Which solvent to clean out forks?

[fizzafulla]

Hi folks,

What is a good solvent to clean the crap out of my forks that will not
harm the rubber?

Thanks.

[Dan Mapp]

Brakeclean

[Pumba]

Brakeclean

Will destroy rubber

[Motu]

You don't have rubber in your forks,clean them with whatever you like.

[Dan Mapp]

Wheel clyinder cups are made of rubber thats why they inverted brakeclean Wouldn't be much good if it f**ked what it is designed to clean

[Pedrostt500]

I find it just as easy to replace the fork seals every time that the fork oil needs replacing, I just use an ordinary degreaser, and I dont wash out the degreaser with water after, though blowing out the exess degreaser with compresed air if available,if not invert the fork outer cases and let them stand for a little while, in most casses fork seals are realitivley cheap.
I use some Rubber grease when reassembling the fork seals, this just helps with initial lubrication, and also prolongs the life of the seals.
I would be wary of using breakclean on rubber components as it does break down some rubber compounds.
Supper Cheap has a degreaser for about $4 a can, I normaly get a few cans of this as some times it pays to clean as much of the dirt and muck out that you can so some times I clean them 2 or 3 times, this is one job where it pays to be a bit fussy.

[Pumba]

You don't have rubber in your forks,clean them with whatever you like.

True not in your forks, but I was thinking more in the line of the fork seals themselves which are rubber

Wheel clyinder cups are made of rubber thats why they inverted brakeclean Wouldn't be much good if it f**ked what it is designed to clean

Cant be arsed going to the shed to see what the can acually says but I am pretty sure that it said kep away from rubber parts and seals. Hey if I am wrong I accept that, shit happens, move on.

[Motu]

True not in your forks, but I was thinking more in the line of the fork seals themselves which are rubber
.

Not rubber,and never been rubber.They are designed to keep the oil in,and therefore oil resistant.

[fizzafulla]

Thanks for the replies.

I might look for a degreaser that isn't in a can so I can swish
it through everything.
What about kerosene? meths?

[Pussy]

Kerosene does the trick

[Jerry74]

Kero works well or use Aeroclean degreaser

[Robert Taylor]

Kerosene does the trick

As a first low cost degreaser yes, and leave to drain off as much as possible.
Followed by a low flash point ''soft'' non residue contact cleaner on the non rubber parts in forks to remove the remaining oily kerosine residue. Especially in cartridge forks there are a number of rubber based 'o' rings.
If you leave any oily residue it will homogenise with the new oil and effectively lower its performance and stability.
You can only completely clean forks by a complete strip. The oil that remains between the inner and outer legs is significant, even after ''fooling yourself'' with repeated flushing.

[Max Preload]

Not rubber,and never been rubber.They are designed to keep the oil in,and therefore oil resistant.

Oil isn't a solvent. Nitrile is acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, which is synthetic and is often blended with natural rubber. There are various nitrile components that can be degraded by a solvent such as brake clean.

Wheel clyinder cups are made of rubber thats why they inverted brakeclean Wouldn't be much good if it f**ked what it is designed to clean

Read the can. Same with carburettor cleaners. "Shield rubber components from overspray" is what most of them say. Why? Because it fucks them. Not right before your eyes, but gradually.

[imdying]

I would be wary of using breakclean on rubber components as it does break down some rubber compounds.

Read the can. Same with carburettor cleaners. "Shield rubber components from overspray" is what most of them say. Why? Because it fucks them. Not right before your eyes, but gradually.

Yep, it's true, Brakeclean is nastier than it looks. I would be reluctant to spray it on a braking system that was in service, but if you must, make sure it's hosed down afterwards. Hot soapy water is great, it eats very little. I know people are a little afraid of hard work these days, but sometimes doing it the long way with simple things like soap and water is still better.

[marty]

take them to subway and run them under the nevershutofftap