Advice on cleaning neglected R80GS

[Duckface]

Hi,i'm new to the forum,i have joined to ask for advice on bringing back the finish on the aluminium parts (engine/wheels etc),of an R80GS.
This is probably a mundane question/post,but the bike isn't mine,it's being lent to me for a while,with permission to use/ride it.my part of the bargain is i'll clean it(it needs it).
So i'm asking for suggestions/advice on materials & methods to get rid of the crud & bring back some of the finish.
The bike is good mechanically & rides well & it arrives Today
Cheers,Graham.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Welcome to the forum Duckface and enjoy the experience of this lot and, more importantly, playing with the Airhead

For me - Good wash off with quality de-greaser (Gerricke do a very nice product), solvol-autosol on the wheels and, if you can be bothered, same on the engine block with small electric toothbrush. Mer on the paintwork.

Time too

There will be plenty of better advice along very shortly


Oh and ... Get some pics uploaded

 

[Tango]

I've used this for starters, it's acidic so follow instructions, then elbow grease as above.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/aluminium-cleaner-1-litre/

 

[JJH]

Show us some before and after shots. You never know there might be a few tossers who want their bikes minded for a while. JJH

 

[its all poo]

Soda blaster

I have had very good results using a soda blaster as you can clean virtualy everything without damaging plastics ect. I have used one of those parafin applicators with soda in. Just keep shaking it. You can get a tub of blasting soda from Machine mart. Its more than other places but its convenient.

 

[fayeslane]

I have been doing this job on my 80g/sPD today. Been using a truck wash detergent with some of these Norton Bear Tex Scotch Brite Abrasive Pads on the engine/gearbox.
Put it away tonight after coating the tough gunk with a combo of diesel and kerosene to soften it. On to it tomorrow with more truck wash and elbow grease and then maybe some aluminium cleaner. Bought a battery operated brush similar to an electric toothbrush but heaps bigger with 3 or 4 different heads from Aldi, saves a bit of time.

 

[Simmo]

I have had very good results using a soda blaster as you can clean virtualy everything without damaging plastics ect. I have used one of those parafin applicators with soda in. Just keep shaking it. You can get a tub of blasting soda from Machine mart. Its more than other places but its convenient.

Could you tell me what size media you used please

 

[costellon]

Careful with the acidic cleaners - you can end up with permanently stained alloy (white stains).

ENGINE:
Personally, I have always softened with degreaser and a stiff brush, powerhosed (cold engine) - being very careful around electronics (bag and tape) and tacho drive on gearbox (if rubber is bad) - and the slits in the hes/ points cover (big front cover behind front wheel). After i'm happy that I've got most of the crap off (2 or 3 washes) I move on to scotch pads (red at first, then down to grey/ green) with solvol autosol metal polish - with a few nice bottles of beer to quench the thirst.
On this super strict budget re-rebuild, I masked and painted the cylinder fins (heatproof silver) as they were manky beyond mank (I tried everything bar soda blasting - toothbrushes, miniature brass wire brushes, stiff bristled brushes - and in the end decide to paint them) - and they still look good two years later. I sanded the header pipes as they were very rusty and just give them a rub of wire wool now and then - ordinarily just use solvol on a cloth if they are not terribly corroded.
On the Starter cover, air filter and rocker boxes/ tappet covers - I used "Painters touch" satin black aerosol (B&Q stock it) - it's literally "powder coating in a can" (Used to be called "plasti-kote). Yet again, they still look like new after 2 years. Preparation is everything.
One good day should do the job and cost no more than £60 at most.

WHEELS:
Degrease, powerhose until satisfied. Soft cloth and more solvol ... I tend to try to avoid using scotch pads on wheels - but if you really need to, use the fine grade and polish well afterwards with a soft cloth and more autosol.

Once you start into it and get the feel of it you'll fly through it. The main thing is to enjoy it ! Happy cleaning !

 

[Duckface]

Gentlemen,many thanks for all the suggestions,question for "its all poo",is the applicator in your thread driven by a compressor,i don't have one.
I'm leaning towards a very localised trial with Tangos suggestion & take it from there.
One of the advantages of being old & retired is i should have plenty of time,it just never seems to work out that way

 

[fayeslane]

Careful with the acidic cleaners - you can end up with permanently stained alloy (white stains).

This is very good advice.

 

[dr nosh]

I have been doing this job on my 80g/sPD today. Been using a truck wash detergent with some of these Norton Bear Tex Scotch Brite Abrasive Pads on the engine/gearbox.
Put it away tonight after coating the tough gunk with a combo of diesel and kerosene to soften it. On to it tomorrow with more truck wash and elbow grease and then maybe some aluminium cleaner. Bought a battery operated brush similar to an electric toothbrush but heaps bigger with 3 or 4 different heads from Aldi, saves a bit of time.

Wow. Aldi has got as far as Oz.

Have you got a as well?

 

[its all poo]

Yes it is, so good excuse to buy a compressor. Everyone needs a compressor !

 

[Duckface]

Yes it is, so good excuse to buy a compressor. Everyone needs a compressor !

What size compressor do you need for the Paraffin applicator to work?

 

[Delboy777]

I have a little 24ltr jobbie and that's what i use to coat my bike with ACF50 every year.

 

[Duckface]

What HP is required

 

[its all poo]

A small one means you will have to stop spraying to allow the pressure to build up again. A bigger one will allow you to spray longer. So a small one will work.but take longer. I would ask.around your friends someone is bound to have one. Or hire a big one ?

 

[its all poo]

Machine mart does a airmaster tiger 8/250 for 100 gbp.

 

[Duckface]

Well,Mr JJH,it looks like i did have a friend after all,so i called him & he's lending me his compressor & applicator.
Mr,"it's all poo",can you give me any more advice on using the blasting soda/compressor/applicator.
The bike arrived yesterday,it really is in a state,i can't believe anybody would let a bike(or anything else)become this negected,so time to get cleaning.

 

[its all poo]

Ok

Make sure everything is dry. Drain compressor of water. To do that empty air and then unscrew the drain on bottom of tank. Fill the applicator with soda and pull trigger. To adjust the amount comming out unscrew the nozzle on the end of the applicator. Its adjustable. However dont do it in your garage or by the garage with the door open. It will make an unbelivable mess in secounds. Soda is not toxic or harmfull as they use it in cooking. So its fine to wash down a drain ect. If you use alot you will get some sediment. If the soda stops blowing just shake the applicator. Its obviously not as good as a soda blaster but it does work. Im sure when you see the results you will be very happy.

 

[Duckface]

Make sure everything is dry. Drain compressor of water. To do that empty air and then unscrew the drain on bottom of tank. Fill the applicator with soda and pull trigger. To adjust the amount comming out unscrew the nozzle on the end of the applicator. Its adjustable. However dont do it in your garage or by the garage with the door open. It will make an unbelivable mess in secounds. Soda is not toxic or harmfull as they use it in cooking. So its fine to wash down a drain ect. If you use alot you will get some sediment. If the soda stops blowing just shake the applicator. Its obviously not as good as a soda blaster but it does work. Im sure when you see the results you will be very happy.

Hi,thanks.If you don't mind a couple more questions,do you do any masking off or prep of any of the engine parts,etc.,or any areas to be avoided?(wheel bearing cases),i'm sorry to keep asking what are probably dumb questions,but i have no experience of anything like this.