ACF50 difficult to apply??

[holla]

Hi all, I've noticed on here that a lot of owners swear by ACF50 applied to thier pride and joy. Although my GSA wont get used much when the roads get salty i was wondering how difficult it is to apply and to where as it seems like dealers are charging £35 ish to apply it for you.

I'm all for a job being done properly but i'm also all for saving unnecessary expense if it doesnt warrant it.

Your thoughts please

 

[chipsonfriday]

I just deep clean the GS. While I am cleaning the bike my tin of AC5F0 is sitting in a bucket of hot water (apparently it increases the pressure inside the tin and produces a finer spay).

Cover the discs and tyres to prevent overspray, then spray the ACF50 over the engine and under the tank etc. You really don't need too much of the stuff - it goes a long way.

Use a cloth to wipe off any excess, you can then use the cloth to wipe any areas you didn't spray.

Job done - brings the bike up to showroom sparkle.

 

[Jonnie Boy]

For any 'tricky' areas (in and around the brakes) squirt some on a cloth and rub it on.

As stated above a little goes along way, ACF tends to 'creep' which is good for getting in nooks and crannies, but apply lightly near places you dont want it to go.

There is nothing magic about ACF50 application, the dealers are just cashing in on lazyness!

Get some in and get squirting!!........... Ooeer missus

 

[Rasher]

The pro jobbies get in in places you just can't reach yourself very easily:

I am sure it must be covered elsewhere here, this is my old bike, but the GS will be getting the same treatment soon, not sure what BMW dealers do for £35, this service was about £50 or £60 if I remember rightly, I think you can also get a home visit and discount for more than 1 bike.

I went to Nigel at Newbury, there are a few dotted around the country now, hopefully all up to this standard.

Basically the service cleans your bike (very well) and then coats it will a fine layer of ACF50, this uses the same stuff and method the US Navy use to stop Fighter Jets on aircraft carriers rotting. Check out the website for full details of process and ACF50.

Starts of with a good clean using a variety of chemicals and foams, this is then followed up by a "blow dry" to get the bike completely dry in every nook and cranny.

After this the bike is covered over, the tyres / are wrapped in a sheet to stop them getting oiled up, then the ACF50 is applied as a mist from a high pressure gun.

The result was a very clean bike, bits you normally cannot get to should now be protected by a fine layer of ACF50, I reckon so as everywhere I look the bike gleams, the whole under-seat area looks like new, even the insides of fairing panels and all sorts of tucked away parts of chasis and suspension looked immaculate.

Lastly the whole bike gets a polish with some nifty stuff that works on all plastics, metals, the screen and exhaust - they are hoping to get a retail bundle for this stuff soon. Nigel also does the Puncturesafe treatments (Had that too) and is a re-seller for pro-bolt and offers 5% discount over standard web prices from factory.

I think their claims of protecting electrical connections is true as when I got back on the bike I notice the Autocom was far louder, I thought it used to be better when new, but assumed my rechargeable MP3 had lost power over time, not sure how the Autocom lost power, I guess some moisture / crap in a connector somewhere was the cause and the ACF did its job and pushed it out, I can now hear music clearly beyond a ton again.

Testament to this process is the Fazer in Nigel's garage, 10 years old, 80,000 miles in all weathers and still looking pretty good.

Wash (Bike had already been rinsed and had other "stuff" applied)

Then another Rinse

Blow Dry (This thing was LOUD - but got huge amounts of hidden water out of the bike)

Cover-up

ACF Treatment

I think this is where the Autocom got "fixed"

 

[Dean]

Hi all, I've noticed on here that a lot of owners swear by ACF50 applied to thier pride and joy. Although my GSA wont get used much when the roads get salty i was wondering how difficult it is to apply and to where as it seems like dealers are charging £35 ish to apply it for you.

I'm all for a job being done properly but i'm also all for saving unnecessary expense if it doesnt warrant it.

Your thoughts please

as above mentioned you can do it yourself, wash your bike let it Dry then apply a little on a cloth goes a long way and a detail brush for thoes hard to reach places. a big bottle could last you years

http://www.ruggedroads.co.uk/shop/category_46/Maintenance.html?shop_param=cid=&

 

[Chris Terry]

I see a pressure washer being used here. The problem with these things is that they force water into all places. If you blast these things at wheel bearings and oil seals they can force water past. As seals are generally designed to keep substances in, the "forced in" water cannot escape.
Anyone for a new FD?

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Tis true, proffesionally done will get you a clean bike ACF'd in all areas. Probably take a couple of three hours, where as DIYing it would take twice as long but.......

The advantage of Doin It Yourself is that whilst going about the bike you find and notice all sorts of things for yourself!..... potential seized screws, nuts missing, elecrical loom rubbing on frame........etc. Its your bike after all and you are the one who relies on it, best to know it well as you can.

In the event of something going tits up, at least you'll know where everything is, and what the problem is'nt, as you allready removed most of the potential probs tinkering and fettling and squirting ACF about

 

[Rasher]

I have used pressure washers for years, but take care with them, obviously avoid the area around the wheel bearings etc. and I avoid the radiator as it is easy to bend them little fins, so wash them with gently running hose.

A good 90% of the bike can be pressure washed, I have not had many bearings fail, blaming FD failures on washing is ridiculous as I have replaced one wheel bearing in the last 20 years, yet pressure washed every bike I have owned in that time.

I watched Nigel clean my bike and was happy he was not being a twat with the washer. Also if you have ridden in the rain you should notice the water also gets everywhere, riding in the rain will strip a chain of all lube in a few miles, whereas when I have pressure washed my bike most of the chain lube remains.

Perhaps riding in the rain is what knackers the FD's?

Personal preference at the end of the day, I suppose you could ask AYB not to use the pressure washer, or even ask if you can bring the bike down pre-cleaned and just pay for the ACF treatment.