....told not to jet wash bike by BMW!

Amstel_Stu

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Hi..popped into my local BMW Motorrad at the weekend on the 12GSA and enquired about aux lighting. (I live near Delft in the Netherlands)....anyway...since I brought the bike from the UK for a couple of months I'll be buggered if I can find a jet wash over here...as they are plentiful in the UK... :cool:

So...I asks the Dutchy guys in the motorrad place where the nearest jet wash is for the bike and they looked at each other and said we never wash any bikes with a jet wash and do not suggest you do it...they said it washes the oils and grease from the bike's seals etc...... bugger I thought.......Is this correct? Or are they just being Dutch...their way or the highway attitude?????? :nenau Is this an official BMW line?? :nenau

Vines of Guildford always jet wash the bikes round the back!!???
 
As above, just make sure you keep the jet away from seal areas (etc) when using it up close. :thumb

Anyway, that's cloggies for you :spl1f:
 
One dealer I spoke to many years ago was of the opinion that any cost incurred by jet washing grease out of seals/bearings etc was more than offset by the savings on corrosion, especially in winter.

:nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau :nenau

Don't know whether that's true, but an interesting opinion.

Mike
 
The owners handbook also says not to jetwash - RTFM :-)
 
Tend to stay away from jet washing as very high pressure such as putting the wand close can put water where you don't want it all too easily. Just my two pence.
 
My Wickes power wash will rip paint & any loose material from walls/patio's etc, Hence it goes newhere near the bike!

A light hosing to get it wet, followed by warm water and a good soaping, gently rub and tease off the grime with a rinse to finish and all is well.

'Sounds quite erotic really!' :thumb
 
if hit directly, the water pressure from a jet wash will penetrate any rubber seals such as those round spindles or round electronics like the display. it will also penetrate any electrical connectors. so if you are confident that you will not hit any such items and will only wash (say) the ally wheels, then you will be OK. but you only need to stumble to hit something more delicate

dealers using them is more about laziness than anything else.
 
**dealers using them is more about laziness than anything else.**

And maybe repair work in a couple of months time :eek:
 
Heres my method of cleaning, no corrosion so far:

1) Liberally wet with COLD water from garden hose to liberate dust, dirt, mud etc. (Warm/hot water would dissolve salts and carry them into nooks and crannies and cause corrosion.)
2) Spray with dedicated bike cleaner (eg Hein Gericke bike cleaner). Leave 5 mins max to soak stubborn dirt.
3) Wash with soapy water and sponge (I use "wash 'n wax", not washing up liquid due to salt content !!).
4) Rinse with garden hose.
5) Blow dry with garden leaf blower to clear water from nooks, crannies, switchgear etc.
6) Spray with WD40/FS365/ACF-50 or other preserving spray. Avoid brake disks/pads.
7) Put away in garage until next rideout.

A jetwash can drive water into seals, bearings, switchgear etc. so I don't use one on the bike.
 
Pukmeister said:
Heres my method of cleaning, no corrosion so far:
6) Spray with WD40/FS365/ACF-50 or other preserving spray. Avoid brake disks/pads.


Sorry I'm a numpty with lubricating bits...where exactly are you supposed to spray the WD then???? makes a mess of the wind screen and helmet visor :thumb
Click to expand...
 
It isn't for lubricating, its a fine mist of WD40 as a protectant/water dispersant. You can spray it anywhere except the brakes, for obvious reasons, and I would avoid the seat and screen too. I leave it for a few hours or overnight for the solvent base oil to evaporate, then wipe dry with a clean soft cloth. If I don't intend to ride the bike again for a while I leave the film of WD on the bike as a protective layer and wipe off before the next ride.

I believe that WD40 was originally invented as a preserving fluid and not a lubricant, though that is probably its most popular use.

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_big_blast.html
 
Pukmeister said:
It isn't for lubricating, its a fine mist of WD40 as a protectant/water dispersant. You can spray it anywhere except the brakes, for obvious reasons, and I would avoid the seat and screen too. I leave it for a few hours or overnight for the solvent base oil to evaporate, then wipe dry with a clean soft cloth. If I don't intend to ride the bike again for a while I leave the film of WD on the bike as a protective layer and wipe off before the next ride.

I believe that WD40 was originally invented as a preserving fluid and not a lubricant, though that is probably its most popular use.

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/wd40_big_blast.html
Click to expand...

Thanks pukmeister...that's the best bit of advice I have seen on this forum since being on here for a month or so.....cheers...gonna get a couple of cans at the weekend. :bow :clap
 
Stu, I have tried all sorts on my bikes over the years and nothing brings up the shine and keeps my bikes looking mint like WD. Just keep it well away from the brakes.

I also have an aerosol of Halfords brake cleaner handy just in case I get overspray of WD40 on the disks.

If you ever need a penetrating oil, don't bother with WD40 as there is better, faster acting stuff called 'Plusgas', but WD is excellent for keeping the bike looking tiddly. :thumb
 
pukmeister.....so is WD ok for spraying on all the plastic bits of fairing and the chrome exhaust too???
 
It has never hurt my plastics on any bike I have owned, it brings them up in a nice shine though you might want to go easy spraying it on the exhaust as it smokes off again when hot.
 
motomartin said:
i don't know what BMW specify their connectors to but here are the ratings.

sounds like IP 5* something, rather than car rated IP 6* to me - not good really :mmmm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_rating

my 1990 saab and 1992 suzuki bike both had double lipped IP65 rated stuff
Click to expand...
Interesting link that one, but I suspect that its a summary rather than the complete jobbie. Under sufficient pressure you can machine cut steel using water so I cant see the 5 or 6 ratings applying whatever the pressure. I suspect they would exclude things like pressure washers and be referring to something like a normal garden hose. But I dont know and cant find any further details.

Cant comment about Suzuki but Honda certainly warned against pressure washers on my previous bike
 
...thanks pukmeister....came up great with the WD and it lifts all the tar off the chrome exhaust...looks like new! :thumb :beerjug:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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