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Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 9:26 pm
by iceman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_azsG_ReGQ
I know he dried it off afterwards, but I thought your not supposed to power wash the brake area?

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:19 am
by you you
iceman wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_azsG_ReGQ
I know he dried it off afterwards, but I thought your not supposed to power wash the brake area?

Looked fine. Used a bit of common sense and didn't fill the drum and kept away from the bearings.

Does anyone really need a video on how to wash a scooter?

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:27 am
by iceman
Came across this as the 'next' video following the 'Unfortunately I got a crash too. It s my PCX :cry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpeY-xeVs_4' thread posted a bit earlier.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 8:01 am
by Bash On!
I don't think power washing is good for the bike period. Maybe for a barn find bike that will be rebuilt anyway. I use a light spray when washing my bikes.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 10:42 am
by you you
Bash On! wrote:I don't think power washing is good for the bike period. Maybe for a barn find bike that will be rebuilt anyway. I use a light spray when washing my bikes.
Never had a problem when used sensibly

If your not sensible then avoid

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:19 pm
by Bash On!
I'm definitely not sensible, and even if I were it's too easy to misdirect that high-pressure spray.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 3:39 pm
by GeeGusKahn
I'm going to go with do NOT use a pressure washer near any bearings.
.
Spraying the soap on should be OK as it is low pressure.
.
Use a regular garden hose to rinse it off - again, low pressure.
.
The problem with any high pressure wash is that it can force water past the seals and into the bearing.
.
The bearings will not fail for awhile depending on how much you ride but there is high probability they will fail prematurely.

When I worked on industrial equipment, we got memo from manufacturer

- DO NOT USE PRESSURE SPRAY TO CLEAN - EATING UP THE BEARINGS.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 4:40 pm
by you you
Oh shit. It's another synthetic oil argument.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 pm
by you you
Can you power wash a doorknob?

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 4:53 pm
by maddiedog
you you wrote:Can you power wash a doorknob?
I really want to reply with a "your mom joke" but I won't. ;)

So I'll just say "yes" and get on with my day.






...Back on topic, keep your pressure washer away from my PCX. I killed the front bearings on my KTM from pressure washing. Or it could have been all the offroading. Maybe both.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:58 pm
by WhiteNoise
:? Tempting. But...I ain't gonna doit! Nope. Not.
2 power washers in da haus. I will look the other way.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 6:15 am
by fun2scoot
GeeGusKahn's advice is sound:
Power washing mechanical parts - which are exposed on bikes - should not be necessary. We would not leave the machine exposed in a hurricane as it would lead to water intrusion of moving parts and power washers produce several times that much water pressure. Automotive sealed bearings are not one hundred percent sealed and can be damaged by injection. Power washing can also drive what we call 'road grime' (minerals, acids, salts, organic matter, etc.) into small spaces like lever pivots, cable ends, hinges, and so on, where calculus and corrosion can form, and can not be cleaned without disassembly. Ever replace an old, binding brake lever pivot?
Also, it can be harmful washing the bike in direct sunlight. As the water evaporates, acids and salts on the surface become concentrated and over time lead to damage - especially as they accumulate in tiny crevices.
Do not use dishwashing soap as it is extremely alkaline.
And, this may sound extreme, but for those who wash their bikes (I never have - well, once, following a week on coal roads) blow drying is by far the best way to dry the bike. Blow dryers are not cheap - couple hundred bucks - but a club could make a worthwhile investment in one.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:20 am
by Bash On!
I wash my bike by gently shaking the accumulated dew from the leaves of a sandalwood tree. Drying the bike by carefully dabbing loosely gathered swabs of raw silk webs, allowing the capillary action of the threads to remove the moisture. All organic, of course.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:28 am
by you you
Bash On! wrote:I wash my bike by gently shaking the accumulated dew from the leaves of a sandalwood tree. Followed by drying with swabs coated with raw silk webs. All organic, of course.

Clearly over the top

Mine gets nothing more than a rub down using a small Labrador puppy

Stubborn marks come out with a brisk scrub with a border terrier

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:35 am
by Bash On!
Would that be an African border terrier or a European border terrier?

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:40 am
by fun2scoot
LOL!!!
:lol:

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:53 pm
by WhiteNoise
Oh...My God! I know that secret! We're not alone ;)
It's a two-fer using me pup! A win-win!
Both get spic 'n' span. Simple as that!

By the way & being serious, asking fun2scoot What dryer might that be that's so costly? All along I've been thinking of using a hair dryer on warm setting but more likely, a small handheld electric landscape blower. I have both, but never used either for drying my bikes. Worth a try.
I'll Leave the pup to play...

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 2:04 pm
by fun2scoot
Well, I must say I have no experience with any, but, had done a little investigation for if I ever did get one.
And it seemed to me, a good one would have a filter like this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metro-Air-Force ... b9&vxp=mtr
Of course there are others. I just searched "motorcycle" and "blower". I'd be a little worried about the ol' leaf blower throwing out everything at the bike.

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:19 pm
by you you
Bash On! wrote:Would that be an African border terrier or a European border terrier?

What is the difference in wingspan?

Re: Power cleaning! Is this a good for the brakes?

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 4:24 pm
by you you
At least we don't have spoked wheels now.

Cleaning those with a small kitten was awkward. Small but you still needed gardening gloves..