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General => General => Topic started by: david095 on 16 September 2013, 09:45:43 pm

Title: Winter use and preparation
Post by: david095 on 16 September 2013, 09:45:43 pm
Hoping to be using my Fazer8 as much as possible over the winter months, any one got tips or nuggets of wisdom/experience on what to use and how to keep it in as good nick as possible?
 
cheers
 
David
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Adrian6171 on 16 September 2013, 09:50:26 pm
ACF 50 is the way to go i also use the bike all year round,will soon be giving the bike a good clean then adding the 50 buy using a cloth to put on. It,s expensive stuff but it does,nt  take much to cover the bike,just make sure if you use it don,t get it anywhere near the brakes.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hamos on 16 September 2013, 09:53:56 pm
Give the bike a really good clean then cover everything (not brakes tyres etc) in ACF-50.  Also remove callipers and give the pistons a really good clean.  These really gum up once the salt hits the roads.

Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: His Dudeness on 16 September 2013, 10:23:42 pm
Porridge in the morning.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: lew600fazer on 16 September 2013, 10:24:52 pm
Salt about leave it in the garage or if you must a really good wash down with a pressure washer , avoid the direct jet near the wheel bearings.
As said previous post a good corrosion inhibitor.
Lew
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 17 September 2013, 11:40:37 pm
Where's the best place to get ACF-50? Ta in advance.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Dave48 on 18 September 2013, 08:26:17 am
Any good bike shop should stock/be able to obtain. I have NEVER used a pressure washer on a bike but after washing use my leaf blower to get residual moisture out all the nooks & crannies before spraying protective coating on-pay particular attention to electrical connectors!
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Frosties on 18 September 2013, 09:04:08 am
Where's the best place to get ACF-50? Ta in advance.


Here you go Nick, do it yourself or make sure it's done properly for £60. Chuck in your postcode fella  :thumbup
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 September 2013, 09:23:03 am
Where's the best place to get ACF-50? Ta in advance.


Here you go Nick, do it yourself or make sure it's done properly for £60. Chuck in your postcode fella  :thumbup

Sorry, did you mean to put a link in there Frosties?
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: noggythenog on 18 September 2013, 09:25:35 am
M&P have some, not sure if the cheapest, but easiest to remember being a bike place :)


[font=.HelveticaNeueUI]http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=540911[/font]
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 September 2013, 09:36:41 am
M&P have some, not sure if the cheapest, but easiest to remember being a bike place :)


[font=.HelveticaNeueUI][url]http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=540911[/url] ([url]http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=540911[/url])[/font]

 
Cheers Nog, seems cheap enough.
Are there any places you must not apply it apart from brake pads/tyres? And do people's experiences bear out that one treatment will last a long time, doesn't wash off in first downpour etc? And (questions, questions!  :rolleyes ) how many applications will one can do?
I've used WD40 to help protect certain parts of my previous bikes, but it's not ideal.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: JZS 600 on 18 September 2013, 09:37:05 am
I give mine a good clean once a week, other than that, 3 winters and still lookng good!
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: noggythenog on 18 September 2013, 09:40:20 am
Last year i used a whole can in 1 go on my bike prior to winter layup.


The bike was dripping in it, used a rag to spread it round, apart from the brakes i dont believe there was much that didnt get coated & didnt get any adverse reactions.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 September 2013, 09:49:34 am
I give mine a good clean once a week, other than that, 3 winters and still lookng good!

Not using ACF then?
I'm thinking I've got to do a couple of things before the winter really sets in. The exhaust studs and nuts aren't looking great (although I don't think mine's seen much winter use by previous owner), and would like to replace with all stainless items. Also, would like to get the EXUP serviced and copper-slipped (although working fine at the mo), but I can't do these jobs myself and bike shops don't like to do them either, unless you're having a big service or something done with it...= ££££££!
Having said that, I don't know yet if it'll get much use this winter! :rolleyes
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: richfzs on 18 September 2013, 10:32:35 am
Google "all year biker"

They're the folks that do the full & comprehensive acf50 treatment
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Buzz on 18 September 2013, 10:48:43 am
Get it from Ebay, should be about £15 inc. del, you'll probably pay an extra fiver delivery from M&P. 
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: JZS 600 on 18 September 2013, 11:56:05 am
Can't say I've ever used ACF or anything like it, a good wash sorts it out  :D
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Frosties on 18 September 2013, 12:43:17 pm
Where's the best place to get ACF-50? Ta in advance.



Here you go Nick, do it yourself or make sure it's done properly for £60. Chuck in your postcode fella  :thumbup

 
Sorry, did you mean to put a link in there Frosties?



 :lol :lol  What a dick.


Try this, it may help Nick  [size=78%]http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Booking.html (http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Booking.html)[/size]
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: slimwilly on 18 September 2013, 12:54:44 pm
When i washed my bike last winter, the water stayed in the disk pads and against the disk,,now got rust marks on the disks,,crap, but how do you get the water from there?
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: noggythenog on 18 September 2013, 01:04:20 pm
When i washed my bike last winter, the water stayed in the disk pads and against the disk,,now got rust marks on the disks,,crap, but how do you get the water from there?


A leaf Blower!!!


Theres an excuse to go buy some more tools slim :)
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 September 2013, 01:21:52 pm
Where's the best place to get ACF-50? Ta in advance.



Here you go Nick, do it yourself or make sure it's done properly for £60. Chuck in your postcode fella  :thumbup

 
Sorry, did you mean to put a link in there Frosties?



 :lol :lol  What a dick.


Try this, it may help Nick  [size=78%]http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Booking.html ([url]http://www.allyearbiker.co.uk/Booking.html[/url])[/size]

 
Interesting stuff. When you first posted without the link, I thought, why do I want to pay £60 for someone to use a spray can on my bike!
I begin to see it now tho, and will seriously consider having the full process done (lots going on right now, so may have to start watching the pennies a little more closely soon, so can't do it right away). I think I ought to get those rusty exhaust studs replaced first tho, but if I don't get around to it, or find it's stopping me from getting the ACF treatment done, perhaps I'll go for it anyway and worry about the studs after. My bike comes up pretty good after I wash it myself, would be interesting to compare the difference after these guys have had a go. Have you had them do yours?
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Frosties on 18 September 2013, 01:46:27 pm
Had my Tiger done 2 yrs ago at the High Wycombe open meet - well worth it and matches the site's before & after pics. Was looking to get both done this year.


Might get a home visit booked with a few mates. Failing that then will go to the Farnborough meet on 19th & 20th October - 2 bikes in 1 day.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: bigbluebear on 18 September 2013, 01:50:29 pm
Hoping to be using my Fazer8 as much as possible over the winter months, any one got tips or nuggets of wisdom/experience on what to use and how to keep it in as good nick as possible?
 
cheers
 
David

Get a winter hack and put your F8 in the garage.....ice, snow, sleet, slush, salt, grit, grease......if you come off a winter hack then no worries.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 18 September 2013, 01:55:55 pm
Ice and snow conditions I won't ride in - seems like a pointless risk if you have other options (lessons learned a long time ago!). Cold and rain I can deal with as long as both the bike and myself are protected. But winter does sometimes present some nice days if you're wrapped up, so mine will remain taxed, insured etc throughout.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: andybesy on 18 September 2013, 02:13:05 pm
I did my pre-winter ACF 50 treatment last weekend.

Started with a really good clean, trying not to get distracted by detailing, just getting all the muck and grease off so I've got a good clean base to apply the ACF-50 to.

Then once clean and dry masked off the brake discs and callipers with newspaper.

Sprayed directly from the can on to the engine block, exhaust headers and can, the electrics up under the tank, the electrics under the seat, the rear suspension and linkages etc.

Used a cloth to spread around as required, by which pint you have an ACF-50 soaked cloth you can use to apply to more sensitive areas near tyres etc.

It goes on like a light oil like WD-40 or similar. If you've ever used on of the PTFE based predecessors it's much the same. Don't be shy with it.

It brings the black plastics and engine block up a treat, all looks nice and shiny after you're done. Things are left a little greasy but not so much as to be a problem.

Left it for a couple of hours because I always worry about fire, but then test rode it and no problems with electrics etc, although rather a lot of smoke!

Naturally the exhaust headers soon burn it off, but I think a proper coating as described above followed by a quick treatment once a month a so during winter is £15 well spent.

Andy

Oh just to add that I've never had any problems so far with it on electrics, felt a little nervous spraying it on the relays and spark plugs etc but it's been fine so far.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: Fuzzy on 18 September 2013, 02:29:05 pm
I've always used acf50 on connectors and other electrical bits, spark plugs etc - it's a corrosion inhibitor so it's good for that. It's also good as a lube for cables.
 
Spraying from the aerosol can is a messy business though, it sort of spits and dribbles out - think I'll look into using a spray pump bottle next time.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: chaz on 18 September 2013, 10:59:24 pm
I use mine all year round, but not in the wet if I can help it, if you get home dry then don't wash the bike even if there's salt on the road, wash it next fine day whan you can go out to dry it off and heat the brakes up, I give the fork legs a spray with WD40 if they're wet, my bikes 7 years old and 32k on the clock and though not perfect it's not bad.
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: david095 on 24 September 2013, 10:26:00 pm
Porridge in the morning.

 
got the hot grips, just need to fit them now, not tried the muffs - will have to try and dig them out. wasn't quite the quote I meant to do, still getting the hang of this but porridge - fair one  :lol
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: david095 on 24 September 2013, 10:31:51 pm
Hoping to be using my Fazer8 as much as possible over the winter months, any one got tips or nuggets of wisdom/experience on what to use and how to keep it in as good nick as possible?
 
cheers
 
David

Get a winter hack and put your F8 in the garage.....ice, snow, sleet, slush, salt, grit, grease......if you come off a winter hack then no worries.

 
got a four wheeled winter hack for when it gets proper sh*tty, not that much of an all year rounder - got to be a bit of a compromise there at my age?
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: david095 on 24 September 2013, 10:38:25 pm
Hi all, thanks for all the feed back chaps, had never heard of ACF 50 and always had old bikes in the past so never really worried about it too much but seems like its the way to go when weather turns 'salty'
 
Remarks about brake discs def taken on board both with acf 50 and rusting, might invest in a couple of cans of compressed air for the brakes?
 
cheers
 
David
Title: Re: Winter use and preparation
Post by: DryRob on 25 September 2013, 07:09:14 am
Or borrow a hair dryer?