www.CVOHARLEY.com
CVO Technical => Cleaning/Detailing => Topic started by: Badger Mike on May 26, 2010, 11:22:05 AM
-
I live out in the country and have a well system with very hard water and quite a bit of sediment. While I don't mind drinking it, it's a pain in the arse when cleaning my bike and cars. Since Mr. Clean has mixed reviews on this site and is discontinued, does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
-
I know someone who uses this and swears it's better than sliced bread.
http://stainlesswaterfilters.com/order.htm
-
Thanks, I'll take a look at it.
-
You might also check Griot's Garage In Line Water Softener (http://www.griotsgarage.com/p2p/searchResults.do?method=view&search=basic&keyword=water+softener&sortby=newArrivals&page=1)
Another possibility is a product called "Jet Dry." It's used in dishwashers to soften the water and give you spotless dishes, etc. Only costs a few bucks and you could add it to your final rinse bucket. :nixweiss: :nixweiss:
-
You other option-which wouldn't much more expensive than several of the options posted already-would be to put in one of the small household softners from Homey Lowes. Just run a line from your hose bib (or hot water heater if you'd like to wash in the winter) and have it only soften when you wash. Simple, relatively cheap and only salt to buy to maintain it. You could hook it up the night before, let it regenerate and wash everything you wanted to. I did just this out in my separate garage in the old house. Worked just fine and took it to the new house.
-
A few things.....a water softner system is NOT the answer because it leaves water with added sodium (salt) and we all know what that does to our scoots. An inline filter just for your hosebib will do the trick. Mr Clean car wash system is available again, better than original too! Or just dry it by hand with a microfiber very quickly.
-
What and where can I get this inline filter you speak about :nixweiss:
-
Deionized water is the best bet (better than softened water), but making it in large quantities can become a little pricey. D.I. water is what auto factories use in their paint operations, both as the carrier liquid for water based phosphate and electrocoat prime systems and for the final rinses prior to baking and subsequent spray prime and top coat operations. You may be more familiar with it as the "Spot Free Rinse" at your friendly car wash.
Resin bed filters are available that will make small volumes of deionized water, and in fact that is what the Mr. Clean system uses. Unfortunately, the tiny flow rate and short life of the Mr. Clean filter probably isn't the answer for those with serious mineral problems. Try a web search for deionized water, you'll find more than a few companies that sell larger systems that would be more practical than the Mr. Clean product. You'll want to start with a good sediment filter first, then the D.I. water filter so the sediment doesn't clog the resin bed. Considering the cost, you might also want to set it up to only use the D.I. water for the final rinsing operation.
Jerry
-
Using a carbon bed adsorber before pressing the water through a resin bed will increas its life greatly.
I use a 20 pound standard tank with carbon then it runs into a Nalco ion exchange bed..It has lasted 4 years...As a final rinse step only, I wash the cars/bikes with regular dihydrogen monoxide. ;)
Like this but with a bigger goesinta carbon bed...
http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/113991-water-softener-filter-what-disappointment.html
-
All this fancy gear makes my garden hose and synthetic chamois feel some sort of envy....
-
Synthetic chamois are awesome...especially dipped in the fancy water you make with water.... ;D
-
Go to a camper store and buy an in line water filter for the hose.Works great 30 bucks.
-
An Auto detail shop here uses this.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11201522&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|3960|21277|74802&N=4018443&Mo=9&pos=0&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74802&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC22577-Cat21277&topnav=
He swears by it...I have no experience with it but am looking hard at one.
-
electric leaf blower after your wash and it doesn't matter what water you use period
-
An Auto detail shop here uses this.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11201522&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC|3960|21277|74802&N=4018443&Mo=9&pos=0&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=74802&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC22577-Cat21277&topnav=
He swears by it...I have no experience with it but am looking hard at one.
I have that system and he is "spot on" in his "spotless" review.
I use a small 1.7gpm electric power washer to limit the water flow (it will flow up to 2.0gpm).
-
I also have a well in in Alaska and hard water spots are a problem but I found Sun Wash Bike Wash, rinse well and use an Air Force Bike dryer eliminates most water spots and then a good wipe down with S100. On my salt water boat I use white vinegar on the windows. Bottom line is get it dried as soon as you can if the water isn't able to sit on.
-
I've been using that Mr. Clean thing for a couple of years and it works pretty good for the price. I don't use the soap though. I have well water thats very hard and it's pretty brutal.
I only connect the thing for the final rinse, and it does the trick pretty well.
-
Here is an idwea that I use and works great for me.
I put a plastic pail under the drain for the air conditioner for the house, now this water will have next to no dissolved minerals in it (real soft). I then went and bought a weed sprayer and put the air conditioner water in it. After I wash some of the bike I rince it with tap water and then rinse the parts i just washed with the AC water. This works great but make sure you pre rinse with the tap water first cuz that will rince all the soap off. If you don't pre rinse you will need alot more AC water to rinse all the soap. Then blow dry and Fluff....lol
Try it, it works GREAT.
Oh ya I also got a 5 gal jug and store it up. Don't store it to long cuz you will get a bacteria slime growth in it if you store it to long.
cheers and have fun
-
Have a water softner in the garage and there are two cheap options, one of which I will go with. Either put a spicket at the water softner or punch a hole in the garage wall and mount a spicket on the exterior. I'll decide by 1 Oct and update this thread
-
This is a very complicated thread, I am just going to lett the local detail guy do mine when it's dirty, saves all the time and upfront money/ LOL