Jet washing the bike - good idea/bad idea??

GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

I am trying to determine the source of a small oil leak I've been having for the past week or so.

Trouble is the whole areas caked in crap and I don't have the hands of a 5 year old so manually cleaning it is going to be a big problem.

I figured if I went along to one of those hand car wash places and got one of the Kurds there to blast around the engine with a jet washer then that'll be job done.

However when I expressed this idea to a guy in a bike shop he said that would be a very bad idea and would "cause all sorts of things to go wrong", his reasoning being that the engine is still very hot and the water from the jet washer will be cold and so shit will go down....

What do you guys reckon? I don;t know anyone that owns a jet washer that I can borrow either...

GhostRider
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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

I don't think it would do any damage per se, for a one off. They just say it's not recommended as a regular thing, around the wheels and stuff due to washing the wheel bearings (to be avoided!!)

Hope this helps? Thumbs Up

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waffles · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Karma :

I jetwash my dirtbike after muddy rides, straight from the lanes into the wash bays and it hasn't cracked or damaged anything. The only thing you need to be careful of is all the electrical bits so be careful around the clocks and lights.

I do it myself rather than letting someone else do it, a guy I know was followed home from his local Albanian carwash and went he went to open his garage they shoved him inside and made off with his bike!
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Hyaon · Traffic Copper Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Karma :

Isn't sponge and bucket the best way to do it? I'd thought jetwash runs the risk of wearing down the weather proofing/layers on the bike?
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GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

Possibly but I lack Jeremy Beadles hands and so won't get much done at all on account of not being able to reach.....

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

fiveus · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Karma :

Best thing todo is spray with a deagreaser rub it in then hose off Very Happy

EDIT: but keep degreaser away from seals bearing etc

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

I'd do it. Just make sure you re-grease things afterwards and allow it plenty of time to dry before you go turning anything electrical on.

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

The Jet wash can cause probs, if it's too powerfull it can get where rain water can't, mainly electrics but it can also knock covers off sensors, vacuum hose caps, break plastic parts etc. For excessive crud, give it a good soak of degreaser, then grab as much off with a rag followed by a brush soaked in degreaser. Pllenty of rags is a good help, I'm always on the look out for old sheets etc.

I find these brushes are the best:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SET-4-WIRE-BRUSHES-STEEL-BRASS-BNIB-/180708891179?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2a1316da2b
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Gerrard · Spanner Monkey Joined: 15 Feb 2011 Karma :

Not a great luvver of the jet wash .. it can be a tad hard.
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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :

Not had to use a jetwash on my bikes, but wouldn't have any qualms using one. Bikes travel through waterspray at 3 figures for hours, so i'd use the lance in that direction and not get spray-happy near air intakes, electrics, clocks etc. I'd keep the engine running too.
Judge how powerful the pressure is and get that mofo clean. Thumbs Up

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pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

I can only speak from experiance, I jet washed a brand new DR 125 once and did damage to the front mudgard (stipped the paint) and water crept into places water is`nt supposed to go Crying or Very sad

........ it took weeks to put right Sad

It was partly my fault for being to vigorous with it and being to close, but I dont jet wash my bikes any more!
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Tenko · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 09 Jul 2011 Karma :

Do it from a distance after covering the bike with degreasant. Use a cold wash first to get rid of the chemicals, then a hot one followed by a wax one. Don't concentrate too much on any particular area and you should be fine....

Fizzer Thou · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

If you know the general area of the oil leak then just clean that area alone.You will not need to jet wash the whole bike just to find an eleusive leak on the engine.Once clean,apply talc to the approximate area while running the engine.As soon as the talc turns black or brown (depending how old the engine oil is) then you have the source of the leak.If the leak is from an engine cover,order up the relevant gasket in the meantime.

I have a pressure washer,but it has rarely been used to clean a bike except to clean crankcases covered in engine cleaner.For the dirtbikes I use a toothbrush (2 for 10p from Asda-made in china rubbish).
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kawakid · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

I've been jet washing my bikes for nearly 7 years.

Once I got a bit close and blew some tubing but that is all.

The trick is not to get too close. I'm probably at least 18" to 2' away.

If you get too close that is when it strips paint.

My pressure washer is a basic Karcher £80 type.
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Seb · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Karma :

I use a portable washer (Nomad 18v for the curious) with a built in battery and water tank, even on the narrowest stream I suspect it's not going to be powerful enough to cause any damage. I'll generally hose the hell out of the engine and frame with the washer then wipe down the painted bodywork, clocks and forks with the rags. 10x quicker than the bucket and sponge and a lot less wasteful on water to boot plus it's much more effective at getting crud off out of the fins and nooks all over the motor.
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volvodai · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 10 May 2011 Karma :

dont get to close to gaskets and or bearings and you should be ok

GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

Well I found a willing Albanian and made sure he didn't get up close and personal, seems to have done the trick without dire consequences.

I think the oil might be creeping from behind the filter (possible washer defect?), though to be sure I think I'm gonna have to remove the bellypan and have a clean up round there to.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Is the filter tight?
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GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

Yeah... possibly too tight.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.