Comments on: Matt Page Blog: Mobi Pressure Washer Review

By: J Todd

J Todd — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:58:49 +0000

I’ve seen pro bike mechanics using pressure washers as well. Of course they are probably disassembling and re-assembling the entire bike everyday so probably won’t encounter any bearing problems. Sometimes I pressure wash some of the parts on my bike when I have it disassembled. Sure makes it a lot easier to get the grease and grime off and the parts look like new once they are cleaned. But, that being said I definitely wouldn’t use high pressure water on parts with bearings or anything susceptible to water.

By: Matt Page

Matt Page — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:44:10 +0000

George,

My routine for cleaning is fairly simple, although I usually clean the Mountain Bikes, cleaning road bikes is exactly the same.

1. Spray the entire bike with a cleaning fluid, such as Lifeline Bike Wash or Muc-Off. Wait a minute or two for it to get to work.

2. Spray off the Bike wash fluid and the mud/dirt/grime. I tend to use a medium pressure on the whole of the bike. I find it sufficient for removing the vast majority of any dirt.

3. Use a more powerful pressure to remove any stubborn marks. Some brushing may be needed in some areas. Dirty rims are an area that clean up much better with a quick brush.

4. Let the bike drip dry for a few minutes, then dry with a cloth. I use WD40 or GT85 on any vunerable steel bolts to prevent them from rusting. Then a quick blast of GT85 on the chain and then dry it off. I will then lube the chain before the start of the next ride.

From start to finish takes about 10 minutes, so its not much or of a chore, but something that is vital to keep a bike in tip top condition.

Hope this helps.
Matt

By: Pete Bryan

Pete Bryan — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:13:52 +0000

For all those worrying about cleaning a bike with a pressure washer watch Overcoming. In this you can clearly see the CSC mechanic cleaning the bikes with the presure washer. I use one and I am happy that as long as you are not an idiot and start spraying into your bb/headset/derailleur you should be fine.

By: George

George — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:33:35 +0000

Hi Matt, I really valued your article and reply to Filippo. I commute by sports road bike 20km every day in all weathers, plus occasional weekend rides.

Q1> Like Filippo I had been told NEVER to clean my bike with a pressure washer, so it’s interesting to see a reputable retailer (Wiggle) actually recommending doing so. It sounds like a great idea, but what exactly do you clean? For example, can you spray the gear mechs at full strength to remove accumulated grease from the chain and then re-lubricate with a spray lubricant? Can calliper breaks be cleaned at full- pressure?

Q2> My commute is a very hilly route (Sheffield) and the biggest need for cleaning every weekend is to remove accumulation of break-block dust from the wheel rims (reduces breaking effectiveness and makes an unpleasant noise). I dislike this chore sufficiently to be considering buy a city bike with disc brakes. To what extent can the Mobi pressure washer help me with this chore of cleaning rims?
Thanks in anticipation for your advice, George

By: Matt Page

Matt Page — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:29:29 +0000

Hi Filippo,

You are correct that some powerful pressure washers can damage bearings and seals, although these are often not adjustable and the mains powered or petrol powered types.

The lowest setting on the mobi is a very fine mist, lighter than rain so quite safe to use on bikes.
The pressure is totally adjustable from a fine mist right up to a single jet, which is powerful enough to remove the most stubborn mud. It is far more adjustable in terms of pressure than any other similar products on the market.

Hope that helps.
Matt

By: Filippo Negroni

Filippo Negroni — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:41:25 +0000

I have always been advice to not use pressure washers as they tend to force water into sealed bearings.
I understand the advantage in terms of speed, but I am wondering if the minimum setting is gentle enough not to compromise any water/dust seals.
Just make sure to use a water disperser such as GT85 or MucOff bike spray after washing. I find the Muc Off spray lighter than GT85 but more expensive.