Kerosene - what will it help/harm

[bert_is_evil]

I've been trolling through old threads and it seems to be universally agreed that kerosene is the favoured stuff for removing the nasty gunge that builds up around your chain and wheels (spodge?) - it works great and it's cheap. But what should you avoid getting it on (and degree of avoidence required)? rubber/chrome/paint/plastic/pets/brakes etc

[Hitcher]

Don't drink it. It will bugger your liver.

Otherwise it's OK on most surfaces on a motorcycle -- in moderation -- except brakes.

[bistard]

Mr Hitcher,dont forget,it would be very,very bad on tyres!!!

[Ixion]

It's relatively innocuous. AFAIK no problems with normal bike plastics or rubber (though best not to get it on your tyres). Not harmful to humans or pets unless ingested (so best not to spray the dog, who will lick it off), or in the eye (painful , but not dangerous). I'm assuming you don't bathe in it

Keep it away from brakes, just on principle.

Main thing to remember is that it has a distinct and, to many, unpleasant smell, that can be very hard to get rid of. So don't spill it on porous or absorbant surfaces. Like your seat.

[ManDownUnder]

Don't spill it on your pants or underwear. It's oil based sure but the lube effect is lost once the burning sets in.

If you do try it make sure you have water handy, a change of underwear and be within 2 minutes of medical assistance (Urology is best)

[Grub]

Main thing to remember is that it has a distinct and, to many, unpleasant smell, that can be very hard to get rid of. So don't spill it on porous or absorbant surfaces. Like your seat.

Or your driveway :(

I have been using CRC for the same job, seems it's the only thing it *should* be used for. Bit expensive though, kero sounds better if it does the job

[bert_is_evil]

So if you were to say clean your wheel rims with kero, would washing off the residue with some car wash soap then rinsing with the hose be sufficient to keep it off your tyres or would that just wash the residue off your rims and onto your tyres?

I shall avoid using my undies as a cleaning rag also

[ManDownUnder]

And now for a serious answer.

It's a penetrant so (as Ixion said) don't spill it on anything you don't want smelling of Kero. It's also an oil based substance so it makes stuff slippery (brake disks and the like do NOT appreciate being slippery). Use Meths in place of ero if you need to work on those surfaces.

Leather and vinyl won't like it, cloth doesn't seem to mind too much although it will accelerate deterioration in the mid to long term.

To be extra safe, take off your watch and jewelery before using it - it can get held under them and stay on your skin (under the watch strap for instance) and the irritation I jokingly referred to above WILL come to get you. It's not nice.

I think that's all...?

[Ixion]

Don't spill it on your pants or underwear. It's oil based sure but the lube effect is lost once the burning sets in.

If you do try it make sure you have water handy, a change of underwear and be within 2 minutes of medical assistance (Urology is best)

The burning is not too bad. Harden up. But, word to the wise (about a risk MUCH more important than mere skin irritation). When you do spill the stuff on y' clothes (as you will, as you will), do NOT toss said kero soaked clothes into the wash along with all the other stuff. You may not care that your grunds will ever after be redolent of kero. But your wife/girlfriend/partner/boyfriend/goat WILL care when her/his silky lacy expensive underthings so reek. This will lead inevitably to domestic disharmony. Trust me on this.

[Freakshow]

I recon a trip to Super cheap and buy a 4l bottle of degreaser works just as good and cheaper!

[Sanx]

Kerosene's great for getting rid of sticky black chain shite. Keep some degreaser handy though. Use kerosene and brush (Repco do a brush for mag wheels that works quite well) for the chain and sprockets. Then wipe with a rag soaked in degreaser (the Clean Green stuff's good for this). Then hose off. Then re-lube thoroughly. If you get any kerosene on your tyres, do the same, but spray with water before you wipe with degreaser - it'll make the bits with kerosene on them really obvious.

[imdying]

Just like CRC, it will RAPE your brake rubbers if you get it on them. Keep it well away from your calipers etc.

[RantyDave]

I recon a trip to Super cheap and buy a 4l bottle of degreaser works just as good and cheaper!
I've been cleaning my chain with el cheapo spray on degreaser. While it works just fine I've been a bit concerned about whether or not it's doing any damage to the chain itself - O-rings?

Anyone know more than me? Should I be concerned?

Dave

[paturoa]

So if you were to say clean your wheel rims with kero, would washing off the residue with some car wash soap then rinsing with the hose be sufficient to keep it off your tyres or would that just wash the residue off your rims and onto your tyres?

I shall avoid using my undies as a cleaning rag also

I use 3 rags, cruddy one soaked in kero, but not so much that it drips on stuff, to do the majority of the cleaning.

2nd one also with kero, but keep using clean part to wipe up and 3rd with no kero to clean last bit.

I avoid brakes, rubber, fairings etc on principal, so I have no idea if it would have any impact. It is also good for getting the black shite off the exhaust and cans.

[merv]

Mr Hitcher,dont forget,it would be very,very bad on tyres!!!

I use it every time I clean any of our bikes and even if it gets on the tyres it is fine provided you squirt if off nicely with the hose. Kero is definitely the cheapest and most effective cleaner for the gunge - buy it cheap by the litre at your supermarket.

My cleaning process is kero all the gunge off sprocket, swingarm, wheels and vicinity using an old toothbrush keeping it off the brake pads, then hose it down making the bike look shiny new, then I sponge the whole bike with car wash and then rinse it off with the hose again. the alst aprt is take it for a ride to dry it off, then lube everything nicely when you get back.

Clean them like I say and this is what a 13 year old bike can look like http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3205&d=1093676652

[jimbo]

Clean them like I say and this is what a 13 year old bike can look like http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3205&d=1093676652[/QUOTE]

:gob: Wow.That is one seriuosly tidy(mint)bike.How many Ks on it?

[What?]

So if you were to say clean your wheel rims with kero, would washing off the residue with some car wash soap then rinsing with the hose be sufficient to keep it off your tyres or would that just wash the residue off your rims and onto your tyres?


That's what I have done for the last 30-odd years with no issues. My rear tyre regularly gets drowned in kero - just wash it off with pleanty of warm, soapy water.


I've been cleaning my chain with el cheapo spray on degreaser. While it works just fine I've been a bit concerned about whether or not it's doing any damage to the chain itself - O-rings?

Anyone know more than me? Should I be concerned?

Dave

Yep - aerosol degreasers (and many others) are not good on o-rings. Use kerosene.

[merv]

:gob: Wow.That is one seriuosly tidy(mint)bike.How many Ks on it?

I do let our bikes get dirty because I'm not one to clean them often but when I do I do it properly.

As we have a number of bikes and are really only weekend riders my VFR has only about 45,000km on it. When I first got it I was doing about 5,000km a year but have done less in the last few years due to other commitments and interests including my old favourite of dirt biking.

I've said on other threads though, look after your bike and it will run and look like new for a long time.

[Pixie]

Blue kero may discolour paint after looong exposure.
You can get clear kero from TMK Packers 09 273 3753.
Kero's good as it dissolves tar and you can treat cooties with it

[TOTO]

Blue kero may discolour paint after looong exposure.
You can get clear kero from TMK Packers 09 273 3753.
Kero's good as it dissolves tar and you can treat cooties with it

Seeing that this post is over more than a year old , can you still get it from the same place ?


Bloody useful thread this one :niceone:

[howdamnhard]

Jet a1 works just as well (purified kerosene),keep it off rubber though.Wash it off with soapy water if you get it on your tyres.

[koba]

Seeing that this post is over more than a year old , can you still get it from the same place ?


Bloody useful thread this one :niceone:

Its more recent than when I last washed my bike....

[scumdog]

I shall avoid using my undies as a cleaning rag also


Especialy when actually wearing them of course...;)

[scumdog]

As a side-note: I used some old stale petrol to clean the chain and sprockets on my MOuntain-bike.

It ferkin disolved the chain-guard right off my front sprocket.

Don't use this shit.

[The Stranger]

Don't spill it on your pants or underwear. It's oil based sure but the lube effect is lost once the burning sets in.

If you do try it make sure you have water handy, a change of underwear and be within 2 minutes of medical assistance (Urology is best)

No MDU, my instructions said DON'T light it.

[CB ARGH]

Make sure that you do it with good ventilation or outdoors, the fumes from the liquid make me feel a bit cookoo :sick:

The stuff makes the chain look like new again!

[RobRod]

Instead of kero or degreasers I use a solvent called pegasol (Mobil white petrol)to clean chain gunge and road tar of stuff, I know it does not effect rubber components as it is used at work o lip seals & o rings etc. Worth a try if you can get some

[bikerboy011]

I use it to clean my rims and chain, it works pretty good ay

[Forest]

Seeing that this post is over more than a year old , can you still get it from the same place ?


Bloody useful thread this one :niceone:

Yes you can.

The TMK in TMK Packers stands for Turpentine, Methylated Spirits, Kerosene.

It is a great place to get bulk packs. They also sell Isopropol alcohol and other useful stuff. Very reasonable prices.

[bert_is_evil]

You can also get 5L containers of the clear stuff from The Warehouse

[cruza]

Kerosene is one of the better options , not to hard on rubber etc. degreasers have a lot of harsh additives.

[TOTO]

You can also get 5L containers of the clear stuff from The Warehouse

o is that right. will pop in tomorrow and check how much it is.