How to clean the OUTSIDE of a radiator.

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by BicycleMechanic, May 27, 2017.

  1. BicycleMechanic

    BicycleMechanic New Member

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    Hi,

    I have a 1999 VFR800, the anniversary model. It has a slow speed overheating problem which has been getting slowly worse over the last couple of years.

    I've done all the usual things to fix overheating. The only problem I can find is the left side radiator which was covered in greasy road dirt on the inside, explaining why the fan didn't seem to be as effective as it once was.

    I've cleaned the dirt off as best I can with a brush and a hose but there still seems to be a lot of dirt down in the matrix. I'm struggling to get at it with a brush and I don't want to use a pressure washer because the radiator seems rather delicate. It's not much tougher than aluminium, cooking foil.

    Can anyone suggest a way of cleaning the dirt out without damaging the radiator?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. sarge383

    sarge383 New Member

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    try a degreaser that wont hurt aluminium spray it on and let it soak. garden hose to rinse as to not fold the fins over.
     
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Agreed. WD40 makes a good cleaner too. You might try a paintbrush to agitate the degreaser and wash off with a car soap after the degreaser to remove remnants of the degreaser. When it is still very wet, carefully try applying some compressed air/ But that too can bend the fins if you are not careful. If you can get to the back side, I would be spraying everything from the back side out too.
     
  4. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Wal*Mart carries a product called "Purple Power". Aboot seven pesos for a gallon. Normal useage in dilute form. RTFM

    Another is "Gunk" also used in dilute form if purchased in bulk. For degreasing a bike radiator, a rattle can of the stuff will be more than enough. RTFM

    Pressure washers are adjustable and come in many configurations and tip types. Some are even two stage and are used to strip coatings from boat hulls. Cranked down, some of the smaller units can be used to water flower beds.

    This is not to say that fixing a Rolex with a crowbar is a good idea but it depends mostly on the dude who is doing the repair.
     
  5. sarge383

    sarge383 New Member

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    purple power should not be used on aluminum it will cause rapid oxidation. dont get it on any polished aluminum.
     
  6. vdrive

    vdrive New Member

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    many of my utv friends like to go mudding & have clogged radiators often ,flushing slowly with water & dawn soapy water from the back side seems to work as well .on the vfr , i would just remove rad & soak in a pan of white vinegar then rinse with low pressure.
     
  7. Lint

    Lint Member

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    Darth Vader likes this.
  8. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Purple Power is used full strength for some applications and diluted 15:1 with water for others. I would not use it on polished radiators.
     
  9. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    One of the major fractions in both Cal-Green and at least the general purpose version of Simple Green (a shitload of that stuff) is sodium citrate a/o citric acid.

    Kind of like lemonade without the sugar.

    To find what most chemical based products are made of, or from or contain, plug the product name into Google + MSDS.
     
  10. Lint

    Lint Member

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    This lists the Simple Green ingredients in the ingredients tab.
    http://simplegreen.com/industrial/products/foaming-coil-cleaner/
     
  11. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    I sure hope the green in Simple Green isn't the same stuff they use in Soylent Green.
     
  12. fink

    fink Member

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    Sadly billy we don't have Walmart over in uk.
     
  13. dhinson66

    dhinson66 New Member

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    Sadly? I hope that's British sarcasm .

    Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
     
  14. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    turn your air compressor down to about 60psi and blast ! :triumphant:

    take the time to straighten any bent fins.
     
  15. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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  16. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Put it in the dishwasher!

    Just don't let your wife find out. They kind of freak out.
     
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  17. NormK

    NormK New Member

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    Billy, is the Walmart stuff for real or is it a case of how stupid I can look so I end up on a Walmart pic?
     
  18. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Wal*Mart stores differ in size, merchandise and services. The look in the actual stores I have been in..(not that many really) have a sameness both on the outside and especially on the inside. Color, shelf arrangement, graphics, checkout stands ect. In all those pics there may be some that are not actually shot in a Wal*Mart store.

    My money is on damn few..
     
  19. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Just tank them to a radiator shop and have them hot tank 'em. No fuss, no muss, takes a couple hours and they come out spotless.
     
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  20. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Norcalboy must be going into the motorcycle radiator sales biz.

    Radiator hot tanks use a mix of "caustic soda" and H20. Caustic soda is lye or more specifically sodium hydroxide. At Wal*Mart and other fine purveyors of things chemical,you can buy a can of the stuff for aboot 1/1000 of its actual cost under the "Drano" brand. 50 pesos will get you a sack full.

    Old timey method for stripping paint was lye mixed with flour. In a rattle can, it's oven cleaner. Dump some into a plastic soft drink jug, toss in some crumpled up aluminum foil, let it gurgle for awhile and if you have plugged a long fuse or a model rocket starter into the jug beforehand. Light it off and run. Kind of a Junior Hindenberg effect.

    Another use around the old homestead is making soap. For that you'll need one of those cute little kits or just wait until its time to butcher a hog or two. Do not confuse this with purposely disassembling a Harley.

    BTW a slosh in a hot tank will also clean the inside of your bikes radiator too. Or if ya leave it in long enough, maybe Norcalboy will cut you a deal on one of his, made in East Timor.

    Now ya know why they never found Jimmy Hoffa.
     
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