Washing the Bike Underneath the Fuel Tank

[JoeC]

How would you go about washing all the bits of the bike that you find lurking underneath the fuel tank?
Spray on cleaner and then use water?
Anything to cover up - not get wet or too wet?
Would you bother at all?

Cheers

 

[richie]

Would you bother at all?

Cheers

no

 

[Rushy]

If it aint broke...............


however if you do intend to clean then my advice would be to laboriously use a packet of wet wipes or alloy wheel wipes from Aldi. I imagine Swarfega probably do a wipe too.

 

[motobiker]

 

[John Armstrong]

How about taking the tank off

 

[Vern]

Tank off, steam clean everything then blow the water off with an airline,sorted.

Now wait for the doom and gloom merchants that know a bloke down the pub that killed a kitten doing this

 

[dancata]

Don't pressure wash the bike underneath the tank. I did it and fried the ignition coil

 

[sloukes]

Tank off, steam clean everything then blow the water off with an airline,sorted.

Now wait for the doom and gloom merchants that know a bloke down the pub that killed a kitten doing this

But what if the kittens are nesting under the tank?

 

[Greg Masters]

I've done it a couple of times (IIRC I used a jet wash from a distance). No ill-affects. I figure that in a very heavy shower it could get wet under there anyway.

Greg

 

[warmshed]

water and electrickery dont mix, if you use a pressure spray you are asking for trouble unless you prtect the electrical connections, you may do it and think you have got away without problems but the moisture will cause corrosion on the connections in the future. Kittens may like the spray????

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Motorbiker, You tire me.

Joe, I wouldnt worry, However, clean it each time the tank comes off.

 

[motobiker]

Motorbiker, You tire me

bless.

Said it before on this forum and I'll say it again. the only reason I've ever had to take the tank off was to replace the fuel filter.. which was done early when I had the tank resprayed. (not to make it look like something it isn't - obviously)

I will NEVER use a power washer. Never.

This strategy has paid well.. in 13 years the bike has only broken down once and that was due to the Hall sensor. Apart from that.. the bike(s) have been perfect. I can only explain this by the fact I don't mess with the thing. I just ride it.

Main side effect of this strategy is when i go on my yearly tour.. the bike gets a service. and I go. don't bother with a crate load of spare parts and a head full of paranoia.

Q.E.D.

Seems obvious to me that the more you mess with the thing the more likely you are to feck it up. So my answer to that is simply: Don't.

 

[Vern]

So why ask how to clean under the tank then

Steam cleaning half a million quids worth of rally car works, so it's good enough for my old bike.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

So why ask how to clean under the tank then

Steam cleaning half a million quids worth of rally car works, so it's good enough for my old bike.

I'm not going to clean mine under the tank but I'm curious about steam cleaning. Could I use a wall paper steamer to clean the bike? Since we got rid of the wall paper, it just sits there and I wonder if I could use it for the bike?

 

[flatdog]

I'm not going to clean mine under the tank but I'm curious about steam cleaning. Could I use a wall paper steamer to clean the bike? Since we got rid of the wall paper, it just sits there and I wonder if I could use it for the bike?

Yes thats what I do, I have a Earl 2kw steam wallpaper remover, also sat for years without being used, just took the flat plate off, fitted a bit of brake pipe with the end hammered flat a small hole and it works fine......when I clean my bike. (pipe gets hot so its got a bit of hosepipe slapped on)


Never had any issue with paint falling off etc.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Yes thats what I do, I have a Earl 2kw steam wallpaper remover, also sat for years without being used, just took the flat plate off, fitted a bit of brake pipe with the end hammered flat a small hole and it works fine......when I clean my bike. (pipe gets hot so its got a bit of hosepipe slapped on)


Never had any issue with paint falling off etc.

Thanks