Tar, oil and what ever else is there

do you have a favorite product to get stuff that is caked on around bolts and other places around the bottom of bike. I'm using a wire brush and some other improvised tools - any chemicals you would suggest.

 

Zep makes a couple of products that work quite well, Zep O. D. Red and the Orange Citrus. Both pretty safe to use on the entire bike but would steer clear of the wind screen and the O D Red is stupid flamable.......makes gasoline look like water ( had a really good fire in the garage last summer). No getting around the elbow grease though, a bit of scrubbing is still required for tough grime.

 

brake cleaner/ contact cleaner works well on oilly and greasy residue

 

Paint thinner works pretty well on tar splatter, and WD40 does a decent job on oily or greasy stuff. I generally use Protect All afterwards to remove the chemical residue and protect the surface.

 

thanks to all for your recommendations.

 

WD-40 and a toothbrush. Works like a charm.

 

can you use WD-40 to clean a chain. I know chains are touchy if you have an 0-rings...I think that's what they are called O-rings.

 

Watch out with WD-40 on the chain. WD-40 is more of a solvent and a poor lubrication chemical. If you do use it to clean your chain, make sure you dunk it in oil. (well not really a bath but dont skimp on it.) I don't know about the O-ring and WD safety. I would personaly avoid using it just for that fact, and stick with a bunch of oil, a rag and some time rubbing that thing. Sqeaky chains are a pet peive of mine. they drive me nuts. I tend to over lub the chain with oil and cake the one side of the rear tire with oil. Not good. But the chain is quiet!

 

Gunk. Get the concentrate and mix your own with pump diesel. RTFM