Rad Cleaning (Bugs)

[Shinden]

I am interested to know everyone's prefered method of cleaning bugs out of the rad.

 

[rickysnickers]

I am interested to know everyone's prefered method of cleaning bugs out of the rad.

Usually I just rinse the radiator prior to washing the bike. Then, when I rinse the bike off, the bugs are sufficiently soggy and normally wash right out. If not, then I carefully use a brush and "comb" them out.

Rick

 

[Shinden]

Usually I just rinse the radiator prior to washing the bike. Then, when I rinse the bike off, the bugs are sufficiently soggy and normally wash right out. If not, then I carefully use a brush and "comb" them out.
Rick

Thanks

That's what I thought.

This is my 1st liquid cooled bike, everything else has been air cooled. It isn't loaded with bugs but I didn't want to wait until it was.

The manual doesn't address this and I didn't want to use something too "aggressive" and damage the rad.

I was thinking along the lines of, rinse the rad 1st (as you said), give it some time to soak then use a soft brush with a pail of hot water and possibly a bit of S100, then follow up with a rinse.

 

[rickysnickers]

Also, consider some sort of radiator screen/protector. It will be a very wise investment.

Rick

 

[Shinden]

Also, consider some sort of radiator screen/protector. It will be a very wise investment.
Rick

Thanks, already on there.

As the saying goes; Don't leave home without one

 

[teerex51]

You may want to spray some drugstore-grade peroxide on the rad and let it work awhile, then rinse the bug crud off with a pressure washer (but not so close that you bend the rad fins or something).

Household-use peroxide is a 3% solution, so it won't harm anything, but just make sure you only spray it on the rad -- just to be on the safe side...

Stef

 

[DaveT]

When washing the bike you might also shoot some water through the space in the left and right fairing through and around the fans from the back side of the radiator. Always gets out a few more of the bugs stuck in the front.

 

[motorcyclehawk]

Also, consider some sort of radiator screen/protector. It will be a very wise investment.
Rick

 

[Shinden]

Also, consider some sort of radiator screen/protector. It will be a very wise investment.

Rick

Also, consider some sort of radiator screen/protector. It will be a very wise investment.

Rick

Thanks, already on there.

As the saying goes; Don't leave home without one

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

OK at the risk of derogatory commentary, here goes.....

Is there a technical reason you go to such lengths to clean the radiator? I don't clean the radiator on my cage.

I've always had air cooled bikes in the past. So I don't know. Is this just OCD washing?

 

[pickax]

Probably not OCD. In buggy areas they could cover a radiator in short order. All dirt. splooge and bugs

can affect the heat transfer from the fins of the rad.

My A/C technician told me to gently spray off the dust and dirt monthly from the cooling fins on the household compressor unit.

Some bug bodies around here are acidic as hell too. My $.02

 

[Shinden]

Probably not OCD. In buggy areas they could cover a radiator in short order. All dirt. splooge and bugscan affect the heat transfer from the fins of the rad.

My A/C technician told me to gently spray off the dust and dirt monthly from the cooling fins on the household compressor unit.

Some bug bodies around here are acidic as hell too. My $.02

That's pretty much it.

Around this area, adjacent to the Great Lakes, there's no shortage of the lil' ba$tards, it is a proactive motivation so they don't become a cake of ***** that has a detrimental effect on heat transfer.

Some of the species around here, tend to "become one" with the paint/finish if left on for a while.