Cleaning engine bay | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cleaning engine bay

arogal

arogal

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Took the lower left fairing off my zx6r when I did an oil change the other day. I usually just leave it on, but took it off this time for a bit more room to work. Let's just say there was enough grime in there to make me feel sick to my stomach . Between oil, chain lube/wax and road debris... Yuck! It also looks like some wires have grease on em too where a connection is, but it doesn't seem to be affecting anything (wires near stator cover... Maybe for kickstand? I'm not to where tooo sure. Mmbut they seem to be exposed and not fully wrapped in the heat wrap).
Anyways, it's time to get down and dirty and clean all the tight knit picky areas up.
Anyone have ideas? Doesn't look like the previous owner seemed to even notice cause he always got other people work on his bike (oil changes included).
I was thinking maybe a tooth brush and some chain cleaner? Followed by a damp micro f cloth and then a dry one?
The zx6r has its oil filter on the left side of engine case which makes for very messy oil changes, never knew why they'd put it there in the first place.
Thanks!
 
I have always used kerosene and a variety of brushes for detailing.Careful use of a pressure washer is handy too if you have one.Just stay away from seals and electrical connections unless you plan on replacing the seals or taking the connectors apart and drying them and applying dielectric grease.
 
Dip a rag in kerosene and start wiping the crud and junk away, once you have it pretty good I’d use a some dawn dish soap and water to finish it off.

Wingboy pulled the holeshot and beat me to it.
 
If you want to go full gonzo,see my thread about cleaning exhaust cleanup.Exhaust cleanup Be really careful tho.Ventilation,eye protection,skin protection etc etc.
 
I've never considered using a power washer. Heard bad things abou seals and connections. I don't have any kerosene... Would 100% isopropyl alcohol work? We've got drums of it at work and I use it to put on grips and have some laying around
 
Alcohol won't do a lot to heavy grease.never used it for grips.I use electrical tape and gasoline for all my grips.Super quick and sticky.
 
Just buy a jug of kerosene. I have a 10l jug that I’ve been using for probably 5 years to clean chains, wheels and really anything greasy. I still have half left. It’s good to have in the garage and cheap.
 
Liquid dishwashing detergent, 60ml/l of water works great. They use it to clean oil off sea animals after spills -- theese detergents are designed to emulsify oil and foamup to keep the oil off the cleaned part. I put it in a spray bottle and use a stiff nylon brush. Try it, you should be able to eat off your bike.
 
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dont use isopropyl alcohol on plastic faring parts or around seals, its the wrong chemistry and can lead to issues.
 
spay can of citrus based degreaser
don't leave it on too long
rinse with garden hose
blow dry with leaf blower
finish with WD40 and wipe down
 
I have a lot of plastic on my bike and strip most of it off every 2 years for various PM work.

I use a combination of S-100, WD40, toothbrushes, 4" paintbrush, small plastic scrubbing brushes and then Honda's spray cleaner and polish to clean up everything I normally don't have access to including the backside of the plastic. Rinse with water + if you have access to a hot water tap in your garage that will work very well.

Never use a pressure washer on your bike. Despite being very careful it can drive water into places you don't want it to be.
 
Spray down with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, let it sit for 5 minutes, hose off with garden hose sprayer, blow dry, done in 15 minutes. That worked for years then I got lazy and did a summer of using the smallest size Simonize pressure washer for a summer and blow dry. That summer I ended up having to take starter apart to clean out when it gunked up and quit working due to water getting in. Stopped with the pressure washer and back to the S100 routine and no problems since.
 
After an oil leak from around the valve cover on an old air-cooled honda (entirely my fault), I used foaming engine cleaner to get in between all the fins and break up the oil. A quick low-pressure rinse with a hose (think watering flowers) and I was done.
 
arogal said:
I've never considered using a power washer. Heard bad things abou seals and connections. I don't have any kerosene... Would 100% isopropyl alcohol work? We've got drums of it at work and I use it to put on grips and have some laying around
Click to expand...

Where can I get a drum of isopropyl alcohol.....PM me with info please.....I hate buying the small bottle at shoppers drug mart....it's not cost effective...

.
 
GateKeeper said:
Where can I get a drum of isopropyl alcohol.....PM me with info please.....I hate buying the small bottle at shoppers drug mart....it's not cost effective....
Click to expand...
Unfortunately we don't sell the drums of isypropyl alcohol, it's one of our raw materials we use for productions. We get ours from UNIVAR
 
GateKeeper said:
Where can I get a drum of isopropyl alcohol.....PM me with info please.....I hate buying the small bottle at shoppers drug mart....it's not cost effective...
Click to expand...

From kijiji:
$30.00
Isopropyl Alcohol 99.9%

Markham / York Region11/03/2019
Isopropyl Alcohol available in 5 gallon Pails & 1 gallon containers. Used to make extracts. 1 gallon $30. 5 gallon $125 In stock right now - Pick up in Markham area. (Warden & 14th Ave area) We accept Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Email Money Transfer Business hours M-Th 10am- 6pm, Fri 10am - 4pm, Evenings & Weekends by appointment only. Text or call for faster service!
 
GateKeeper said:
Where can I get a drum of isopropyl alcohol.....PM me with info please.....I hate buying the small bottle at shoppers drug mart....it's not cost effective...

.
Click to expand...
What do you use large quantities of alcohol for? A SDM bottle lasts me for years. What am I missing?
 
Gary said:
From kijiji:
$30.00
Isopropyl Alcohol 99.9%

Markham / York Region11/03/2019
Isopropyl Alcohol available in 5 gallon Pails & 1 gallon containers. Used to make extracts. 1 gallon $30. 5 gallon $125 In stock right now - Pick up in Markham area. (Warden & 14th Ave area) We accept Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Email Money Transfer Business hours M-Th 10am- 6pm, Fri 10am - 4pm, Evenings & Weekends by appointment only. Text or call for faster service!
Click to expand...

Thanks......

use in car detailing and spot cleaning, mixed 50/50 with water, it cleans beautifully and leaves no residue, streaks, etc, especially on cars that have been ceramic coated, it does not affect the coating.

Also great for cleaning your windows at home, especially if you the outside it keeps them cleaner longer.....
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