ACF50 removal

[kwallace21]

Just picked up a very nice 2011 GSA today.
While riding it home I stopped off and saw a pool of oil in the sump tray.
I immediately thought that the sump plug or oil filter was leaking.
Both these are fine so it looks like the ACF 50 that the previous owner applied while being stored for the winter was running off the engine etc when it warmed up.
Shat myself at first then realised it didn't smell like engine oil and wasn't as oily either. The chap put a whole can on over the winter which was good as the bike is mint but what's the best way to remove it. Was thinking Muck Off and a good wash.
At
Kev.

 

[Wizard]

Lidl W5 drgreaser. Comes in an orange squirty bottle and costs £1.09.Spray on, hose off.
Or if you want to go posh, Autoglym Engine & Machine Degreaser. Works a bit better than the Lidl stuff, but costs a small fortune

 

[jonnie comet]

Paraffin....Really......

 

[Giles]

Paraffin....Really......

I always used to clean my chains with paraffin. Never found anything better ..

 

[Merv]

Rode mine all winter and had applied 2 cans over a 6 month period.Had previously used castrol Greentec but no use this time as there was so much grime,Toothbrush and petrol to remove it ,then a greentec wash,Gsa wheels are unreal to clean properly.Good thing is no more corrosion than it had last year

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I always use SDOC100. Spray it on leave for 15 and hose it off and everything including my spoked wheels are returned to what they were.

 

[Popell]

SDoc100 will shift it - if it's really caked on, perhaps a double dose

 

[Blobby]

Why take the ACF50 off? It's doing a good job protecting your bike and the excess will burn/blow off the bike if you go for a good run. So long as it's not coating your tyres and brakes, I'd suggest leaving it on to do the job it's designed for. Just wipe off any excess with a cloth. I have ACF50 on my bike all year round.

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Avoid "Muc-OFF" it will mark your bike permanently, SDOC100 seems to get good reports

 

[Dainese Brave]

Avoid "Muc-OFF" it will mark your bike permanently, SDOC100 seems to get good reports

Especially the black rims of a GSA

 

[darkhorse]

Castrol Greentec gets my vote

 

[Nutty]

Another vote for SDOC100, but use the power gel. My Megamoto was covered in ACF when I got it so the first thing I did was remove it all

 

[Bendy toy]

A micro film of ACF-50 is best left on 24/365 but if its been glooped on, try something like Gunk or Jizer. They are paraffin based but water soluble so will jet wash away.

For wheel cleaning I found Cillit Bang is just about unbeatable, but it must be really well washed off to avoid permanent damage. Aldi are (were) selling an alloy wheel cleaner complete with brush etc for about 2p. Worth a punt and did a good job cleaning my bike.

 

[Giles]

A micro film of ACF-50 is best left on 24/365 but if its been glooped on, try something like Gunk or Jizer. .

Whoa whoa whoa .....

Telling the OP to park his bike outside the front of his house and then spray it with Jizer before cleaning it is going to get him in a whole heap of trouble ...

 

[cookie]

if ACF50 has been left on a long time, i find it can be quite resistant to degreasers. WD40 is quite effective at softening it up and removing it. then use degreaser to remove the WD40.

 

[Merv]

Why take the ACF50 off? It's doing a good job protecting your bike and the excess will burn/blow off the bike if you go for a good run. So long as it's not coating your tyres and brakes, I'd suggest leaving it on to do the job it's designed for. Just wipe off any excess with a cloth. I have ACF50 on my bike all year round.

I agree that the acf is best left on but i like to see my bike clean at least once a year.After the big clean i apply it again,Its just after riding the bike all winter it looks grubby to say the least

 

[ianf]

Same thing, while it's possibly beneficial to have it on all year in selected places (or on a faired bike where you cant see the shite building up), it's best to clean it all off at least once a year and re-apply in the autumn. Was going to do this yesterday on my GSA, as Saturday seems to have cleaned up all the salt around here. but CBA prevailed. Next weekend. Autoglym Motorcycle Cleaner for most of it, and probably going to use a 50% AG shampoo:water mix on the black painted bits to avoid the paint dulling.

 

[cookie]

i used to wash it off once a year, but now i just check it here and there, reapplying as necessary.

 

[ralphy]

I hadn't realised some people actually want to remove ACF50 from their bikes...

I've left it on all mine for years, just a good clean down (not off) once a year and then a spray applied on top.

What's the benefit of completely removing it then?

R

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

What's the benefit of completely removing it then?

R

Shiny bikes, Ralphy