Salt/rust protection

[Stu]

We have had this many times on here so much so I took some wheel bearings and jet washed them at close range.

The seals did an amazing job and you don't need to worry about "washing the grease out" like many people seem to say.

You would first need to get past the outer seals before getting to the bearing seal and I failed to get through the bearing seal at close range.

I fully agree with you @Stu

However I would suggest some caution with more powerful jet washes. The one I use at work is about 3 for long 18" talk and 2 foot wide. That probably could do damage.

The one I have at home I spray any what it was bought not to

To sealant and caulking out off wooden decks...

 

The test involved laying the bearings on the floor and jet washing them at point blank range and nothing go through the seals

With the one you speak of and bearings fitted to the bike you would still have no worries about water getting in the bearings and washing the grease out.

You have an outer seal then the bearing seal and you can't get a direct hit on the seals

I would like to try a pressure washer like that directly on bearings though just to see at what point it would get through if it did.

I have always maintained that you use a pressure washer wisely and never at close range the point of the test was just to prove that water doesn't force its way past at point blank range so it wouldn't when just washing the bike

[The Hitcher]

I’ve found leaving it in the garage until spring is the best approach.

[Joncwat]

I’ve been riding bikes through the winter for 40 years, daily commute, there’s no way of protecting it, I’ve tried everything. Salt will always slowly deteriorate your bike no matter what you do or what you use. Buy a rat bike, cheap older bike, 80’s 90’s trail bikes are good, use them through the winter when the salts on the road, keep your best bike out of the salt. You can use the rat bike for green laning, the more basic the better, easier to maintain, I use XT350 XLR125 in the winter. You won’t lose money on them, I brought the XT for £400 and it’s worth double that now plus it’s been used over 9-10 winters, it’s a win win plus your best bikes stay in good nick.

[jedibiker]

I use muc off protector, seems a lot like acf50. But my bike is kept indoors. I am using it on the Mrs bike which is outside, so will be a good test this winter. So far it been great and the bike washes easier with it applied.

[manxie49]

I'm just about to do the winter prep, washed and cleaned today, tomorrow I'll pull it out of the garage, cover the wheels and brakes, take the seat off and spray with ACF50. I cover pretty much everything, including all the electrics and the plastics. Once I've sprayed it I leave it to seep in for ten or fifteen minutes then I go over it with a microfibre cloth to take of the excess. One decent coat of ACF see's me through the winter. Never had any problems with corrosion, quick hose off when I get in from the salty roads each time, job done. That said, I do have the luxury of a garage, I know that goes a long way in itself to keeping it rust free.

[MikeHorton]

Bloody accountants! Is it really too expensive to have a decent layer of zinc everywhere? I'm not asking for a stainless steel bike, I may not like the weight, but give me at least zinc!

I can't be cleaning the bike every day, or I'll end up sleeping in the garage courtesy of SWMBO.

Is it going to work to take off fairings and spray this gunk everywhere on metalwork, then not wash until end of winter?

 

Depends which 'gunk' you're referring to. If you spray ACF50 everywhere and leave it on all winter it will certainly help combat corrosion. My issue is we live near a salt mine so the bike gets covered in salt every day hence I wash it down. But for none salt grime ACF50 will do the job.

 

As with any inhibitor the main main stage of preparation is having a DRY surface to add it to ..

No point trapping moisture in

 

I have a £40 pet drier which is great in the winter for drying the bike off prior to winter treatment and as you say alway better to put it away dry

[jedibiker]

It seems the muc off protector does nothing. I tried it on a bolt that ive recently took rust off. I first wiped the bolt with 3 in 1 spray oil, it rusted, then tried the muc off and its rusted. So does acf50 actually work at stopping rust? or are bikes that are kept out side although covered going to rust anyway.

Find it hard to see how acf50 will be different to muc off. Both purple as it happens too..

 

 

@MikeHorton What power is the pet dryer? I was looking at a leaf blower but the sales guy said it wasnt powerful enough.. cheers

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Two years ago I coated our rowing machines metal parts in acf 50. They are renowned for becoming rusty beyond use if left in a garage. I inspected it this morning and there’s not a dot of rust anywhere, not on a single chain link. It’s not been idle, it’s been used a lot by my sons. 
Of course this isn’t same as a bike that will burn it off the exhaust or get wet or washed but it certainly made a huge difference to that item.
The running machine next to it wasn’t treated and has rusted. 

[jedibiker]

38 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Two years ago I coated our rowing machines metal parts in acf 50. They are renowned for becoming rusty beyond use if left in a garage. I inspected it this morning and there’s not a dot of rust anywhere, not on a single chain link. It’s not been idle, it’s been used a lot by my sons. 
Of course this isn’t same as a bike that will burn it off the exhaust or get wet or washed but it certainly made a huge difference to that item.
The running machine next to it wasn’t treated and has rusted. 

Oddly just seen a video test of bolts in salt water and the acf50 didnt rust at all, wd40 did by 80% or more.

[jedibiker]

 

says it all, acf50 great for a while.

Edited December 5, 2020 by jedibiker

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

So XCP took the anti corrosion crown fairly well. Thanks for that @jedibiker

[TimR]

4 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

So XCP took the anti corrosion crown fairly well. Thanks for that @jedibiker

Xcp is brilliant BUT it is thick and sticky and your bike will look filthy during its use BUT you won't wash it away easily which is great as the bike remains protected for longer .

[jedibiker]

9 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

So XCP took the anti corrosion crown fairly well. Thanks for that @jedibiker

as @TimR said they also went on to say how practical these were as some were sticky and some were applied by spray gun and not by can.. Also the acf50 was painted on for some reason

[TimR]

Just now, jedibiker said:

as @TimR said they also went on to say how practical these were as some were sticky and some were applied by spray gun and not by can.. Also the acf50 was painted on for some reason

I had https://allyearbiker.co.uk/ do their magic a few years ago on gtr and opted for xcp and loved it , however i managed to bag a bargain joblot of ACF which i apply myself now with air compressor & spray gun but once used i will go back to XCP

[JRH]

Think it was Bike magazine that did a test some time ago. This was the result.

 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

Another vote for xcp then with acf 50 coming in a reasonable second.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

It also needs to be said that this is becoming more of an issue as build quality deteriorates. When I bought my work bike I looked at new bikes by checking how two year old examples were looking, then went and bought a 2006 bike. It runs through the winter with just a hose down when it's particularly muddy or encrusted in salt. Doesn't need any fancy chemicals.

All the new bikes I looked at had corrosion showing. My 2006 is corrosion free.

[Marino]

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=143154318026&category=9886&pm=1&ds=0&t=1593385192000&ver=0

[jedibiker]

From what Ive watched and read since last night, it seems the XCP is great on areas you don't see much. Like under swing arms etc. But ACF50 is good for all over. If I could afford it I would acf50 the whole bike and XCP the underside and vulnerable. But for now based on ACF50 still giving around 2 months of rust free per application, Il get that.

[MikeHorton]

On 05/12/2020 at 14:57, jedibiker said:

It seems the muc off protector does nothing. I tried it on a bolt that ive recently took rust off. I first wiped the bolt with 3 in 1 spray oil, it rusted, then tried the muc off and its rusted. So does acf50 actually work at stopping rust? or are bikes that are kept out side although covered going to rust anyway.

Find it hard to see how acf50 will be different to muc off. Both purple as it happens too..

 

 

@MikeHorton What power is the pet dryer? I was looking at a leaf blower but the sales guy said it wasnt powerful enough.. cheers

I'll have to take a look but it's certainly powerful enough and not too much so that it's likely to cause any damage bargain for £45 with 3 different nozzles

[Mickly]

Beware - ACF50 stains block paving, couldn’t find anything to get it off.

It’s faded over time, but Mrs Mickly was unimpressed!!

Edited December 11, 2020 by Mickly

[MikeHorton]

On 05/12/2020 at 14:57, jedibiker said:

It seems the muc off protector does nothing. I tried it on a bolt that ive recently took rust off. I first wiped the bolt with 3 in 1 spray oil, it rusted, then tried the muc off and its rusted. So does acf50 actually work at stopping rust? or are bikes that are kept out side although covered going to rust anyway.

Find it hard to see how acf50 will be different to muc off. Both purple as it happens too..

 

 

@MikeHorton What power is the pet dryer? I was looking at a leaf blower but the sales guy said it wasnt powerful enough.. cheers

 

[Ian Frog]

Ride magazine have a comparison test using the new XCP clear variant that apparently does as well as before but looks less unsightly whilst on the bike.

I have already treated the bike under the cover outside with ACF so fingers crossed for now but I might be investing in some XCP very soon.

Seemed a very fair test as well.

Cheers

Ian

[onesea]

2 hours ago, Mickly said:

Beware - ACF50 stains block paving, couldn’t find anything to get it off.

It’s faded over time, but Mrs Mickly was unimpressed!!

Its impressive stuff, contrary to popular belief it will burn of brakes after about 10 minutes riding with your brakes on.....
However put it on your mirrors and even medical grade cleaning wipes (yes ones that can deal with "the virus"), clean undesirables out of undesirable places and do a good job on the chain side of the swing arm don't touch it...  Just an observation.

[Breezin]

Just wondering about washing off crud after using the bike, as I've recently got access to a hose outlet.

Interested in opinion on whether it's ok to hose down all parts of a hot bike (air and oil-cooled), or should I let it cool off.