'Chemicals and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[tfb]

From another thread:

This JB Weld is the finest miracle adhesive known to man. I've repaired frames with it, and yes, repaired the fuel petcock on my FJ1100. It
holds well as long as it is cured for 24-hours. It is an incredible
cold-weld adhesive that is very cheap and available anywhere for
$5.00 !! It is impervious to most oils and gas, based on my own
experience. It will not stick to poly materials such as teflon or
plastic seat pans.
I love this product with all my heart and soul, as I can't get enough
of it. I would eat it if I could !! We can be proud this is an American-
made product made in the great state of Texas.
Thank God this was not made in China.

Well, after reading jadesystem's lyrical praises there for JBWeld, it's time to ask, What's your favourite chemical product when you're fixing your GS Suzuki?

For myself, I reckon that aviation non-hardening gasket cement is wonderful stuff (used sparingly, of course).

And your nomination for the GS Chemical Product of the Year is...

 

[tkent02]

And your nomination for the GS Chemical Product of the Year is...

I nominate Beer.

 

[Guest]

I nominate Beer.

Besides the obvious I choose
BERRYMANS

 

[AOD]

Ooh, beer, that's a good one.

Product I used the most? High temp exhaust paint on my old 550 header pipes...grr

I'll vote for blue loctite. Vital stuff.

 

[bwringer]

Brake cleaner.

 

[robertbarr]

Besides the obvious I choose
BERRYMANS

A second of this nomination.

 

[Sandy]

Blue locite and antiseize, a bolt or screw shouldn't go in without one or the other.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Spray carb cleaner. It will clean anything squeeky clean.

 

[Zooks]

 

[Zooks]

...................... Product I used the most? High temp exhaust paint on my old 550 header pipes...grr...............

Not sure what type of paint you're using but I'd suggest trying 'stove black' (like they use for pot belly stoves). It'll withstand the metal getting red hot.

 

[sharpy]

The chemicals in my brain tell me not to ride in the rain. (what a woose)

If that fails 4hrs of truck wash/polishing is normal.

 

[Nessism]

A few of my favorites...

Mineral Spirits (paint thinner) - effective and reasonably safe degreaser. After use, I save the black stuff and dump it into a 2 liter plastic bottle - the sludge will settle to the bottom and allow you to pour off and reuse the good stuff on top.

Evapo Rust - removes the brown rust and doesn't harm metal. Great for those chrome parts.

Phosphoric Acid - more aggressive rust eater than the Evapo Rust, and leaves the metal surface with a protective layer.

Diesel engine motor oil - has a more robust additive package, including more zinc, than auto oil while costing less in many cases due to marketing considerations. Many motorcycle specific oils don't have as much zinc as diesel oil either, while typically costing 3+ times as much.

Por-15 paint and sealers - once this paint cures, it's almost impervious to chemicals. The tank sealer is far superior to Kreem, and the engine paint I've used stands up to brake cleaner and carb cleaner spray extremely well - better than rattle can products I've used before.

 

[DimitriT]

I think it's anti-seize compound. I find myself using it everywhere.

I've even discovered it makes a great heatsink grease.

 

[Guest]

Flitz metal Polish.

 

[jadesystem]

1. Lacquer Thinner. Cleans carbs well and is very cheap @ $12/gallon at
Home Depot. Safe with gloves in a cool and ventilated non-
enclosed atmosphere

2. JB Weld. Miracle formula that is essential to all bikers for $5 for a
small tube of epoxy and tube of catalyst.

3. 10-wt hydraulic tool oil. Best "all-around" lubricant for rusted bolts
and locks and anything your bike needs to repel rust. A huge bottle
for $6.95 at your local tooling supplier.

4. Hand cleaner: Though a paste and not a liquid, it seems to turns into
one when applied. I got this idea from TOMMLC as this hand cleaner
cleans painted rims most excellent. Trying to clean a custom-
painted rim is so much of a hassle, but using hand cleaner cleans the
imbedded dirt and grime right-up without taking off the paint !! This
is a miracle how it cleans. Only $3 at any national auto parts store.

5. PJ1 Chain Lube: This is excellent chain lube. It sticks well and lasts
long. Must wait a few hours or you wil get it all over your rear rim.
$8 for a small can, $12 for a large can.

6. Mackasons XXX Triple Stout beer: Goes down excellent when working
up a sweat while wrenching on your bike. The best value at $5.99 at
Trader Joe's. Puts Guiness Stout to shame at the half-price.

Worst Liquids

1. Fiberglass Resin: Hate working with this material when designing a
seat from scratch using fiberglass. Best to re-use the old seat pan
and heat glue weld two poly pieces together into place. Trim and
form to your own design and shape.

2. Carb Cleaner with Parts Basket: New formula mandated by the EPA
is lousy and ineffective. I buy this just for the metal basket and I
use lacquar thinner instead. A metal paint can and brush can be
bought at a local hardware store for a few dollars. Not sure where
to buy a separate metal basket from. You can probably make one
with a thin perforated round sheet metal piece, and use wires from
a coat hanger securing both ends and use as a dip basket.

3. Acids: I stay away from them. If I need parts chromed or gold
anodized, I take it to an industrial plater who charges a reasonable
lot charge so I can bring many parts all at once.




.

 

[Pacman]

1. Carb cleaner
2. Brake cleaner
3. Anti-seize
4. Beer

5. Zanex



Chris

 

[tfb]

And I think the winner will be

BEER!​

That said, cadmium sulphate battery fluid is an excellent chemical. You can't drink it (well, you can... but it's not recommended), but it does counter sulphation in lead-acid batteries. Batteries last for aaaaages on the stuff.

 

[Zooks]

....cadmium sulphate battery fluid is an excellent chemical. You can't drink it (well, you can... but it's not recommended), but it does counter sulphation in lead-acid batteries. Batteries last for aaaaages on the stuff.

Where do you get that from? I've seen it talked about in numerous magazines but never seen it in the auto parts place.

 

[jpaul]

PB Blaster - Best stuff I've found for removing stubborn fasteners

Evapo Rust - If you haven't tried it, do so. I keep a small jar handy with about an inch it; drop a rusty bolt in for a couple of days and the rust is all gone.

Epoxy - any epoxy is going to work well, and have plenty of strength. I try to keep a fast set 5 minute epoxy around, as well as a slow set one.

Liquid Nails Home Projects Adhesive - NOT the cartridge used for paneling, this is a small squeeze tube. Not nearly as strong as epoxy, but it has excellent flexibility. In 25 years of working with adhesives, I've never seen a small household repair adhesive that work as well on such a wide variety of materials.

WD-40 - I know it sucks as a lube compared to a lot of other products, but I like it for its' water displacing properties, and to help clean heavy grime off.

 

[hampshirehog]

Petrol - 'cos without it my bike is just an ornament.