Bike cleaning

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 28th, 2007, 12:42 pm

I know this has probably been asked already but, what brand or type of cleaner does everyone use to wash their bikes with? I have a power washer too. I need something to not only clean dirt and mud, but the oily residue around the head/pipe junction.

Thanks
Kent

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 28th, 2007, 12:44 pm

I used simple green when I do wash 'em

The spooge is really hard to get off, Ive heard of people using oven cleaner but that scares me on alloy.

Post by **AlisoBob** » November 28th, 2007, 12:50 pm

Anything Alkaline based will stain the alunimum.

Simple Green will take any muck off safely.

I used some of that " Spray on Wheel Cleaner" stuff too.... made for aluminum... no issues.

pstoffers · Post by **pstoffers** » November 28th, 2007, 12:51 pm

X2 on the simple green

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 28th, 2007, 1:14 pm

I use simple green for the whole thing, but then a little castrol superclean on the spooge and such. its a little tough on the AL, but if you wash it off quick, you wont have any probs. I wouldn't spray then crack open a beer and take out the garbage, then rinse. the stuff is really tough on oil, so it should loosen it up pretty quick.

Xylicon · Post by **Xylicon** » November 28th, 2007, 1:54 pm

Regular Dawn dish soap, and I use Comet to brighten up the white plastics.

Edit: Am I the only one that doesn't get spooge?

Post by **AlisoBob** » November 28th, 2007, 2:29 pm

Soft Scrub w/ Bleach rocks on the white plastic.

Ported&Polished · Post by **Ported&Polished** » November 28th, 2007, 4:53 pm

I suggest if you get spooge, fix the leak! I used some high temp silly cone on several spooging spots and the spooge has been eliminated. As for using a pressure washer, I say be carefull, the water will get into spots you don't want it to, like bearings and seals. And I like Gunk for tough stuff, it's the old standard.

Post by **MojoScojo** » November 28th, 2007, 6:09 pm

Wash?!?
Say what now?

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 28th, 2007, 6:44 pm

I agree about the pressure washer, mine has a setting that fan sprays with less pressure than my hose sprayer that I use to just wet the bike and to wash off the soap.

As for the spooge, I have never had a 2-stroke that did not leak a little at the pipe cylinder junction.

Thanks for all the information, now I just have to get out there and clean up the beast.

Kent

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 7:31 am

you need to take care of the spooge problem, its a combination of running too rich and not having the pipe sealed. If you get the pipe sealed (I use permatex ultra copper RTV) it will be easier to tune, since the leak that is letting spooge out is also letting air in, which is probably why its running fine even though its too rich.

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » November 29th, 2007, 8:52 am

AlisoBob wrote:Soft Scrub w/ Bleach rocks on the white plastic.

portedandpolished wrote:And I like Gunk for tough stuff, it's the old standard.

I use the same stuff. Theres also Oil Eater from Costco - It says its enviro-friendly so I didnt think it'd work, but it actually works quite well. Even removed old oil from my concrete! Super Clean is good stuff too, but it will dull your plastic and aluminum. And you know that impossible to clean off spooge on your plastic? Use Plexus after washing. Cleans it off and makes your plastic real shiny and smooth.

And Danny - you never clean your bikes! LOL!

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 9:07 am

well, I don't want to over wash a "dirt bike" and get a bunch of water in the bearings. BTW, you still haven't pulled the swigarm bolt on your 250, have you?

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 9:10 am

dude, is that the same costco stuff my mom bought like 5 years ago to clean up my oil spills??? LMAO!!!

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » November 29th, 2007, 9:17 am

Yeah, I ran out of that stuff and found it again - so I bought it. It really works quite well!

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 9:23 am

yeah, I thought I saw it on the shelf last time I was there.

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 29th, 2007, 1:55 pm

Not to change my own topic but if I do seal up the spooge leak then does the spooge just fill up my pipe or will it blast on through with the exhaust?

Kent

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 2:06 pm

the whole idea is to stop it from spooging at all. it spooges from being too rich. if you seal the pipe, and lean out the jetting (most likely needle or pilot) it will run a lot better and not make a mess.

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 29th, 2007, 8:30 pm

Even if my bike is bone stock just like it came from the dealership it is jetted to rich?

Kent

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 29th, 2007, 8:52 pm

yup, they jet them rich from the factory. better to see some spooge, than have people making waranty claims on improperly tuned bikes.
the stock needle majorly sucks, too rich down low and too lean up top. A lot of us run Bob's DGN or R1472N needle and love it.
anything carburated does require constant adjustment with elevation changes, temperature changes, riding environment/style changes and different oil ratios to run properly. trust me, if you got it dialed in, you would have a very noticeable difference in performance, running rich slows you down.

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 30th, 2007, 6:30 am

Thanks for the info, I may have to look into a jetting change in the future. She runs great now I cannot imagine more power!

Kent

Ported&Polished · Post by **Ported&Polished** » November 30th, 2007, 8:19 am

Well post up your elevation and temperature range you ride in. Then we can get you in the ballpark main jet wise. Post what ratio you mix at, and any mods you have also.

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 30th, 2007, 9:13 am

my first suggestion is always DGN needle, junk that stock 1368, what a terrible idea on hondas part. I couldn't even get my cousin's (hoofarted) bike to run right on it, so we just ordered the DGN and it runs tits.
I'm not talking about the main jet at all anyway, no one is WFO on a 500 long enough to cause a spooge problem from the main, its all in the needle. With a better needle, you would get better throttle responce and better 1/4-3/4 throttle power, which is where it counts if you ask me.

Post by **AlisoBob** » November 30th, 2007, 12:02 pm

Way better mileage too....

kw4570gov · Post by **kw4570gov** » November 30th, 2007, 2:08 pm

Don,t know what alt. I am at, I am in north Louisiana so I cannot be to high. Ride mostly in the summer with temps between low 80's and high 90's. My bike starts and runs great, I just noticed a little spooge after a short ride.

Thanks
Kent

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Bike cleaning

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