Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!topaz!husc6!panda!genrad!decvax!tektronix!tekcrl!tekgvs!jerem
From: jerem@tekgvs.UUCP (Jere Marrs)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Cleaners for your bike
Message-ID: <1732@tekgvs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Sep-86 20:27:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekgvs.1732
Posted: Mon Sep  8 20:27:37 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Sep-86 02:12:15 EDT
References: <1226@utastro.UUCP> <3485@ism780c.UUCP>
Reply-To: jerem@tekgvs.UUCP (Jere Marrs)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR.
Lines: 29

>Anyways, I've found that 409 or Fantastic is great for disk brake dust,
>Gunk Engine cleaner for oil, dishwashing soap for miscellaneous body
>parts, and chrome polish for the pipes does the trick.  Although I
>haven't calculated the per-wash cost of these materials, I suspect it's
>considerably less than the $4-$5 that S-100 costs.

	Please be careful using the household cleaners such as Formula 409,
Fantastic, or Swipe as these are extremely alkaline. They will literally
etch metal. This can be particularly catastrophic on brake discs that have
a beautifully smooth surface. Such cleaners can be quite useful for such
things as magnesium alloy wheels and cleaning the sidewalls of tires, but
use them quickly and flush with copious amounts of water quickly. Even a
few minutes sitting on metallic surfaces can pit the metal. I have painfully
experienced the streaking that these cleaners can produce on the beautiful
castings on a BMW.

	I'm surprised that no one has mentioned GUNK. GUNK can be obtained
either as a concentrate or diluted and in aerosol. I use the concentrate diluted
in mineral spirits available from bulk at your neighborhood filling station
(remember those?). I learned about it from some other contributors to this
net. It is sprayed/slathered on, and then hosed off with water. It is an oil-
based detergent and leaves a fine surface to metals such as castings. One
caveat is, however, not to use it around motorcycle CHAINS because it will
remove all lubricant from them with bad effects.

			Have fun,

				Jere Marrs
				Tektronix, Inc.