Keeping the crud away

[Adrian6171]

O.K so i ride my bike to work every day,except xmas  ,Started it up after a 5 day standing (had to use the jump leads )and the brakes had seized ever so slightly and i was wondering if after every journey home from work if i sprayed brake cleaner on the pistons and discs would that keep all the crap and salt away and stop the pistons from seizing up over the winter months.
Regards Ady

[Hedgetrimmer]

Pretty sure that's not the answer. Ideally, strip out and service the calipers, new fluid seals and dust seals if required, red rubber grease, copperslip the back of the pads, yes use brake cleaner on discs. Brake cleaner will do nothing to protect against salt etc, it is what it says.

[purplebear7]

Hi Adrian,
 
Probable just as good .. if not far better .. to give the whole bike a good wash off (Hose pipe) with COLD water .. after every ride.
 
(Hot water will kick start a serious disaster reaction with the salt!)
 
Another winter trick that I use if the bike stays outside .. is to pull an old sock over each mirror and control lever .. blow out all the switches and WD40 them   This five minute job stops a lot of frustrating iced up type agro in the mornings 
 
Stay Safe  ..  Polar Bear in Spain

[Mattsplat]

Cover the bike in ACF50.

Except anything you dont want to slip off......seat, pegs, brakes, tyres etc.

It does what it says on the tin!

[Adrian6171]

Did the ACF 50 about 4 weeks ago so sorted with that,looks like i will have to keep the hose pipe out,but will the cold water not damage what will probably by the time i get home HOT pistons like warping or something similar eg. cold on to hot?

[andybesy]

Hi Adrian,

What you describe doesn't sound too bad, I find a little binding after the bike's been stood is to be expected.

But none the less I do agree it's a good idea to clean the brakes more often during winter, as if the binding gets worse then it can have you off when slippy.

Couple of really good vids, the first showing routine cleaning of brakes and the second more deliberate cleaning of the calipers:

Delboy's Garage, Brake disc and caliper wash out.!

Delboy's Garage, Essential Winter brake caliper cleaning.

Hope this helps, Andy

[peterjca]

but will the cold water not damage what will probably by the time i get home HOT pistons like warping or something similar eg. cold on to hot?

I've wondered about this too. Anyone got the definitive answer for spraying a hot bike with cold water?

[richfzs]

Never really thought about it - but do you worry about cold rain landing on the hot bike while you're riding it?

[Adrian6171]

Never seen the top video before but very good info.

[Adrian6171]

Never really thought about it - but do you worry about cold rain landing on the hot bike while you're riding it?






Never thought about it like that before,cheers richfzs

[RobG UK]

Not 100% sure but acf wont help brakes cos it shouldn't be on the brakes.  Don't they cover them when the spray it on?
 

[headgonekneedown]

not the original rob g uk surely

[Beeblebrox2nd]

Hot water will react chemically with any salt left on the bike, but cold water that hits hot bike parts will just boil away into steam and not leave as much damage, (but remember to up the cleaning schedule!)
If your brakes seized slightly after a few days, then maybe your seals are starting to perish. I had a full brake service done in summer after a couple of dust seals had given up the ghost and mine have shown no bother since then, regardless of weather(I also ride everyday to work.) Worth considering maybe?

[RobG UK]

Yes the original, one and only
 

[headgonekneedown]

Come to liven the old place up I hope. 

[RobG UK]

Nah, I am a pussycat now lol
 

[pointer2null]

I ride all year round and the only way I've found (not yet tried though) to stop the Fazer rear caliper from seizing is to sell the fazer and buy something different. Daft design - under slung with no drain hole.

What I've done is buy a second caliper, so each year (from now on) I will swap the dirty one off and put the newly refurbished on on until next year...

You can try and wash it with hot or cold water, but the problem is the crud that gets down the side of the pistons and (strange though it sounds) under the seal. This corrodes the metal forcing the seal upward which clamps on the piston, then the rest of the barrel corrodes and then it's overhaul time.

[zippywight]

Thanks Andy invaluable videos, shame its dark outside, this will be done tomorrow!!!