to be hog tied up with no fatigue areas after being in the heat for 18 years) and it should not have been subjected to the acidic environment of the Kaboom for any amount of time, wrong cleaner for the those items, and when I take it apart in a few weeks for a oil pressure and temp gauge install,, I'm going to scrub  those parts again with water like a doctor doing his hands..
 I agree with your statement about that Tfrank, on a molecular level, there is still a ton of what ever compounds are in the Kaboom still on any surface I cleaned with it.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

WD40 and nylon scrubbing brushes of choice. Non corrosive and clean all parts w/o any side effects. I use a micro fiber towel and WD40 to keep my wheels clean.

Just got a picture of that in my head and thought ... When the residue of that runs off the wheel in wet conditions and get's on the tire that could turn bad fast.

[Chrisj CMA]

I don't know about that Fantastic.  I have used Mean Green for like10 years, nothing had degraded.  So just because you got it at the dollar store doesn't mean it will perform the same

[pancho]

I understand that Chris,, I used a product called Kaboom, after thinking about what would work best without harming a painted aluminum surface. Based on that, I decided on the acidic tub and tile cleaner which worked fine for that purpose. As far as performance, it worked as well or better than I expected, but, I got carried away and used it on some other things that it wasn't the best formula for.

Can't speak for the mean green, as I still haven't got a jug of it yet, but on your recommendation and pictures I suspect that it works good. My Dollar Store didn't it have it so I made another choice.

[Gavin_Sons]

Picked up a bottle of mean green at the dollar tree today. Now all I need is Chris to come detail my bike once a month. Be he cost more than a dollar though 

[Houdini]

I'm glad the OP started this thread, I spend about 1.5 hours in the driveway with a bottle of Simple Green and now my engine, brakes, rotors and frame look like new again.

[Chrisj CMA]

Picked up a bottle of mean green at the dollar tree today. Now all I need is Chris to come detail my bike once a month. Be he cost more than a dollar though 

OK, on the way, don't hold yer breath.  Went through Indiana, 15 years ago so it shouldn't be long

[pancho]

OK,, finally found the stuff Chrisj and Bighead are talking about,, marketed as Smart Simple here (I don't get that, different names for different locations), only $1 in the Dollar Stores, Nothing in it except detergents, surfacants, a touch of fragrance and a bit of dye for color..  about as clean a cleaner as you can find.  I agree, this stuff can be used on ANYTHING you can put water on with no damaging effects,, it now has a place in my selection.  Thanks guys.