Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

TL Mitchell wrote:
> "Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote
>
>> Yep, too late. Hey, are you up for a challenge? Wanna take a crack at
>> cleaning my bike? ;-)
>
> I'm glad yer not just around the corner..... the challenge would be hard to
> resist ;-) Kinda like dramatic before n afters.

I'm snipping a bunch because there's a TON of good info that I'm tempted
to respond to and respond to and respond to. I want to thank you for all
this. I think with the right produces, a nice afternoon, and a vat o'
margaritas I'll be able to get Fueley looking good again.

> 112 <--- time to wax the gutters and downspouts and Rain-X the windows

LOL

--
Donna A.
Wench #17/Bitch #17/BS #26/AH#107/SLOB #9
'95 FLHTCUI Fuel Injected 30th Anniversary Electraglide "Fueley"
'66 H-D Bobcat "Baby Blue"--Harley Hummer Club Member #1066
* spoiled-brat . com

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike


"TL Mitchell" <tlmitchell99(nospam)@earthlink . net > wrote in message
news:J7GdnZH4EO81YLfVnZ2dnUVZ_o_inZ2d@earthlink . com ...
> "Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote

snip all down to

> Good if you use Westley's Bleche Wite on whitewalls. That stuff is stout
> used full strength and stains aluminum... the sudes won't hurt, just want
> to avoid direct spray on the wheels.

The following carries absolutely no guarantee. It just happens to work for
me.

I clean the wheels with a decent mag wheel cleaner first. This includes
rinsing the wheels off when done. Westley's Bleche Wite says to spray it on
dry tires which can't happen if you have already rinsed the rims. I spray it
on the wet tires, quickly brush with a stiff brush and immediately rinse it
off before I spin the wheel to do the next section. I have never had a
problem with it "attacking" the finish on aluminum parts or paint since it
doesn't sit there for very long. The tires turn out nice and clean (even if
you just have blackwalls) and damn near look new.

However (warning Will Robertson!!!!), Westley's will truly eat off a layer
of finish or aluminum if you spray it on dry aluminum and let it sit for any
length of time. Don't ask how I know. I'd use something else but haven't
found anything that does as good a job. Do Not Let That Stuff Sit On Bare
Aluminum For Any Length Of Time unless you are trying for a shallow etch to
give some "tooth" for paint to stick to.

--

Wayne
AH52
The road goes on forever

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

"dual45s" <dual45s@tampabay.rr . com > wrote in message
news:482b58a4$0$3368$4c368faf@roadrunner . com ...
>
> "TL Mitchell" <tlmitchell99(nospam)@earthlink . net > wrote in message
> news:J7GdnZH4EO81YLfVnZ2dnUVZ_o_inZ2d@earthlink . com ...
>> "Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote
>
> snip all down to
>
>> Good if you use Westley's Bleche Wite on whitewalls. That stuff is stout
>> used full strength and stains aluminum... the sudes won't hurt, just want
>> to avoid direct spray on the wheels.
>
> The following carries absolutely no guarantee. It just happens to work for
> me.
>
> I clean the wheels with a decent mag wheel cleaner first. This includes
> rinsing the wheels off when done. Westley's Bleche Wite says to spray it
> on dry tires which can't happen if you have already rinsed the rims. I
> spray it on the wet tires, quickly brush with a stiff brush and
> immediately rinse it off before I spin the wheel to do the next section. I
> have never had a problem with it "attacking" the finish on aluminum parts
> or paint since it doesn't sit there for very long. The tires turn out nice
> and clean (even if you just have blackwalls) and damn near look new.
>
> However (warning Will Robertson!!!!), Westley's will truly eat off a layer
> of finish or aluminum if you spray it on dry aluminum and let it sit for
> any length of time. Don't ask how I know. I'd use something else but
> haven't found anything that does as good a job. Do Not Let That Stuff Sit
> On Bare Aluminum For Any Length Of Time unless you are trying for a
> shallow etch to give some "tooth" for paint to stick to.

Eggzactly..... I believe I mighta got a little wide with the sprayer and
perhaps missed with the rinse. When the stuff is sudsed up, no problem. But
it's a bitch to try and polish out if it sits.

112

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

dual45s wrote:
> "TL Mitchell" <tlmitchell99(nospam)@earthlink . net > wrote in message
> news:J7GdnZH4EO81YLfVnZ2dnUVZ o inZ2d@earthlink . com ...
>> "Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote
>
> snip all down to
>
>> Good if you use Westley's Bleche Wite on whitewalls. That stuff is stout
>> used full strength and stains aluminum... the sudes won't hurt, just want
>> to avoid direct spray on the wheels.
>
> The following carries absolutely no guarantee. It just happens to work for
> me.
>
> I clean the wheels with a decent mag wheel cleaner first. This includes
> rinsing the wheels off when done. Westley's Bleche Wite says to spray it on
> dry tires which can't happen if you have already rinsed the rims. I spray it
> on the wet tires, quickly brush with a stiff brush and immediately rinse it
> off before I spin the wheel to do the next section. I have never had a
> problem with it "attacking" the finish on aluminum parts or paint since it
> doesn't sit there for very long. The tires turn out nice and clean (even if
> you just have blackwalls) and damn near look new.
>
> However (warning Will Robertson!!!!), Westley's will truly eat off a layer
> of finish or aluminum if you spray it on dry aluminum and let it sit for any
> length of time. Don't ask how I know. I'd use something else but haven't
> found anything that does as good a job. Do Not Let That Stuff Sit On Bare
> Aluminum For Any Length Of Time unless you are trying for a shallow etch to
> give some "tooth" for paint to stick to.

I fixed that entire cleaning problem by going with black walled tires
years ago. ;-)

--
Donna A.
Wench #17/Bitch #17/BS #26/AH#107/SLOB #9
'95 FLHTCUI Fuel Injected 30th Anniversary Electraglide "Fueley"
'66 H-D Bobcat "Baby Blue"--Harley Hummer Club Member #1066
* spoiled-brat . com

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

On Thu, 15 May 2008 05:59:28 -0500, "Donna A."
<flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote:

>dual45s wrote:
>> "TL Mitchell" <tlmitchell99(nospam)@earthlink . net > wrote in message
>> news:J7GdnZH4EO81YLfVnZ2dnUVZ_o_inZ2d@earthlink . com ...
>>> "Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote
>>
>> snip all down to
>>
>>> Good if you use Westley's Bleche Wite on whitewalls. That stuff is stout
>>> used full strength and stains aluminum... the sudes won't hurt, just want
>>> to avoid direct spray on the wheels.
>>
>> The following carries absolutely no guarantee. It just happens to work for
>> me.
>>
>> I clean the wheels with a decent mag wheel cleaner first. This includes
>> rinsing the wheels off when done. Westley's Bleche Wite says to spray it on
>> dry tires which can't happen if you have already rinsed the rims. I spray it
>> on the wet tires, quickly brush with a stiff brush and immediately rinse it
>> off before I spin the wheel to do the next section. I have never had a
>> problem with it "attacking" the finish on aluminum parts or paint since it
>> doesn't sit there for very long. The tires turn out nice and clean (even if
>> you just have blackwalls) and damn near look new.
>>
>> However (warning Will Robertson!!!!), Westley's will truly eat off a layer
>> of finish or aluminum if you spray it on dry aluminum and let it sit for any
>> length of time. Don't ask how I know. I'd use something else but haven't
>> found anything that does as good a job. Do Not Let That Stuff Sit On Bare
>> Aluminum For Any Length Of Time unless you are trying for a shallow etch to
>> give some "tooth" for paint to stick to.
>
>I fixed that entire cleaning problem by going with black walled tires
>years ago. ;-)

Yup, me too. I quit running white walls as soon as I wore all the
tread off the ones that came on my bike when I bought it.

My frame, however is *really* clean today. I spent a couple of hours
last night with the sand blaster. Hey, Donna, that might work on your
windshield<g>.
--
Old Crow
'82 FLTC(P)
'95 Wrangler YJ
BS#132, TOMKAT, SENS, SLOB#13
** Posted from * w w w .teranews . com **

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

On Tue, 13 May 2008 06:09:03 -0500, "Donna A."
<flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote:

>Okay, all this talk about washing bikes--well, *some* talk about washing
>bikes--has got me thinking I should really take a coat or three of grime
>off mine.

DON'T DO IT! I swear... the news was all about the great week we were
going to have this week so I washed and waxed the cop bike on Sunday.

The water is beading up on it real nice and thank God I carry the rain
gear at all times.
--
Curly AH#117 BS#107
04 FLHTPI Cop Bike
"The party never ends"

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

LaJolla wrote:
> On Tue, 13 May 2008 06:09:03 -0500, "Donna A."
> <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote:
>
>> Okay, all this talk about washing bikes--well, *some* talk about washing
>> bikes--has got me thinking I should really take a coat or three of grime
>> off mine.
>
> DON'T DO IT! I swear... the news was all about the great week we were
> going to have this week so I washed and waxed the cop bike on Sunday.
>
> The water is beading up on it real nice and thank God I carry the rain
> gear at all times.

LOL It's rained so much here that maybe if I *do* wash it, it will stop
raining!

--
Donna A.
Wench #17/Bitch #17/BS #26/AH#107/SLOB #9
'95 FLHTCUI Fuel Injected 30th Anniversary Electraglide "Fueley"
'66 H-D Bobcat "Baby Blue"--Harley Hummer Club Member #1066
* spoiled-brat . com

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

Donna A. wrote:
> LaJolla wrote:
>> On Tue, 13 May 2008 06:09:03 -0500, "Donna A."
>> <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote:
>>
>>> Okay, all this talk about washing bikes--well, *some* talk about
>>> washing bikes--has got me thinking I should really take a coat or
>>> three of grime off mine.
>>
>> DON'T DO IT! I swear... the news was all about the great week we were
>> going to have this week so I washed and waxed the cop bike on Sunday.
>> The water is beading up on it real nice and thank God I carry the rain
>> gear at all times.
>
> LOL It's rained so much here that maybe if I *do* wash it, it will stop
> raining!
>
I think I inadvertently stumbled onto the cure for that. Last week the
extended forecast showed a bunch of rain for the next few days, so I
figured it would be a good time to throw down some grass seed to fill
in some bare spots before the weeds take over. Haven't seen anything
but clear blue skies since.

--
Steve Liggett BS#117 SENS DOF#35
'46 Indian Chief
'66 CL160
'99 XL1200S
'00 FLTRI

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

"Donna A." <flhtcui1995@SPAM.hotmail . com > wrote in message
news:482976e8@127.0.0.1...
> Okay, all this talk about washing bikes--well, *some* talk about washing
> bikes--has got me thinking I should really take a coat or three of grime
> off mine. Especially since she looks like a real pig sitting next to the
> new Ultra CrowDog got on Saturday...
>
> I need suggestions for HEAVY DUTY cleaners that will take off YEARS of
> dirt, bugs, oil, and whatever else has come up off the highways and
> byways of this great land and onto my bike. Wow, that was kind of
> poetic, wasn't it? Lemme buy a round whilst I wipe a tear from my eye.
>
> Waddya say? What's a good cleaner or two? Also, what do you all use for
> cruddy chrome maybe with a bit of rust here and there?
>
> TIA!

I tenth or eleventh the motion to begin with Simple Green concentrate (it's
cheaper to get the gallon jugs and refill a spritz bottle yourself as
needed). Let bike cool to touchability if hot from riding. If you have
leather on the bike, take it off if feasible to clean separately with saddle
soap according to directions on saddle soap container. (Simple Green says
it's not supposed to be used on leather. However if leather in otherwise
good condition, having been surface washed with Simple Green and rinsed and
dried, is then treated with a penetrating leather dressing such as Harness
Honey [Google it], it will probably be OK.)

Work outdoors in good light but not in direct sun. Have a water hose ready
with the softest water you have. Rinse the bike at all angles (including
under fenders) with the hose taking care to keep direct water pressure away
from bearings (wheel, steering) and any electronics having holes in it.
Then spritz bike generously all about with the Simple Green till the whole
bike is dripping with Simple Green. (Roll bike to help get at inaccessible
parts of wheels.) Wait a couple minutes but don't let Simple Green dry.
Use a water hose jet spray to blast dirt off bike, again taking care to keep
direct water pressure away from vulnerable areas mentioned.

After doing that once or twice, now you can begin to work on stubborn spots.
Simple Green, straight, on a washing rag, bristle brush, and toothbrush as
appropriate, followed up with water flush. Use Pine Sol or kerosene (NOT
gasoline) sparingly for particularly greasy problems like tar if Simple
Green is not enough. Take care to keep washing tools rinsed free from grit
and anything else that could scratch. If rust is coming from beneath paint
or plating then the rusty item will need replacement or refinishing and any
cleaning treatment will be superficial. But most surface rust including
rust that has dripped from something else can be removed with a paste of non
abrasive Super Rust Out powder (sold in hardware and home improvement stores
with the water softener supplies). Rinse well.

Wipe wet chrome, glass, vinyl, leather, plastic, and paint dry with a grit
free terry cloth towel before those surfaces can show water spots.

If you're dealing with bare aluminum and you can't stand it looking its
natural grey color, then get an aluminum polish from a hardware store and
apply according to directions (you'll probably need the toothbrush). This
removes surface oxides and makes the aluminum shine with a near mirror
finish. This can be a pain on bare aluminum cast wheels and I usually don't
bother once the wheels are clean.

Redneck

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

HiTech RedNeck wrote:

I tenth or eleventh the motion to begin with Simple Green concentrate
(it's
> cheaper to get the gallon jugs and refill a spritz bottle yourself as

<snipsabunch>

Thank you! I'm debating on starting on it this weekend but it isn't
supposed to be super warm. I may buy the supplies that folks have
recommended, tho.

--
Donna A.
Wench #17/Bitch #17/BS #26/AH#107/SLOB #9
'95 FLHTCUI Fuel Injected 30th Anniversary Electraglide "Fueley"
'66 H-D Bobcat "Baby Blue"--Harley Hummer Club Member #1066
* spoiled-brat . com

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

On Fri, 16 May 2008, Donna A. wrote:

> HiTech RedNeck wrote:
>
> I tenth or eleventh the motion to begin with Simple Green concentrate (it's
>> cheaper to get the gallon jugs and refill a spritz bottle yourself as
>
> <snipsabunch>
>
> Thank you! I'm debating on starting on it this weekend but it isn't supposed
> to be super warm. I may buy the supplies that folks have recommended, tho.
>
> --
> Donna A.
>

Hi Donna. Long time no see. Just what does "washing a bike" mean anyway???
Shouldn't you be riding it instead??.............*8-}

Drinks on my tab folks. Nice to see not much has changed here.

--
the Grokdoc
Tom Malmevik
EK III,Thumper,Kelly
and Joe Mama Ride w/me
all that groks is god
BS# 139 DOF# 69
IBA # 23337....ISRA # 3736
03 Silverado "shewolf"

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

Thomas Malmevik wrote:
> On Fri, 16 May 2008, Donna A. wrote:
>
>> HiTech RedNeck wrote:
>>
>> I tenth or eleventh the motion to begin with Simple Green concentrate
>> (it's
>>> cheaper to get the gallon jugs and refill a spritz bottle yourself as
>>
>> <snipsabunch>
>>
>> Thank you! I'm debating on starting on it this weekend but it isn't
>> supposed to be super warm. I may buy the supplies that folks have
>> recommended, tho.
>>
>> --
>> Donna A.
>>
>
> Hi Donna. Long time no see. Just what does "washing a bike" mean anyway???
> Shouldn't you be riding it instead??.............*8-}

I figured after 3 years, I could invest 15-20 minutes in cleaning it. 8-)

> Drinks on my tab folks. Nice to see not much has changed here.

How are you? It's been a while!

--
Donna A.
Wench #17/Bitch #17/BS #26/AH#107/SLOB #9
'95 FLHTCUI Fuel Injected 30th Anniversary Electraglide "Fueley"
'66 H-D Bobcat "Baby Blue"--Harley Hummer Club Member #1066
* spoiled-brat . com

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

On Mon, 19 May 2008, Donna A. wrote:
>
> I figured after 3 years, I could invest 15-20 minutes in cleaning it. 8-)
>
>> Drinks on my tab folks. Nice to see not much has changed here.
>
> How are you? It's been a while!
>
> --
> Donna A.

Doing OK. Working and riding as much as I can. Got over 98k on the
shewolf right now. Figure I'll break it real soion. Have a couple of big
rides coming up this summer. Weather is finally turning nice and I am
getting much drier rides in now......*8-}

Hope things are as good as they can be for you and yours.

Peace Be my friend


--
the Grokdoc
Tom Malmevik
EK III,Thumper,Kelly
and Joe Mama Ride w/me
all that groks is god
BS# 139 DOF# 69
IBA # 23337....ISRA # 3736
03 Silverado "shewolf"
Knights Paladin MC

Re: Washing a filthy dirrrty bike

Donna A. wrote:
> HiTech RedNeck wrote:
>
> I tenth or eleventh the motion to begin with Simple Green concentrate
> (it's
>> cheaper to get the gallon jugs and refill a spritz bottle yourself as
>
> <snipsabunch>
>
> Thank you! I'm debating on starting on it this weekend but it isn't
> supposed to be super warm. I may buy the supplies that folks have
> recommended, tho.
>

Oh sure, yeah right, go shopping instead. ;-)

--
BS205© DOF#FiftyTo G&W CVNS-FD#1-7®