Cleaning Rough Cast Alloy

25-03-2004, 03:13 PM

Does anyone know of any product(s) that will clean up rough cast alloy, such as our heads and barrels etc, which can be used without taking the bike to bits.
No matter how hard I scrub, I can't get the dirt and stains (no skid-mark jokes please) out of the rough cast bits.
Are ther any mild acid products that will do the job for instance?

25-03-2004, 03:32 PM

Didge, I used to always use AutoGlym Bike Cleaner, spray it on the engine & give it 5 mins or so, then scrub with a sort bristled brush (used a long handled dish washing brush) then rinse with warm water, should have the desired result.

There's a product over here called 409, its a kitchen cleaner, but a lot of the guys use it without any problems on their bikes. There should be someting like that in your local Tesco's.

But I would try Autoglym 1st.

Dave

25-03-2004, 06:04 PM

try this links it's all household items so it should be well cheap !!!

aluminium cleaner

25-03-2004, 06:08 PM

Cheers guys.
I'll give the autoglym a go first Dave. Thanks.

NattyBoy · 25-03-2004, 08:27 PM

The autoglyms good gear didge, but the spray bottles are ****e (the triggers seize up!).

Nat

25-03-2004, 08:41 PM

Whatever you do NEVER USE OVEN CLEANER.

spacemonkey · 25-03-2004, 08:46 PM

..as it will cause a reaction with the aluminium and oxidise (?) it, making it dull. I have used Truckwash on stuff before-the cleaning power is amazing, but if you don't get it off the ally quick it will do this as it is caustic. I got the feeling that the bike cleaning stuffs are de-greasers and maybe not quite what you are after. Let us know how you get on.

25-03-2004, 09:34 PM

Trust Ogri Didge.......

Pedro · 25-03-2004, 09:44 PM

Didge

get some wheel clear - this stuff is mildly acidic so be sure to rinse off well. I think I've just got basic Halfords stuff but it works ok.

Also worth using (and better than Autoglym bike cleaner) is Muc-Off - flipping marvellous. Might be worth trying Truckwash (dilute with hotwater is best) or even Gunk. You might need several goes with Gunk tho.

Ped

spacemonkey · 25-03-2004, 09:47 PM

My local Ducati Emporium used Silkolene Prowash, and it was very good.

25-03-2004, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pedro
Muc-Off - flipping marvellous.

That was the other one I was trying to remember the name of!

Muc-Off..........

26-03-2004, 09:19 AM

What's 'TRUCKWASH', and where can I find it?

Pedro · 26-03-2004, 05:24 PM

Truckwash is industrial degreasent - I get mine from work. We use it for floor cleaning and degreasing machine tools. It'll get the grease of ANYTHING!

You probably find it in the tube maintenance yards Didge

spacemonkey · 27-03-2004, 08:12 AM

But for gawds sake if it gets on ally, rinse it off within a minute or so. I used it on a mountain bike and spent ages with the Autosol after! It is great though. Brilliant on wheels etc.

27-03-2004, 08:51 AM

Truckwash is also sometimes called "traffic film remover", comes in various strengths, so beware!!! the strongest will take off any grease/crap etc but its supposed to be diluted before use, so be v-carefull as to how long you leave it on before washing it off!!

McMonstro

25-03-2004, 03:13 PM	#1
Didge Guest Posts: n/a	Cleaning Rough Cast Alloy Does anyone know of any product(s) that will clean up rough cast alloy, such as our heads and barrels etc, which can be used without taking the bike to bits. No matter how hard I scrub, I can't get the dirt and stains (no skid-mark jokes please) out of the rough cast bits. Are ther any mild acid products that will do the job for instance?

25-03-2004, 08:46 PM	#7
spacemonkey I see dead people. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carving a slice thru the braindead masses..(pun intended) Bike: M900 Posts: 1,464	..as it will cause a reaction with the aluminium and oxidise (?) it, making it dull. I have used Truckwash on stuff before-the cleaning power is amazing, but if you don't get it off the ally quick it will do this as it is caustic. I got the feeling that the bike cleaning stuffs are de-greasers and maybe not quite what you are after. Let us know how you get on. __________________ http://www.jasperfforde.com/swindon/7wonders.html

25-03-2004, 09:34 PM	#8
Muttley Guest Posts: n/a	Trust Ogri Didge....... Last edited by Muttley; 09-03-2006 at 10:47 PM..

25-03-2004, 09:44 PM	#9
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	Didge get some wheel clear - this stuff is mildly acidic so be sure to rinse off well. I think I've just got basic Halfords stuff but it works ok. Also worth using (and better than Autoglym bike cleaner) is Muc-Off - flipping marvellous. Might be worth trying Truckwash (dilute with hotwater is best) or even Gunk. You might need several goes with Gunk tho. Ped __________________ M900 - 1993! Monster 1200R!

25-03-2004, 09:47 PM	#10
spacemonkey I see dead people. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carving a slice thru the braindead masses..(pun intended) Bike: M900 Posts: 1,464	My local Ducati Emporium used Silkolene Prowash, and it was very good. __________________ http://www.jasperfforde.com/swindon/7wonders.html

25-03-2004, 03:32 PM	#2
Dave in USA Guest Posts: n/a	Didge, I used to always use AutoGlym Bike Cleaner, spray it on the engine & give it 5 mins or so, then scrub with a sort bristled brush (used a long handled dish washing brush) then rinse with warm water, should have the desired result. There's a product over here called 409, its a kitchen cleaner, but a lot of the guys use it without any problems on their bikes. There should be someting like that in your local Tesco's. But I would try Autoglym 1st. Dave

25-03-2004, 06:04 PM	#3
Nigel C Guest Posts: n/a	try this links it's all household items so it should be well cheap !!! aluminium cleaner

25-03-2004, 06:08 PM	#4
Didge Guest Posts: n/a	Cheers guys. I'll give the autoglym a go first Dave. Thanks.

25-03-2004, 08:27 PM	#5
NattyBoy Monsterless again for now Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wiltshire Bike: M900 Posts: 3,189	The autoglyms good gear didge, but the spray bottles are ****e (the triggers seize up!). Nat

25-03-2004, 08:41 PM	#6
diogenes Guest Posts: n/a	Whatever you do NEVER USE OVEN CLEANER.

26-03-2004, 09:19 AM	#12
Didge Guest Posts: n/a	What's 'TRUCKWASH', and where can I find it?

26-03-2004, 05:24 PM	#13
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	Truckwash is industrial degreasent - I get mine from work. We use it for floor cleaning and degreasing machine tools. It'll get the grease of ANYTHING! You probably find it in the tube maintenance yards Didge __________________ M900 - 1993! Monster 1200R!

27-03-2004, 08:12 AM	#14
spacemonkey I see dead people. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carving a slice thru the braindead masses..(pun intended) Bike: M900 Posts: 1,464	But for gawds sake if it gets on ally, rinse it off within a minute or so. I used it on a mountain bike and spent ages with the Autosol after! It is great though. Brilliant on wheels etc. __________________ http://www.jasperfforde.com/swindon/7wonders.html

27-03-2004, 08:51 AM	#15
McMONSTRO Guest Posts: n/a	Truckwash is also sometimes called "traffic film remover", comes in various strengths, so beware!!! the strongest will take off any grease/crap etc but its supposed to be diluted before use, so be v-carefull as to how long you leave it on before washing it off!! McMonstro