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View Full Version : What do you use to wash your quad?



gncc025
06-09-2007, 06:34 AM
just picked up some greased lightning blast. first time to use it. anyone ever heard of it? i usually use simple green and turtle car wash but i figured i would try something new. what do you guys usually use?

gncc025
06-09-2007, 07:57 AM
one more thing. what do you use to make the plastics shine?

JW450R1
06-10-2007, 05:20 AM
I usually just power wash it.Then the next day when it's dry just wipe it down with some spray nine.As for making the fenders shine.I use a tire gel on a sponge.Some people use wd-40.
It also depends on the color too.

ceofuller
06-10-2007, 08:13 AM
Powerwash followed by Simple Green.

gncc025
06-15-2007, 09:23 PM
\ the greased lightning blast works great. i def suggest trying it. i used wd-40 on the plastic, it works good too

pro-rider46
06-17-2007, 07:38 PM
that tire gel safe on graphics

computergamer12
06-29-2007, 11:18 AM
i water hose works for me lol

JW450R1
06-29-2007, 11:44 AM
yea,i've used it for about 3 years now.It's Blue Ice Tire & Trim Gel.The # on the side of the bottle is S-67-Q.It works great on red,black,blue,green.

04blasterkid
07-08-2007, 07:15 PM
for shine on plastic/tire/rubber i used stp son of a gun.. it comes in a yellow bottle.. works great, and i use a powerwasher or hose...

mx825
07-08-2007, 09:11 PM
pressure wash. wd-40. armor all. respectively.

firefighterjosh
07-08-2007, 09:40 PM
My after race wash on my king quad

1st: Power was with water only to get all chunks and most mud off.

2nd, take off front plastic peices and sometimes skids.

3rd: Power wash again this time using soap and water.

4th: take front rims/tires off and wash mud out of brakes.

5th: Start up quad to make sure everything drys in all the nook and crannies of the engine.

6th: WD40 every thing I can reach including plastic and wipe off. (makes cleaning easier next time)

7th: Wipe down all rubber plastics with armor all

8th: reinstall plastic

9th: take for quick test drive.

Ron89
07-09-2007, 11:08 PM
I just use soap and a pressure washer. Simple Green doesn't do jack for me. I personally don't think it has that big of an effect on muddy bikes.

An old mechanic once told me that regular dawn dish soap is all he used to clean engine blocks and such. After using expensive degreasers and cleaners, he found the dishsoap lifts the dirt off the surface, not mixes with it. Plus it is much cheaper. Dish soap is basically a degreaser when you thing about it!

RTJ
07-10-2007, 08:45 PM
power washer & armoral tire foam . quick easy and really makes them shine

Jersey450R
08-02-2007, 08:36 PM
S-100 followed by wd and armorall in the right areas :) :)

Eviltanker
08-06-2007, 07:09 AM
Maquires car wash (the purple stuff) then Armorall on the plastic.

mittman
08-11-2007, 12:41 PM
just use purple power and armorall protectent wax you can get that at walmart

allstock
08-12-2007, 07:07 PM
power wash, car wash or dish soap on the plastics, simple green then hose it off. then wd-40 the plastics and let it soak in the right before my race i spray the whole bike down with wd again

mx1791
08-16-2007, 09:31 PM
powerwasher sometimes. simple green. and carwash soap for the plastics. then armorall the plastics and a arms

08-17-2007, 06:08 AM
I've been using x-tream clean xtc mx / atv wash. It's the best at removing mud and grease and also puts a good shine on the quads. I haven't found anything even close to removing mud and other gunk better and you don't have to worry about it messing anything up like decals, plastic or the metal. I've had some bad experiences with other "household" cleaners. I also us their mud guard product after cleaning. Makes cleaning easier on the next wash.

awlogeman
09-12-2007, 02:02 PM
dont use armor all on the seat it gets real slick and slippery

badquad
09-14-2007, 02:59 PM
I use Dawn Dish Soap.. Unless I am buying a used quad that has oil, grease and crap all over it I use a engine cleaner, then the dawn.. When I am done I use a towel and dry what I can off, then use pledge for the plastic.. It works good, and the dust does not stick on it to much.

d3ktrix
09-18-2007, 09:47 AM
Sometimes power washer if the muds thick, then simple green or car wash w/ a sponge.
Armorall the plastics and a-arms.

If the engine gets real mud stained after a while I use some alum wheel cleaner on it. Shines it right up =)

yernkie
10-01-2007, 07:33 PM
Mop and Glo seems to work pretty good on yellow plastics.

10-07-2007, 10:18 PM
F21 by Turtlewax, in the green spray bottle.Put that on your plastics and other parts and its like new. It's amazing ,especially if you have black plastics.

gncc025
10-08-2007, 08:49 PM
any tips on cleaning the engine?

yernkie
10-08-2007, 08:54 PM
I just spray my engine down good with O'Reilly's engine degreaser, let it sit for 5 minutes, then hose it off. Make sure the engine is cooled down first.

10-09-2007, 05:48 AM
X-tream Clean MX / ATV Wash will clean the whole quad. Engine, frame, plastic, tires....don't need anything else.

groundhog_464
11-01-2007, 03:41 PM
Spray off mud and dirt with a water hose, spray the quad down with simple green, let set about 10 to 15 minutes, spray off then wash with a bug and tar sponge with the mesh netting, dry then wipe plastic with nu-vinyl.

11-01-2007, 06:53 PM
I'm telling ya, if you just use X-Tream Clean MX / ATV Wash you don't need all the other stuff like pledge, bug and tar sponge,
wd-40, armorall, mop & glo, engine degreaser.

zeus54
11-02-2007, 11:56 PM
PURPLE POWER!!!!!!!!!! THEN I WASH WITH POWERWASH NOT GETTING REAL CLOSE TO THE ENGINE SEALS AND GASKETS. BLOW DRY WITH AIR ATTACHMENT AFTER I'M SATISFIED IT'S CLEAN. THEN USE JUST ABOUT ANY KIND OF SILICONE SPRAY I HAVE ON HAND USUALLY VASELINE FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE. HA-HA. MAKE SURE YOU ARMOR ALL YOUR SEAT AND GRIPS REALLY WELL TOO:devil:

Drewltr450
11-04-2007, 08:56 PM
to really clean your rims and swing arm and axle and tires take a brillow bad its steal wool with soap mixed in with it you can buy it at any supermarket wet the quad down and put the back up on jack but make sure you can let the wheels spin put it in first and let it idle and aply the brillow pad to all the moving things axle wheels tires it makes them shine like factoy shine and then go over you swingarm, and chain if you want makes it so clean and do the same for he front tires and rims jack the front up put yull have to move the rims and tires yourself i wouldnt try this on painted thing because it scratches it easily but on any aluminum its amazing

hondarider101
11-23-2007, 07:13 PM
1. wet w/ water hose/ stand it up on rear bumper
2. spray MeanGreen all over it
3. let it sit
4.wash w/ a soapy wrag
5. use toothbrush on needed areas
6.rinse
7. let run so it drys up and more water while i blow it off w/ the air compressor.
8. try rest off w/ towel

thats how i keep my motor and stuff clean!!:macho

it works really good

andyman450r
11-27-2007, 05:46 PM
Try honda brite stuff is awesome spray on hose off. gets red clay off hoses and makes everything shine like new. I wish I could get an endorsement stuff isnt cheap.http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/mega-andy/IMG_04451.jpg

honda8&3
11-27-2007, 06:12 PM
Well first off I wash it with my hose and warm soapy water. Then I let it dry. I set it up on jacks and go from front to back polish tires, shocks etc... I wipe the frame and other stuff down. I wax the plastics with Miguire's plasic wax. I clean the engine up a bit etc... I do this at least once every two months depending on how dirty and grimy it is. It takes me around 4 hours by the time I am done LOL. I am kinda anel about that stuff:p :cool:

boylan300ex
12-09-2007, 07:12 AM
1 Put on stand and remove tires and plastic
2 Power wash entire quad
3 Clean plactics and tires with Automotive Soap Use Grunge brush on tires
4 Start up motor for about 5 min and spray this stuff called engine shampoo I get from work on the motor then let sit for 5 min and power wash off
5 Spray tires down with tire foam and reinstall
6 Put plastic back on and spray anything black with tire foam and wipe off


Makes for one clean lookin Machine!!!!!

trx450rider11
12-20-2007, 06:32 PM
Power Washer and liquid Perfromance cycle wash

12-21-2007, 07:24 AM
Originally posted by trx450rider11
Power Washer and liquid Perfromance cycle wash

The product you mentioned is a good one, but the X-Tream Clean MX / ATV Wash is much better, works faster and provides more shine after use. From my experience, in using both cleaners and many more, X-Tream Clean's Wash cuts through more stuff and cleans better than anyting I have tried. They also have a new detail spray that shines and makes old dried out plastic look pretty new again. It is really cool stuff.

tyhackman15
01-01-2008, 10:59 AM
is it safe to powerwash your chain?

i was told it can damage to o-rings, but i would like to be able to clean everything off the chain and then get a coat of grease on it.

kbass24emtp
01-01-2008, 02:23 PM
I use a hose and water and Simple Green for the soap. After I'm done drying it I spray the entire quad with some 3n1 silicone spray lubricant, I got it at Lowes in a three pack. Ever since I've been using the spray, the dirt and mud comes off most of the time with just water. Plus it makes the plastic shiny.

oleboy87
01-02-2008, 08:21 PM
1. preasure wash.

2. stand up on rear bumper and preasure wash

3. spray simple green and mean-green mixed together

4. preasure wash again

5. take it all down to frame and engine clean frame with toot brush

6. spray pledge on frame and all metal parts

7. spray plastics with wd-40 then put back on

8. polish all chrome..

j_cyrus3
01-02-2008, 10:41 PM
1. Wash off most of the mud off with water hose
2. Take plastic off
3. Spray Purple Power on EVERYTHING. Let it sit for a few min, re-apply, then rinse it off.
4. Hand wash EVERYTHING.
5. Hand wash plastic
6. Lube chain, check bearings
7. Put plastic back on and roll it into the garage.

TheBlasterMan
01-05-2008, 06:53 PM
1. let cool down
2.spray with garden hose
3. let idle to remove any unwanted water
4.put away

If its lucky, it will get a good wash with some dish soap during step 2.

Its just not worth my time when i ride atleast every other day. Even more often in the summer time.

06YFZ450SE
01-14-2008, 09:40 PM
Dont some cleaner you cant spray on stuff becuz it can eat up gaskets/seals.I like to use something that I dont have to worry about messing up my gaskets or seals. I usely just power wash my Quad off it works for me. But I like to start using a cleaner like Power Purple If its not harmful to seals and gaskets.Thanks jimmy,

Honda_Guy99
01-24-2008, 06:58 PM
Here's how I wash mine. I found it easiest to do it while the mud is still wet because it comes off so much easier if you're using just a garden hose.
1) Spray all the mud off you can.

2) Let it dry or let it get pretty dry. You can use a towel to dry it off quicker if you want.

3) Spray Simple Green EVERYWHERE and let it dry. (I usually use a whole bottle on one quad. And it usually takes about 30-45 minutes for the Simple Green to dry.

4) Spray Simple green off and dry with a towel. The Simple Green acts kind of like a wax and makes it SOO much easier next time you get mud on it; it usually sprays right off.

5) Usually the Simple Green cleans the black textured plastic pretty good, but sometimes I use those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers on the black plastic. DO NOT use the Magic Eraser on smooth plastic surfaces, it will make the color dull. But the eraser seems to really make the plastic look like new again. But, if you do do this step make sure you spray the pieces off you went over with the eraser so it doesn't leave a white residue.

I try to do this after every ride which is about every day.:rolleyes: :D

gncc025
05-13-2010, 09:34 AM
ttp

Pappy
05-13-2010, 09:36 AM
Simple Green is water activated, from SG direct, wet the item then spray the cleaner.

Its all we use, even tried that new wash tahts out and it doesnt do any better then SG

ballerchaos
05-19-2010, 08:58 AM
the rain does good enough lol, sucks though i have white plastics so i hit it with a sponge and carwash mix then rinsi it off. just wish they put the snorkle somewhere else on the 400 ex everytime i wash my air box is full of water

ballerchaos
05-23-2010, 04:55 PM
used windex foaming window spray, and it works great let it sit for 5 minutes and rinsed it off then wipped her down with a towel and she was clean, even the caked up mudd and stains on my inner fenders!!!!

dvx400_boy
05-27-2010, 07:45 PM
simple green + powerwasher all the way! then wipe it town with a car towel or bath towel when its still wet

gncc025
01-09-2011, 11:39 AM
useful thread i think...

bump:)

Aarons 01 400EX
06-24-2011, 02:02 AM
Do you guys use an engine degreaser on your quad engine? I just washed my quad today and the motor didn't come as clean as I wanted it too.

Speed37
07-03-2011, 10:24 AM
Proir to racing or riding, i put wd40 on the plastics and not the seat! It defiantly helps clean mud off easier. After that ill take mine over to the car wash. Then when it dries i hose it down then use purple power! Good shat!

gncc025
09-24-2011, 03:12 PM
ttt