A question for those who jet wash their bikes...

byke95 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Karma :

I'm aware some do not like this method, but I want to give my bike a good old clean under the fairing/in and around the engine in preparation for its full service. I figure the easiest way to get rid of the crud would be to take it to the jet wash.

So, for those that do jet wash: what are the do's and do not do's, bits to stay clear of, and the bits that like a good blast?

(and a bit of a newbie question: I want to give my rear shock a good blast: what's the best stuff to re-grease it with afterwards?)

Many thanks, Thumbs Up

Phil

XR125 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Karma :

Definately keep it away from the chain, if it's an O-Ring chain it could destroy the plastic O-Rings and take all the lubricant off.

Not sure where else really, just know not to do that lol. But really just try to keep use minimal and well controlled.

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Chain, Carbs, Wheel bearings, Brakes and switchgear will siffer if blasted with jet wash. Any prolonged spraying on connectors will also cause problems.

If the Nozzle is one you can adjust keep it off the pencil jet or thet may take your paintwork off. Best keeping it on the wide fan.

Always have jetwashed my bikes, started from Motocross bikes and kept on doing it as its quicker. As long as you are sensible you wont have any problems. Wink

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Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Are you removing the fairings?
Best if you can.

Clean the heavy shit off the engine using a de greaser muck off or one of the others. Let it soak in. Then just rinse off with the jetwash. DO NOT BLAST INTO THE ENGINE like a madman.
Only bits to stay well clear of is un protected electrics, Seat, right in at the wheel bearings, edges of rubber seals.
I haven't noticed any worries washing the chain gentley with the nozzle back off a bit. You can get the jet right up it's kilt into the sproket too.

Do not point straight (right angles) at the panels.

I use the jetwash at my local gas station every day during winter. As long as you don't go mental with it it's better than leaving salt on it to devour the bike overnight. Crying or Very sad

Lube the chain as normal and skoot the lever hinges with some FS365 or summat. I use the same Profi dry lube as I use on the chain there. Dry the beast off with your girlfriends bath robe before locking up or putting a cover over. Good covers will breath the moisture away or so they say.
Jet washing is heaven.
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Cillit-BANG · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Karma :

You will be better off keeping the jet wash away from the rear shock and doing this by hand.

You can't as such re-grease a rear shock, you can re grease the pivot points, but is quite an involved job. If you don't blast out the grease in the first place, then you won't need to re-grease them.

To be honest I've never had any better results with a jet wash than a normal hose. Plus it's far easier to remove the fairings when your at home in the yard.

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Its more fun with a jet wash though. Wink

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Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Jet-wash is a quick way to ruin a bike radiator by flattening all the fins, and washing the grease out of wheelbearings. A very soft spray is ok for rinsing off shampoo/degreaser, but you could do that with a hose-pipe fitting.
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Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

Think I'll be sticking with my Fuchs-Off and garden hose with HozeLok attachments.
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stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Id use one to help blast the dirt off a complete engine etc, but obviosly you need to do this after you have spent some time with a decent de-greaser and brushes, to get into every little bit of the casings, and remove as much dirt as possible.

Otherwise i would only ever use a Jetwash for an off road MX/Trials bike, as it's a quick way to get the worst of the crap off your bike, and these bikes have very little electrics to get wet too! Also regular maintainece on these types of bikes involves partly stripping them down anyway, so it's not like your going to jet wash it, and leave the bike sitting around with an airfilter full of water etc.

Id not want to jetwash a decent condition modern road bike too much tho! In some ways you are better off with a steam cleaner, if the bike is that filthy, but these can do alot of damage used incorrectly, and can make stickers peel off, and take paint off etc.

byke95 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Karma :

Thanks for all the info guys!

Yoshi · Traffic Copper Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Karma :

I leave my bike dirty, and use my time effectively.
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Z · Derestricted Danger Joined: 12 Nov 2006 Karma :

If you do jet wash, careful on the inside of the fairing.

Jet washed my ninja and thought it was a load of mud inside the fairing - turned out to be a foam backing I'd just torn a chunk out of trying to jet it off Sad

And as Geri says, be very careful around the radiator - it's very easy to bend the fins and a pig to straighten them again....

Z.
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