Re: The Blog of Blues
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:31 pm
I went to a group bike wash, social event and ride. When I washed my motorcycle I discovered that the dirt on the rims was more than just dirt. It did not wash off. It looked like corrosion.
One of the participants suggested oven cleaner.
I am disappointed in the quality of the chrome on this motorcycle. My previous (which was my first) motorcycle did not have problems with the chrome. In fact, after 5 years and 50,000 km, it still looked showroom new.
I have had this bike for less than 2 years and only 7,000 km, yet it looks older and well used.
I decided to spend some quality time with my motorcycle to try to clean the chrome.
I have spent the last few evenings working at cleaning my bike. The reason is that the oven cleaner needs to sit for two hours before washing off. I used the oven cleaner that is intended to be used cold.
I did a test spot on a rim first to make sure it would not damage the rim and that it would actually remove whatever that grime is.
It did the job, last night I worked on the front rim and the pipes. This evening I worked on the rear rim. I still have much to do on the rims, because I have other things to do…so my time is limited…
I did make some good progress though as you can see in the pictures.
Here is snapshot of a part of a rim before cleaning. You can see the dirt…it would not wash off with regular auto wash and hot water.
Here is the rim with the foam on it….it had to sit for two hours…..some parts had to be done twice….
And here is the after picture….the difference is remarkable….
The spoked wheels are a challenge to clean. Once I get the stubborn dirt of the rims, I will tackle the spokes.
There had also been some burned on back debris on the pipes. It would not come with washing or with chrome cleaner….so I used the oven cleaner. I had to do the pipes twice over two nights. The first time took off some of the back…but some of it was too stubborn…so I sprayed the oven cleaner again and it came of nicely the next time.
Well…with the help of elbow grease…
One of the participants suggested oven cleaner.
I am disappointed in the quality of the chrome on this motorcycle. My previous (which was my first) motorcycle did not have problems with the chrome. In fact, after 5 years and 50,000 km, it still looked showroom new.
I have had this bike for less than 2 years and only 7,000 km, yet it looks older and well used.
I decided to spend some quality time with my motorcycle to try to clean the chrome.
I have spent the last few evenings working at cleaning my bike. The reason is that the oven cleaner needs to sit for two hours before washing off. I used the oven cleaner that is intended to be used cold.
I did a test spot on a rim first to make sure it would not damage the rim and that it would actually remove whatever that grime is.
It did the job, last night I worked on the front rim and the pipes. This evening I worked on the rear rim. I still have much to do on the rims, because I have other things to do…so my time is limited…
I did make some good progress though as you can see in the pictures.
Here is snapshot of a part of a rim before cleaning. You can see the dirt…it would not wash off with regular auto wash and hot water.
Here is the rim with the foam on it….it had to sit for two hours…..some parts had to be done twice….
And here is the after picture….the difference is remarkable….
The spoked wheels are a challenge to clean. Once I get the stubborn dirt of the rims, I will tackle the spokes.
There had also been some burned on back debris on the pipes. It would not come with washing or with chrome cleaner….so I used the oven cleaner. I had to do the pipes twice over two nights. The first time took off some of the back…but some of it was too stubborn…so I sprayed the oven cleaner again and it came of nicely the next time.
Well…with the help of elbow grease…
