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Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts..

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:00 am
by silentRVF
Hey guys,

Holidays have come so my wheels are off and are getting blasted and coated, so while the bike is in the garage I've decided to give it some TLC.

I have taken off the rear pillion pegs (+ brackets) and my rearsets and am wanting to clean them up. I'm also installing SP2 calipers + braided lines + new discs + titanium linkage rod + hopefully carbon chain guard or hugger (if Tyga gets their ass into order :P )

Questions:
1) What's the best way to clean pillion pegs and rearsets? Spraying degreaser on them didn't do a whole lot. I've heard leaving them in kerosene overnight may do the trick.. Opinions?
2) If I leave the rearsets in kero or degreaser overnight will it wreck the rubber parts?
3) My swingarm is stained with grease and some unusual white marks (on the inside and out). Degreaser has got rid of some of it but I think I need to use something stronger to get the crap off it. What's the best way to clean the swingarm while it's on the bike?
4) I have seen many videos about bleeding brakes and I've seen there are plenty of tools you can use.. I was thinking of just using a plastic container and some clear hose.. Unless I can get my hands on something that will simplify the job without costing me the earth.. Any ideas?
5) For brake bleeding, would this be a good approach to take, in terms of the order: a) bleed master cylinder b) bleed calipers c) bleed master cylinder again d) check calipers once more
6) Any ideas what stickers/decals to put on the bottom section of my forks? :grin:


Cheers guys!

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:56 am
by Cammo
jonno92 wrote:Questions:
1) What's the best way to clean pillion pegs and rearsets? Spraying degreaser on them didn't do a whole lot. I've heard leaving them in kerosene overnight may do the trick.. Opinions?
Kerosene would be a good start, use an old toothbrush to get into all the crevices.

2) If I leave the rearsets in kero or degreaser overnight will it wreck the rubber parts?
No

3) My swingarm is stained with grease and some unusual white marks (on the inside and out). Degreaser has got rid of some of it but I think I need to use something stronger to get the crap off it. What's the best way to clean the swingarm while it's on the bike?
Kero and a toothbrush again, it works wonders on the swingarm which has a slightly pitted surface.

4) I have seen many videos about bleeding brakes and I've seen there are plenty of tools you can use.. I was thinking of just using a plastic container and some clear hose.. Unless I can get my hands on something that will simplify the job without costing me the earth.. Any ideas?
I use a beer bottle and rubber hose

5) For brake bleeding, would this be a good approach to take, in terms of the order: a) bleed master cylinder b) bleed calipers c) bleed master cylinder again d) check calipers once more
Yes, sounds good, I certainly wouldn't do less than this

6) Any ideas what stickers/decals to put on the bottom section of my forks? :grin:
No farkin idea! ;)

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 7:20 am
by Malc
jonno92 wrote:Hey guys,
6) Any ideas what stickers/decals to put on the bottom section of my forks? :grin:
Erm, none! Unless you have some small trick suspension setup compnay ones, Maxtion for example, leave them clean. It's decidely Barry to have great big stickers on your fork lowers :grin:

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 8:53 am
by porndoguk
i put some free silkolene ones on to give them a little protection from stone chips, when they wear out ill swap them for some bridgestone ones i aquired at the bike show!

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 11:27 am
by The Novice
Try WD-40, it will normally wash anything stubborn away, esp grease and oil.

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:59 pm
by uber pikey
I tried the Kerosene idea but didn't give it that clean look I was after I then used a wire wheel in a bench grinder last weekend to clean the pegs up they are like new.

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:05 pm
by porndoguk
uber pikey wrote:I tried the Kerosene idea but didn't give it that clean look I was after I then used a wire wheel in a bench grinder last weekend to clean the pegs up they are like new.
:plus:

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:16 am
by tygapaul
apologies Jonno on the chain guard. :oops: Almost there. We have a new project bike featuring it and a load of other parts which I'll get up on the website in the next week. After that we will have the chain guard and some other goodies available for sale

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:57 pm
by silentRVF
Awesome Paul. There won't be a carbon hugger by any chance, will there?

The carbon chain guard/hugger is the last thing (besides my shock) that I need to sort before my bike is completely finished :)

EDIT: Soaking my pillion pegs and rearsets in washing powder and hot water and then scrubbing them got most of the crap off them. However, as suggested by uber pikey and ricky, I'll use a wire brush on a grinder in the next couple days to get them cleaned up properly!


Cheers
Jonno

Re: Giving my bike some TLC - Need help with cleaning parts.

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:31 pm
by karl BKK
Mr Muscle kitchen cleaner on the swing arm works a treat, but make sure you wash it of quickly if you get it on your wheel or O-Rings