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Pressure Washers

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  • January 18, 2017 at 1:52 pm #26677
    gthornton101

    Does anyone have experience with pressure washers for cleaning bikes?

    I’m looking for something to be able to clean a winter-ridden road bike or my hybrid that’s done some bridalways/muddy tow paths.  Nothing generally too muddy or MTB.

     

    I’ve always thought that you shouldn’t use pressure washers on bikes (even though pro teams do), or is it just not to use them directly on wheel bearings, bottom brackets, headsets etc?

     

    Something like the Mobi V-15 is all over cycle websites so seems like the go to option, or would the cheap as chips option (something like this https://bigwhitebox.co.uk/product/10l-portable-pressure-washer-sprayer/) still be effective?

     

    Advice and recommendations please!

     

    Thanks.

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  • January 19, 2017 at 2:22 pm #885463
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    gthornton101

    Thanks for the advice

    Thanks for the advice everyone, seems I’ll just invest in a bigger bucket (rather than a piddly old washing up bowl) and get stuck in!

    January 18, 2017 at 7:47 pm #885461
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    Anonymous

    I don’t have access to a hose

    These http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi-v-17-portable-bike-pressure-washer/rp-prod46653 do a brilliant job on all of my bikes. As previous posts have mentioned, a proper clean does need soapy water and a brush. BUT for a quick basic clean after a muddy bridlepath ride this will do the trick. I have to keep my bikes in the house so I give them a quick spray with Muc Off, wait a few minutes then pressure wash them realtaively clean. I do a proper clean every few weeks along with a service. The advantage of the battery operated washer is that the pressure is not enourmous (nothing like a proper pressure washer) and your bearings etc are not going to fill with water.

    January 18, 2017 at 6:41 pm #885459
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    madcarew

    The only reason pro crews get

    The only reason pro crews get to use pressure washers are because they are going to strip down the bike regularly and replace head and BB bearings. Don’t expect them to last a year if you do use a pressure washer. If you use a pressure washer you will force water and grime into the bearing seals. This comes from long experience working on bikes in bike shops, helping on race crews (for multi day mtb races) and I have 2 friends who work/ed on world tour teams. 

    Garden hose, dishwashing liquid and a soft long bristled brush.

    January 18, 2017 at 6:13 pm #885457
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    surly_by_name

    Pressure washer handy when

    Pressure washer handy when its very muddy and you are in a hurry otherwise I don’t think you need anything more than an ordinary garden hose with a spray nozzle (and I own a Karcher). Hose pipe has added benefit of reducing risk typically associated with use of pressure washers because water doesn’t come out of hose pipe at pressure sufficient to strip flesh from bone. Like Sergius, I’ve gone back to washing up liquid (Fairy liquid seems to do the job, including on the chain). Warm water is more pleasant than cold on a winter day but doesn’t seem to me to improve cleaning power. Brush/sponge to agitate dirt required, rinse. Only thing I dry is the chain, apply some light lube (Morgan Blue stuff works for me).

    January 18, 2017 at 5:42 pm #885455
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    kamoshika

    I’ve not used a pressure

    I’ve not used a pressure washer on my bikes, but I do have one of those manual pump sprays you can get from your preferred DIY emporium for weedkiller or fence preservative. That, a selection of brushes (I got the Muck Off brush set) and a bucket of hot soapy water (washing up liquid) followed by wiping down and re-lubing the drivechain does the job nicely, even on a filthy mountain bike.

    January 18, 2017 at 5:35 pm #885453
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    Mungecrundle

    Only on the mountain bike, on

    Only on the mountain bike, on those occasions when it’s hard to tell where some of the major components are due to the amount of mud. Pressure washer to dislodge the worst followed always with a proper wash, just basic car shampoo and warm water. Dry off with an old t-shirt and attend to anything that needs lubrication.

    A pressure washer is not a magic way of cleaning your bicycle quicker or better if that is what you are hoping for. Personally I would never use it on my good road bike.

    January 18, 2017 at 5:29 pm #885451
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    Jimthebikeguy.com

    I used to jetwash. Then i had
    I used to jetwash. Then i had to buy a new freehub, jockey wheels and bottom bracket. Now i dont jetwash anymore. Leave it to the cyclocross pit crews. For everyone else, soap and bucket and one of those microfibre cleaning mitts are brilliant.

    January 18, 2017 at 4:31 pm #885449
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    sergius

    I certainly have done in the

    I certainly have done in the past, though don’t tend to any more.  It’s not like it made the job any easier – you still need to agitate the dirt with a sponge.

     

    Having tried various expensive bike cleaning products, I’ve gone back to washing up liquid.

     

    – Take a normal hose, wash off the majority of muck and mud

    – Warm water with washing up liquid and a sponge, give bike a clean

    – Hose it down again

    – Dry with an old t-shirt

     

    For the drive chain it depends which bike I’m on.  My best bike uses wax lubricant which you essentially just rub off with an old rag and re-apply.  On my winter bike I use oil lubricants; again I  use an old cloth to remove excess oil once a week, before re-applying lube.  Once a month or so I’ll degrease it properly.

     

    All you need is a good supply of old t-shirts etc!

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