Cleaning Up Oily Bike - Steam ?

[KTMsm]

I've started trading in bikes and am spending hours cleaning them, I'm sure there must be a faster way.

I recently bought one which had a chain oiler, at least the rear 1/2 of the bike would never go rusty but the guy can't have used the rear brake as it was covered in years of oil and dirt

Currently I'm using kerosene and brushes then TFR to remove the oily residue it leaves behind

Surely there's a faster way

Has anyone used either the small domestic steam cleaners or the commercial hot pressure washer type ?

I'm struggling get brushes in everywhere which the kerosene needs to clean up the oil and need to get them done faster

[trickywoo]

Bilt hamber surfex hd is great at shifting grease and rinses really well. Even really thick stuff will come off with minimal agitation.

I’ve been told screwfix own brand degreaser is just as good at a fraction of the price but haven’t tried it yet.

[mickyh7]

It was either 'Gunk' or 'Jizer' when I ran 2 strokes.
70's,80's and 90's.
Not sure if they are still available now.
If your really stuck Deisel will work with a brush.
There is no really quick way if you want it done properly!
I can imagine steam just throwing it everywhere.

[underwhelmist]

Paraffin for getting the oily crap off, then soapy water for cleaning the paraffin and everything else. Harpic for cleaning up crusty downpipes.

edit: just saw you mentioned kerosene so you know this already. If you can't get into tight spaces maybe disassemble it a bit?

[Krikkit]

Steam pressure washers certainly do a good job, but very expensive. Personally not had much luck with the small domestic steam things, but it could be that mine is absolute crap!

For chemical treatment my current favourite is "Elbow grease" spray off the shelf, beats every "proper" degreaser I've tried in the last 5 years.

[mickyh7]

Krikkit said:

Steam pressure washers certainly do a good job, but very expensive. Personally not had much luck with the small domestic steam things, but it could be that mine is absolute crap!

For chemical treatment my current favourite is "Elbow grease" spray off the shelf, beats every "proper" degreaser I've tried in the last 5 years.

+1
Every time!

[jjones]

KTMsm said:

then TFR

Have seen TFR "etch" aluminium parts on bikes so be careful

[Lee540]

jjones said:

KTMsm said:

then TFR

Have seen TFR "etch" aluminium parts on bikes so be careful

So does Gunk Green Bio version.. some dripped on my heel plates.