first gen engine cases clean ?

[6m459]

Hi,

 

What do folks use to keep the visible portions of the first gen engine cases clean and presentable looking?

 

I have cleaned mine on occasion but its a job I don't like much, so they get pretty dirty each time before I'll do it again. They are very grimey at the moment. Generally, I use soap and water and a tooth brush. I have used carb & brake parts spary cleaners but my conscience nags me about environmental issues.

 

Is there an easier & safer way?

 

Spray on, hose off & go for a ride is the kind of thing I had in mind. I don't think she'd like the pressuer washer though. What's the best way?

 

Thanks,

 

Brian H.

[Monty]

Look at Wallyworld and Dollar General for a product called "Awesome". It's cheap, non-toxic and works great. I have used it for years. Just spray it on, let it sit a few minutes, and hose it off.

 

 

Edit: I don't know if you have those stores in Canada...do you?

[painterman67]

I pull the plastic and spray bathroom scrubing bubbles. Let sit a few minutes and then rinse.Not sure if it will hurt the plastic. But its not hard to pull the chin cowlind and sides. I DONT TAKE OFF THE ENTIRE FAIRINF JUST THE LOWER HALF.

 

David

[Big Hack]

I use S100 it does a great job, just spray on let set for a couple mins and hose off, good for the whole bike.

[Snaggletooth]

Simple Green. Spray it on, let it sit for a bit and hose it off. I use a pump style garden sprayer. It don't hurt the plastic either.

[friesman]

Ive got a leak on my G1 85 and Ive used simple green to clean everything on the bike. I spray the pipes, paint , and just about everything that can get dirty or oily. It is sposed to be environmentally friendly. just spray it on and wait for a bit and hose it off.

 

brian

[Yammer Dan]

Look at Wallyworld and Dollar General for a product called "Awesome". It's cheap, non-toxic and works great. I have used it for years. Just spray it on, let it sit a few minutes, and hose it off.

 

 

Edit: I don't know if you have those stores in Canada...do you?

 

"Dollar Tree" has this for a buck a bottle. Works pretty good. If they have gone beyond this you are going to have to get out the "Elbow Grease"

[6m459]

I have tried Simple Green in the past but was disappointed.

 

You really spray, wait and hose ? How long do you wait?

 

 

 

I 've been to visit my locall Wally to look for some Awesome to try out. No luck.

 

I have wondered about EasyOff oven cleaner but then my conscience kicks in again.

 

I wound up using this stuff from a local farm equipment store.

 

It worked OK but I still had to use the toothbrush to shift the worst of it. It left a greasy mark on my driveway where the run off had been flowing under the bike so it must have been shifting it! Ironically when I got the bottle home and read the fine print, it said "don't use on glass or motorcycles". Odd combo so I pressed on and all seems good. I kept it off the plastic. Some of the clear coat on the engine covers seems a bit more yellow than I remember but WTF, she's no beauty queen.

 

Thanks for the tips, keep them coming.

 

Brian H.

Edited July 5, 2009 by 6m459
update info

[timgray]

I use engine-brite. you have to take off the plastic but it works GREAT. It says on the can that it's ok for the environment, although what is coming off the engine certainly is not.

Edited September 24, 2009 by timgray

[PBJ]

I wet sanded my case when I first go tthe bike to get the corrosion off then I use never Dull on them to keep them shiney.