Page 85 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)
P. 85
MEAN CLEAN I had a professional cleaning Here’s just some of the warnings
business for years and was that came on the old Ali Brite
I read the comments in MT always on the lookout for stuff packaging:
recently about cleaning plastics that would do the job better “Highly corrosive. Harmful by
and here’s what you should do. and quicker. At a later date, I inhalation, in contact with skin
Go to one of your commercial owned a boating business and or if swallowed. Contact with
cleaning supplies joints (you went through gallons of the stuff eyes even for short periods can
know, the ones that supply tidying up old ally dinghies. cause blindness. Causes severe
office cleaning stuff) and ask Frank, burns, which are not likely to be
for a product called Tech 001 fernvalley2@ immediately painful or visible.
by Peerless Jal. It used to be bigpond.com Avoid contact with eyes. Wear eye
called Ali Brite and was used for protection when mixing or using.
cleaning aluminium boats and the Jeez, Frank, I’m not sure about Avoid contact with skin. Wear
like. It works a treat. this. I know the stuff you’re talking protective gloves when mixing or
Make sure you do it on the about and agree it’s an excellent using. Avoid breathing dust (or)
lawn. Simply brush on and hose cleaner of aluminium, stainless vapour (or) spray mist.”
off – no scrubbing brushes steel and general alloys. It’s the It makes me feel that riding a
or scourers needed but you cleaner of choice for those who dirty bike isn’t that bad after all.
may need to do it twice. It’s want their older BMW engine cases I’ll give it a trial on an old
concentrated but not as much to look like new again, but it’s not trailbike front guard and report
as it used to be. The instructions specified for plastics and I’ve never back but if you read, sometime in
may suggest you water it down, seen it used that way. the next month or so, that I died
but I used it neat. It’s an acid so It’s good advice not to use it in please let the coroner know what I
wear gloves. a confined space as it’s very toxic. might have been doing…
MORE ‘Bonding’ sounds like clearance was easier to set If you read in
HIMALAYAN CLIMBING ‘bondage’, doesn’t it – if as there’s a bit more room the next month
you’re going to print but, after reassembly,
I’m about to have serious this, can you think of a the engine wouldn’t idle or so that I
girlfriend trouble and different word? Anyway, properly and was fluffy
you may be the only one you know what I mean. off idle. died, please
who can help. So comes the day when I had a go at retuning let the coroner
On my advice, my I promised to service the the carburettor (it’s a pre-
girlfriend bought a 2018 bike. EFI model) which should know what
Royal Enfield Himalayan. The tank has to come off be simple enough, but it I might
I talked her into it to get at the tappet covers didn’t seem to make much have been
because it’s incredibly but it’s just a couple of difference how many
cheap for a new bike and bolts and a disconnection turns out I set the air doing ...
I told her there’d be no of the fuel line. bleed screw.
maintenance costs as the I broke the fuel level The bike’s still
bike is so simple I could wire in the process as I in my garage
do it myself. didn’t realise that had to as I can’t
Then I discovered that be disconnected as well. give it back
the valve clearances Oh well, easy fix. to her like it is
need to be checked every The inlet valve side is at the moment.
5000km. deeply recessed and I What have I
No worries, I thought – found it very difficult done wrong?
how hard could that be? to get the blade of my Feel free to print
It’s taken her about a feeler gauge positioned this letter but can you
year and a half to get to and I’m not sure I got the get back to me ASAP
5000km as she doesn’t setting right anyway as if you have a solution?
ride all that often the locknut is hard to do Patience isn’t among
although she loves the up without moving the Annabelle’s virtues.
bike and we’ve been on a screw in the middle and
few incredibly bonding altering the gap. Anston McGreggor,
long rides together. The exhaust valve Brunswick, Vic
MOTORCYCLE TRADER 83
