A bit fed up of sticking rags in my lowers with a rod trying to get the old oil out with isopropyl alcohol. That stuff is a pretty weak solvent/degreaser, there must be something better to use, like brake cleaner ? What do you guys use ?
which degreaser for overhaul
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That's because you don't need to:
1) Remove every last drop of old oil (good luck getting past the bumpers in the lowers), or
2) Scrub them surgically clean (few/any places for dirt to hide with the rag on a stick combo)
If the lowers are absolutely filthy, one of two things happened; you either cleaned the arch after removing the CSU, or really need to service the fork more often.
If you HAVE to have a strong solvent (remembering: not every problem is a nail), you can get suspension cleaner from Maxima (also re-badged from Rockshox). It does an excellent job removing residues from the outside of a fork after a service, but I think you'll find it has the same problem of leaving a [minor] film in the bottom of the fork casting.
Stronger solvents can easily damage the finish. Even 90%+ IPA can lighten some finishes. Best to run a few rags into it with 70-80% and call it a day. I'll use a bio-remediating parts washer for very dirty forks, but that's not exactly a consumer setup.
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I've used an auto detailing cleaner designed to remove polishing oils before applying a ceramic coating called Carpro Eraser. It's safe on just about all surfaces.
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Many years of fork rebuilds I have never needed or used a degreaser...not on any part of a bike.
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Awesome! Soap and hot water! youve recommended some really fantastic stuff in the past. Ive used isopropyl and then a high pressure aur to help displace water to prevent rust, ive found air dry isnt practical. Takes days. Thoughts?
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Using hot enough water for the rinse so that the metal doesn't cool off while you towel dry it will cause most of the residual to evaporate. Yes, you could use some compressed air to help displace any water in nooks and crannies. Rust is not going to be a factor with fork lowers as they will be aluminum or magnesium alloy.
I have been using Simple Green and Castrol Super Clean, depending on whether the parts have silk screened lettering or decals (not a big fan of decals)- Super Clean at full strength can damage silk screening and metallized plastic. I cleaned the chains with slightly diluted Green and it did a great job without causing rust, but the chain is steel and now that I have checked, I'm done with both because they can damage Aluminum and some finishes.
My first bikes were all steel, heavy like tanks. Those didn't care what was used to remove oil & grease but Aluminum & some other metals are a lot more sensitive to strong solvents.
This discussion has some interesting points-
My first bikes were all steel, heavy like tanks. Those didn't care what was used to remove oil & grease but Aluminum & some other metals are a lot more sensitive to strong solvents.
This discussion has some interesting points-
Simple Green and Aluminum Embrittlement
I've had long-term concerns about Simple Green due to some negative experiences with it. I know some people love the product and say there's no issue o
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If you need a degreaser for this application then this should not damage anything in fork lower assembly. Dawn Powerwash dish soap also is very effective when cleaning bike parts.
Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner
Simple Green | Industrial | Extreme Aircraft Precision Cleaner
Extreme Simple Green® Aircraft & Precision Cleaner
Simple Green | Industrial | Extreme Aircraft Precision Cleaner
Maybe water is not such a bad idea:
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Don't use degreasers inside forks unless it's absolutely necessary. You're better to wash them out with oil or water/detergent but if you use water you've got to get them totally dry.
The drying time is incompatible with production so we swab them out and only use cleaners when nothing else works.
If your fork is well maintained then lower legs can be simply drained and foam rings squished clean between paper towels.
The drying time is incompatible with production so we swab them out and only use cleaners when nothing else works.
If your fork is well maintained then lower legs can be simply drained and foam rings squished clean between paper towels.
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