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/at...5&d=1093676652