Hey Guys!

It's been raining cats & dogs for about a week now and I'm sure that some of you, like me, are missing riding our bikes, like crazy already. I'm also sure that some of you may have already ridden through the rain. As for me, enough is enough! This weekend I will ride! Come hell or highwater, I will ride!!!

Having said that, I believe it's high time that we come forth and reveal our secrets. I am starting this thread to encourage everyone to come out with your little secrets in taking care of your bike especially during the rainy season. I'm talking about tips and tricks in cleaning, lubricating, etc. Hopefully, eventually, everyone will benefit from the collective knowledge of this thread and .........................RIDE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Thanks!

I guess you need to wash it indoors after a ride from rain. Be sure to bring lots of sparkies too, you'll never know and try to cover the spark plug wire as much as possible.

I definitely agree with bragster. Yeah, i miss my baby too...miss riding her. I miss the shining sun. haaay...:(

I could sure use those tips in taking care of our bikes. Pero at the end of the day, pag pagod na, kakatamad na linisan eh.

Ingat lagi...baka madulas

You know one of the hardest area's to clean on a bike are the tight spaces below the rear suspension. I found some foam brushes used mainly for painting, but they will work great to reach tight spaces for cleaning off dirt.

;)

Thanks top ace & Picasso!

I just recently learned one too. A friend taught me this. If your windshield has a lot of grime already, you can use cotton and a small amount of rubbing compound to clean it. You can feel the big difference afterwards. Just make sure that you don't use too much pressure or else, you'll ugly scuff marks all over your windshield.

:)

For small scratches on plastics, I find metal polish and soft cotton cloth effective in removing tiny scratches. It's similar to buffing.

how would you know if you need to change your spark plugs? and how often do you need to change them? Do you need to change them every oil change? and is it ok to change them with out hanging an oil change?

With modern fuel and engine ignition systems, spark plugs go on for ages.

Definitely no need to change them every oil change.

If there is substantial wear you will probably know that by now as you may possibly have had starting or misfire problems. If you haven't, just do a check as below then leave it.

I check the condition every 5000km or so. The plug should be a light brown in colour and not encrusted with anything. The gap should be corrected if needed to that specified in the owner's manual using the correct feeler gauge. If the electrodes are obviously worn (the centre one is rounded off and the top one is eaten away) then it's time for a new plug. If the wear is slight you can restore the edges with a thin flat file.

As an example my Honda has had the same plug from new -- that's 5 1/2 years ago! and still works fine. I probably will change it just as a precaution anyway next time I service the bike.

If the plug is dark and sooty, or oily, then it needs a good clean (wire brush and soak in kerosene, not gasoline!) and you will need to investigate why. Oily means you're burning oil (4-stroke), or over-oiling your mixture (2-stroke). Sooty means your bike is running rich. However unless your bike is very worn or you've ben messing with the carb settings, the plug should look normal light brown as I said above.

When you reinsert the plug, do so carefully because we're talking threads in soft aluminum here. Finger tighten it until it seats then just a 1/2 turn (no more) with a plug wrench to compress the sealing washer. If you really want to do the job right, smear the thread with copper grease (NOT regular grease). That will make it easier to remove next time.

click here (http://www.dansmc.com/MC_repaircourse.htm) for more info on maintenance. I got this link from the old forums. I find it very useful especially on reading the sparkplugs.

This is great! Keep it coming guys! :)

Its a good thing Bragster started this.:)

Growler>>

Indeed, you know a great deal about bikes. Just a friendly question, how did you come to learn all of these valuable procedures/information? How did you start to learn? I was just being curious because it is obvious that you know bikes very well, and I've read your posts before on various technical issues. I hope you don't mind me asking these questions.
:)

Peace!

Hey Bragster! I'm back! Crummy ISP... it's been impossible for me to log in.

Firstly, I miss riding. Yup, with the rains, I always think twice before I go out, in the end, I don't go out. It's such a hassle to ride in the rain.

Second, For cleaning, I've learned (from cleaning my car myself)that as long as you clean often enough, like what picasso said, wash after riding in the rain for example. Then cleaning wont be such a hassle. I've left my scooter soaking outdoors during the first typhoon (I forget the name) in my brother-in-law's shop for a week, when I started it, one click! Well that's another story. But when I cleaned it, boy, it took me hours! But what helped a lot was a coat of polyshield glide on glaze. It doesn't clean oxidation or road grime, what it does is it puts a coating around your paint (New bikes, kahit plastic yung fairing uses acrylic paint). So super slick yung fairing pag umuulan. Dirt hardly sticks on the fairing. For cleaning, car shampoo is safest. Avoid using detergents such as Joy, it will wreck your paint. At most, use joy for tires, mags, etc. but dilute it very well.

Last tip. If you're washing your bike, do it in the morning when it's cold outside or when the engine is cold. It's easier to clean it. Try it!

Originally posted by Radical!

.......Last tip. If you're washing your bike, do it in the morning when it's cold outside or when the engine is cold. It's easier to clean it. Try it!

Hey!!!! Good to know you're back! :wave:

Interesting idea. I'll surely try it! :)

[i]

I Just a friendly question, how did you come to learn all of these valuable procedures/information?

It's a pleasure. I spent some my youth selling motorbikes and scooters, so I imbibed a lot of know-how that way from being round the workshop and watching the mechanics at work. In those days Jap bikes were unknown and it was the British makes I cut my teeth on. Scooters were either Lambretta or Vespas. I've ridden just about everything on 2 wheels from the 50's and 60's.
One of the reasons I learnt the hard way was because I couldn't afford new bikes, so I had to learn how to fix old ones! Also bikes in those days were not as reliable as now, especially the electrics, and you had to be prepared to deal with mechanical problems, often by the roadside. I could rebuild just about anything with the right tools, although I never mastered gearboxes! Bikes nowadays are so reliable, just put oil and gas in and ride 'em.

You could say that's less fun than all that tinkering, I guess!

Radical>>

yeah, I guess that it is easier cleaning in the morning. However, I wasn't sure why. I had no basis upon that. Hmm polyshield glide on glaze...sounds interesting ah. I'll try it tomorrow morning...if I get to wake up early:D

Growler>>

Ahh...I wouldn't be surprised to know that. How I wish I had the same oppurtunity. Thank you for telling me. I've noticed many times that your technical explanations are so detailed and precise; not to mention correct. Your posts have helped me, and some of my friends too. Indeed, you have mastered these two-wheeled magnificent machines...

Peace!

Ride Safely :)

hi johvic... as in GLO metal polish? i tried using rubbing compound but i think i scratched my shield more :((

Sorry to hear that Jeff_o,
you might have applied too much pressure on it. What I do is place a little amount of metal polish on soft cloth and with that amount, wipe it over the tiny scratches with extra care. What happens is that the surface gets a little rough but after a lot of strokes and a lot of patience you will eventually find the shine you want. I even used it in removing tiny scratches on my cellphone's screen. I don't recommend using too much metal polish as is might scratch the surface more if too much pressure is applied.

Sorry again.

When I got my ZX6R Ninja the winscreen looked like it had been cleaned with abrasive cleaners. It was so bad that it looked grey rather than clear. I tried everything I could find and nothing worked well until I tried "Scratch out" Its in a yellow plastic bottle and made by "Formula One". After a couple of applications the screen looked like new.

I agree with never letting the bike stay dirty. I clean mine as soon as it gets a little dirty and the job is easy. Every few weeks I replenish the coating of high quality polish on the paint and on the chrome. I use Auto Glym (used by Jaguar and other high end car manufacturers) for the paint, 3M chrome polish for the chrome and 3M aluminium polish for wheels etc. Keeping a good hard coat of polish on the bikes makes it easy to clean and protects it from the dirt.

Yesterday wasn't one of my best days. :angry: I was feeling down in the dumps. So I took my bike out. It wasn't raining at first, but just as I was on the way back the rain poured. It didn't really bother me. I felt great just riding around, what a relief from stress.

Anyway, Once I parked the bike I changed into dry clothes and wiped down the water.

Then I wiped the chain dry and used a paint brush to apply a little oil on the chain.

Good habits go a long way!! :C

Radical!

Yaaaaghhh! I use Joy pa naman on my bike everytime! Buti na lang mine is a naked bike so minimal lang ang fairings.....I use a Johnson paste (for cars) n okay naman ang effect. I have begun to use an engine degreaser...but it seemed too strong and made the engine covers dull in color.

Buti na lang in our place..(Bulacan) the water preassure is fantastic...As in grabe...its like using a pressure wash so I'm able really clean the grime and muck from riding in the rain. One of the things i observe is that rain water seems acidic and causes rust very fast so I try to coat some exposed metal nuts and bolts in WD-40...looks okay naman...

Some observations lang......


OT
Sir Frank... I still havnt found " Scratch out" for my helmet visor ..what i found was Scratch out for car winshields...is that the same?

thanks

Originally posted by Top Ace
You know one of the hardest area's to clean on a bike are the tight spaces below the rear suspension. I found some foam brushes used mainly for painting, but they will work great to reach tight spaces for cleaning off dirt.

;)
Try a toothbrush or thin paintbrush dipped in kerosene. Do it while you're cleaning the chain so it's taken care of in one job. :)

nevermind

Originally posted by Snake1
R
Sir Frank... I still havnt found " Scratch out" for my helmet visor ..what i found was Scratch out for car winshields...is that the same?

thanks

The one I have just says "Clear coat color restorer & scratch remover"

Have recently changed my spark plug.
Johvic,
the link really helped. My spark was really black and i guess its is due to the oil, will not mix oil in the gas tank for the moment since there is self mixing oil.

Now with the old spark plug I asked my driver if this could be used again? He said just clean it with gasoline and sand paper the build up on the spark plug.

Will just probably use this spark plug just for back up.

Do you think this is advisable? that spark plug probably just ran 3000 kms.


and what do you think in using wipe out for the mags? or shall i just leave it for the computer hardware?

You can use your plug again.

But don't clean it with sandpaper, you don't want bits of grit hanging around and falling into your engine when you refit it. Use a wire brush if you have one. Use kerosene or engine degreaser, not gasoline. (a) Gas is toxic and will do your skin no good, and (b) of course its vapour is highly flammable.

You need to check your oil mix. If you're using the right mix/correct brand and your carb settings are correct you should not be having oily plugs. Unless you check this out your new plug will end up like the old one!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Wing 1
[B]Radical>>

yeah, I guess that it is easier cleaning in the morning. However, I wasn't sure why. I had no basis upon that. Hmm polyshield glide on glaze...sounds interesting ah. I'll try it tomorrow morning...if I get to wake up early:D

Yeah, it's really easier, cooler also. I guess the reason is that the heat tends to evaporate the water you use for cleaning, thus causing watermarks. It's harder to clean when the water dries up.

Polyshield or polyglaze, I forget but it's an australian company, it comes with an applicator. I highly recommend it coz it's easy to use and is non abrasive.

I am just finishing getting "The Dragon" ready for the rainy season. Everything is cleaned really well, then two coats of polish applied to the paint with plenty of buffing to make it hard. The chrome all cleaned with chrome cleaner followed by a coat or two of polish. Some parts removed to get at the awkward bits that could go rusty if not protected.

Last time I did this I got a lot of people asking if I had got the the parts re-chromed! It does look great but more importantly the polish will go a long way in protecting the paint and chrome from the dirt and bad weather.

Sharky, You should also use feeler guages to check/reset the spark plug gap after it is cleaned.

hi johvic.. ill try that out. but what metal polish did u use? glo?

sir frank... is scratch out still available in auto accessories shops?

Feeler guages?

Originally posted by jeff_o
hi johvic.. ill try that out. but what metal polish did u use? glo?

sir frank... is scratch out still available in auto accessories shops?


Jeff_o,

It's nt glo, it's one of the cheaper brands I got in stock from my CAT dayz. hehehe. if you already got the glo, you use the liquid na lang from the can, or do not shake the can, pwede na un. At first magagasgas nga yun plastic but after that, try using a clean cloth to buff na. Good luck.

Originally posted by sharky
Feeler guages?

A feeler gauge is used to check the proper sparkplug gap.

Sharky, there should be an adjuster for the 2T oil pump
BTW: why do you add more 2T in the gas tank?:?

Growler is right, dont use sand paper when cleaning the spark plug, use a wire brush, in some tool kits a small toothbrush size wire brush comes with it, but its too small and dulls too easy, the best wire brush are those with the wooden handles, and they're really really big... just make sure you clean the contact point of the spark with the wire brush, nothing else, the wire brush is heavily abrasive...:D

Johvic, i remember theres a rack of Formula 1 Scratch Out in South SuperMarket Hardware in ATC

Thanks for the info Gshock,

But I don't need to buy a bottle of that just to remove minute scratches on my cellphone screen:D

Originally posted by Johvic
Thanks for the info Gshock,

But I don't need to buy a bottle of that just to remove minute scratches on my cellphone screen:D

Depends how many cellphones you've got... :D :O

Originally posted by The Growler
It's a pleasure. I spent some my youth selling motorbikes and scooters, so I imbibed a lot of know-how that way from being round the workshop and watching the mechanics at work. In those days Jap bikes were unknown and it was the British makes I cut my teeth on. Scooters were either Lambretta or Vespas. I've ridden just about everything on 2 wheels from the 50's and 60's.
One of the reasons I learnt the hard way was because I couldn't afford new bikes, so I had to learn how to fix old ones! Also bikes in those days were not as reliable as now, especially the electrics, and you had to be prepared to deal with mechanical problems, often by the roadside.

Know what you mean Growler....Lucas Electrics were a bundle of laughs, I can remember pushing my D7 Bantam and 3TA Triumph more than I rode them.:rolleyes:

Some really great suggestions here. Good thread. I like the idea of using a paint brush for the chain lube. Will do that from now on.

Part of good maintainance is knowing as much about your bike as possible. Does anyone know of factory manuals available for the Chinese bikes? I wud luv to have one for my Skygo/Lifan 150A. Tomorrow I'll go by Gilliamark and check there but I'm sure I'll just get blank stares.

My first bike was a Yamaha 125 two stroke. Drove it for 2 years in Montana. My second was a 1960 BSA Goldstar Twin. Just a DK, (dumb kid) I didn't know I was supposed to check the oil and add to it. Burned up the engine in 3 months. Made Mom and Dad very happy but it didn't keep me off the motorcycles for long. :D Can't believe I was that bugoy. Well, 41 years later and I'm a little smarter and still riding.

Hunter.

Originally posted by Hunter3000
Made Mom and Dad very happy but it didn't keep me off the motorcycles for long. :D Hunter.

Ohhh....I know very well what you mean.:)

>>
I need to learn more more more. I've been wanting to upgrade, but I don't think I'm am prepared to have a more powerful machine. Riding skills can be attained through much experience and saddle time. However, fixing, troubleshooting and technical Know-how is completely different. Now, that is my problem..tech issues. I don't want to learn by making too much mistakes..that'll cost a lot. Don't want to be totally dependent on the mechanic. Wish I knew as much as the other members here.

Keep em coming...

Young riders, such as I, still have much to learn...