Anyone clean their bike at the track with a 12v carcube pressure washer?

**laserracer** · 30th July 2009, 14:40

Just want to know what they are like? do they have enough pressure? and enough water ?would be good to be able to clean bikes between races especially when its really muddy
petrol washers are a bit bulky for our trailer and the water tank to supply it would be too heavy

**YellowDog** · 30th July 2009, 15:04

I'd like to be proved wrong however IME there is no way you can possible get enough power from a 12v unit for a decent pressure wash.

Lug the petrol one along.

**Reckless** · 30th July 2009, 15:48

yeh but if you have a squirty bottle of the old dynamo you don't need high pressure!!
Might just work!! Scrap the heavy crap off with the old plastic spatchler, dynamo it, and hopefully that water blaster would do the job.
I haven't used a blaster on my bikes for a year or more to protect the seals and bearings etc only ever use the hose now.

You mean these http://carcube.co.nz/4901/index.html
or this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-230549584.htm
Even cheaper http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-232071884.htm

That might just work laserracer! I think you should be the tester for us!! LOL!!!

**tommorth** · 30th July 2009, 16:13

saw somthing similar to that in action at the two man dont recon it would do much for mud but probably great to get sand dust etc off

**B0000M** · 30th July 2009, 17:34

Originally Posted by Reckless

I haven't used a blaster on my bikes for a year or more to protect the seals and bearings etc only ever use the hose now.

i hear this a lot here, and i dont understand how it works. for me dynamo seems to make little difference, and theres no way the mud my bike gets coated in is guna come off with the hose. the hose works just fine for sand or some other kinds of dirt, but mostly for me all it does is make wetter mud.

**laserracer** · 30th July 2009, 17:35

Well i think i just might buy one, seeing as i own a mobile car valet business i sorta know how much pressure you need, and its not that much , all my water blasters are low pressure units, its the 2000 psi plus units that can do the damage ive always washed my bikes with a pressure washer and never had a problem but then i use low pressure and dont get in close to sensitive bits
OK i'll be the crash test dummy... will let you know how i get on...GEE'S the things i do for you guys

p.s i thought dynamo was a thing on a bycycle wheel to power the lights

Originally Posted by Reckless

yeh but if you have a
squirty bottle of the old dynamo you don't need high pressure!!
Might just work!! Scrap the heavy crap off with the old plastic spatchler, dynamo it, and hopefully that water blaster would do the job.
I haven't used a blaster on my bikes for a year or more to protect the seals and bearings etc only ever use the hose now.

You mean these http://carcube.co.nz/4901/index.html
or this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-230549584.htm
Even cheaper http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-232071884.htm

That might just work laserracer! I think you should be the tester for us!! LOL!!!

**B0000M** · 30th July 2009, 17:39

hmm, just compared the specs- at 130psi, and only 4 litres per minute, it has neither pressuer nor volume in its favour. to compare specs, a cheapy karacha ($200 jobbies) are 1400psi... so this produces less than 10%.. and one of them can take a while to clean a bike.... so i cant see it being too brilliant

**laserracer** · 30th July 2009, 17:45

ok have a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40fiVr_4iv8

its no water blaster, but hey you dont have to cart a petrol powered waterblaster around with you and a huge water tank, probably wont clean the clay off the bike from patetonga mx track but oh well might as well give it a go

**B0000M** · 30th July 2009, 18:42

theres some petrol powered ones on tardme for around the $400 mark new, looks kinda inviting

**cheese** · 30th July 2009, 19:25

What about setting up a trailer that catches the water and recyles it. you could put a filter unit that dumps the mud and chunky bits.

I'd say you'd be better off with a cheap kratcher one and an inverter.

**camchain** · 30th July 2009, 19:35

I love having a dirty bike on the trailer all the way home. Cleaning the bugger when you get there is another matter though.

**B0000M** · 30th July 2009, 20:38

Originally Posted by cheese

What about setting up a trailer that catches the water and recyles it. you could put a filter unit that dumps the mud and chunky bits.

I'd say you'd be better off with a cheap kratcher one and an inverter.

a 1.5kw inverter?

**Reckless** · 30th July 2009, 20:41

Originally Posted by B0000M

i hear this a lot here, and i dont understand how it works. for me dynamo seems to make little difference, and theres no way the mud my bike gets coated in is guna come off with the hose. the hose works just fine for sand or some other kinds of dirt, but mostly for me all it does is make wetter mud.

I can only tell you what works for me. And I think Dynamo is bloody good!
I go for a thrash through the grass to flick the mud outed the knobblies then I always clean the underguards etc with a plastic scrapper I have in the tool kit before leaving say Kimis, only 5 mins work but it means you don't end up with a bucket of mud you can't wash down the drain at home. When I get home, hose off as much dirt as poss. We have good hose pressure but I don't spray it till its anywhere near clean just the big dags off. Then spray all surfaces, incl tyres, with a 100ml in 1 litre mix off dynamo. If you get that 2x strength stuff I only use 50ml in a litre a bottle of dynamo lasts quite well. Remove the Air filter and install the filter bung so you can clean inside there with the dynamo as well. The trick I have found is to cover all areas with the spray and leave it for a while to let the hungry enzymes do there thing. If ya haven't sprayed it, it won't be clean. I hang my armour on the fence which where a pain in the ass to clean before dynamo, hydration pack and boots give them a squirt, then hose them all off and bobs your uncle. If ya Dynamo the bike first then do all the gear enough time has past to hose off the bike generally. Mostly don't use a brush when washing off but if its really crappy it hepls to go over it after the first rinse off. Then CRC over most of it, oil the chain, Wipe the fork legs with an oily rag and put it away! Pretty quick over all.
Just my method each to their own??
Actually just had an Idea! I might use our weed killer sprayer that'll be easier than the 1L hand squirt bottle i have and I can mix 5L at a time!! Shit glad I typed this!!
Btw it generally takes about 2/3 of a bottle per bike and gear! Sometimes I'll get away with a 1L mix if I'm doin both bikes at the same time.