ACF50 WARNING - Read this first!

[Fordward]

OK, on Friday I put ACF50 on my bike for the first time. This thread is very important for anyone who hasn't used it before and is going to do so.

Advice I had read on lots of different forums over the years said apply to ALL metal surfaces except the brake discs, and apply with a paint brush instead of spraying. So I followed this advice.

From what I had read also on forums, I understood this stuff formed a barrier that would not wash off with water. In my mind I therefore imagined that it would go tacky like grease or petroleum jelly and would not run. It doesn't it stays very much a liquid oil, much like 151 penetrating oil.

Having applied to my wheels (i.e. all metal surfaces) with a paint brush as advised, this is what then happened with the liquid oil consistency of the ACF50

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/20131201_104436_zps4959b476.jpg

Slippery ACF50 run all over all over the tyre with the centrifugal force of the wheel spinning.

It does not go tacky and stay put, and so DO NOT apply to your wheels with a paint brush, spray onto a cloth and wipe it on so there is no excess. If you do get any excess wipe it off with a cloth before riding.

I'm glad I didn't put it on the wheel hubs thinking they were alloy and unlikely to corrode badly anyway, otherwise it would now be all over my brake discs.

This problem occurred not because I'm a bit thick and stupid, I know what happens if there is oil on your wheel rims, but it happened because I expected the ACF50 to go tacky like grease or petroleum jelly and stay put, not run. Like I say first time I've ever used it.

[Scythe92]

Yeah I avoid putting on wheels / brakes / chain for this reason

[rictus01]

Clearly you missed a step, the correct application is to apply with a paint brush to get into all areas; then wipe with a cloth afterwards, save the cloth in a plastic bag as that can be used for flat surfaces.

Using this method you don't get much of a "sticky surface" and use far less ACF50, it works no better with a soaked layer than it does with a minimal one.

[Teejayexc]

Slippery ACF50 run all over all over the tyre with the centrifugal force of the wheel spinning.



This problem occurred not because I'm a bit thick and stupid....


Do we need a poll ?

[yorkie_chris]

Oops! In a "let those without sin cast the first stone" sense I'm not going to say anything since I must have dribbled some on my brakes the first time I used the stuff and my bottom nearly bit a hole in the seat.

Anyway... careful if you go near the middle of your wheel hubs with the stuff too, not really an issue for SV's or normal bikes but might be if you've got a crossery thing.

[stuR]

I thought acf was an aerosol? Obviously not in this case

[Tomor]

You can get it as an aerosol or in a bigger bottle.

[Owenski]

Yup used it for the first time myself a week or so ago. I fortunately did wipe down the rims after returning later on to see drips of it under the bike. I, like you assumed it would be a tacky coating not a oily film but having clocked the drops thought wiping my bike down might be a wise idea.
Still though due to the volume id applied my tyres too wore evidence of it after the first ride.

Lesson learned, wipe after application and wipe again the following morning before use.

[Nobbylad]

The moral of the story is not to assume.

Makes an ass out of u and me.

HTH

[Fordward]

Quite why in all the years of reading many threads about ACF50 I don't remember anybody mentioning or warning about this I don't know, though everyone warns about the brake discs for obvious reasons. Maybe people don't want to appear silly, but As its such a safety issue I felt it was important to show everyone else the mistake I had made in the hope somebody else learns the easy way and stays rubber side down.

I have always gone for FS365 in the past and washed the bike between rides, but this winter I'm going to do too many miles to keep the bike clean so I decided for the first time to try ACF50.

[Bibio]

years ago when i had spoked wheels i was told to rub them down with a candle to keep them tip top. worked a treat.

[wideguy]

I've never used it, but did use a variety of corrosion inhibitors on aircraft. The idea is to have a thin, non-tacky coating that's impervious to water and acid. Having too much is as bad as none, if it's tacky, since the dirt it holds attracts water and acid, and things go downhill.