Cleaning up my yz125

[honda230rider]

I tore my 05 yz125 down to the frame recently so I decided to take pics of the re-assembly. I plan on re-greasing all of the bearings, changing the top end, replacing the front rim (the current one is bent), and servicing the forks. Hopefully I can remember how to put all this back together. . .

Today I cleaned and lightly polished the frame. It would be cool if I could somehow achieve that factory look. . .

I'll post updates as I go

[john484]

that looks really nice, what did you use? and is that a squash or a gourd or what in the bowl?

[honda230rider]

that looks really nice, what did you use? and is that a squash or a gourd or what in the bowl?

I washed the frame with warm water and car wash soap in my bathtub, then I dried it off and used Mothers Billet metal polish to shine it up. It's really easy to use, all I used was a rag; no special buffing tools required. ? I didn't want to polish it to the point it was like a mirror, just a little bit shinier, like the factory race bikes that are on TV. The picture below is what it looks like if you wanted to get some.

The label on that thing in the bowl says it is a butternut squash.

[KJK_JR]

Was there any mud caked in the inside of the frame? If there was, that stuff works cause I could not get my 09 yz450f frame that clean with out some serious scrubbing. I tried simple green and even powerwashed it at the car wash. The mud came off but the mud stains would not go away with out doing some tedious work with some fine grit sand paper.

[honda230rider]

Was there any mud caked in the inside of the frame? If there was, that stuff works cause I could not get my 09 yz450f frame that clean with out some serious scrubbing. I tried simple green and even powerwashed it at the car wash. The mud came off but the mud stains would not go away with out doing some tedious work with some fine grit sand paper.

Yes, there was some mud caked on the inside of the frame. The car wash soap cleaned out the mud, but there was still some mud stains in the frame. The polish definitely helped buff out a lot of the scuffs and mud stains.

[john484]

Ima have to get me some of that polish, thanks!

[elblanconaygro]

Re-packing the steering stem bearings would be a good idea too while your at it, I've had my frame in the bathtub a couple times haha

[b-rabbit]

Can you take a pic of the frame outside. Im about 3 seconds from tearing down my 08 250 and I like the way your frame is looking.

[honda230rider]

Can you take a pic of the frame outside. Im about 3 seconds from tearing down my 08 250 and I like the way your frame is looking.

Sure I'll do that. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get much done with the bike because there's been a lot of other things going on. Right now we are in the middle of build season for my school's robotics team, so basically I come home from school, do my homework, go back to school to work on the robot, and come home just in time for bed. On the weekends it's pretty much robotics all day lol. Friday nights I usually have to play in the pep band for the basketball games. ?

[honda230rider]

Can you take a pic of the frame outside. Im about 3 seconds from tearing down my 08 250 and I like the way your frame is looking.

Here you go:

[honda230rider]

How should I go about cleaning my engine? I can't exactly submerge it in the bathtub. . .Also what kind of grease should I use to re-grease the bearings?

[crimson22s]

use castrol superclean let it sit on the motor for a good 5-10 min and pressure wash it off. make sure you dont spray it in any bearings/anything that could get damaged though. and as for bearings you can use regular old wheel bearing grease for swingarm linkage and all of that kind of stuff. i use valvoline grease

[honda230rider]

use castrol superclean let it sit on the motor for a good 5-10 min and pressure wash it off. make sure you dont spray it in any bearings/anything that could get damaged though. and as for bearings you can use regular old wheel bearing grease for swingarm linkage and all of that kind of stuff. i use valvoline grease

I'm guessing Castrol Superclean can be found at an auto parts store? My engine is out of the frame right now for a top end rebuild, whenever I can get to that. I want to clean it first though. When I was taking my linkage apart the little needle-like things from the bearings came out, so I need to order some new ones. What's a good way to get the linkage bearings out? I don't want to damage anything. . .

[crimson22s]

yeah superclean is at pretty much any auto store or walmart places like that. it works really well on caked on mud and grease. and im not too sure how to get the linkage bearings out never done it on my 125 yet so i wouldnt really know. your frame turned out pretty nice man cleaned that sucker up pretty good

[KJK_JR]

I'm guessing Castrol Superclean can be found at an auto parts store? My engine is out of the frame right now for a top end rebuild, whenever I can get to that. I want to clean it first though. When I was taking my linkage apart the little needle-like things from the bearings came out, so I need to order some new ones. What's a good way to get the linkage bearings out? I don't want to damage anything. . .

The needles will come out of linkage bearings if you disturb them. However just cause they fell out doesn't mean they are toast unless they are rusted out badly and noticeably worn out.

[honda230rider]

The needles will come out of linkage bearings if you disturb them. However just cause they fell out doesn't mean they are toast unless they are rusted out badly and noticeably worn out.

Well, my linkage didn't move well at all, so I took it apart to look at the bearings, then they fell apart. Haha I don't think I'll be able to find all of the needles that fell out. I could try I guess. Or buy fresh bearings. Or try to make these work and save some cash. ?

[john484]

I use Bel Ray waterproof grease. The usage of the term waterproof is a bit of an embellishment on BelRay's part but it does seem to stay put a bit better than standard bearing grease. $5.99 at dealer.

As for bearings, when you say they didn't move, do you mean they are froze up or do you mean that they have no play in them, which is good. If they are froze and nasty, you need to replace them. Do a search on it and you will get many tips. A good bench vise, sockets, and threaded rod can get it done.

peace

[howard113]

"Today I cleaned and lightly polished the frame. It would be cool if I could somehow achieve that factory look. "

maybe your just trying to clean your frame?or are you trying to make that frame shine??i cant tell but for a maximum shining frame get lots of sand paper,start out at 120 gritt,then go to 220,400,800,1000,1200,1500,2000.then get a good qulaity polish and that thing will be a mirror!it will be alot of work but if its what you want,hey go for it!i polished the swingarm on my cr85 and it was tough to keep clean and shiney,after every ride i had to pull out the polish and re-shine it or else it looked dull.i also stopped at 1200 grit sand paper and it was already at mirror finish,i say go up to 2000 grit becuase it leaves the surface smoother and shinnier.i dont know about the frames,but my swingarm had a coating that was very tough to get through,it took me about 2.5 hours each side to get the coating off down to bare metal and that was with 100 grit sand paper which is pretty rough stuff.so yeah its definitely time consuming and it looks great but it really isnt worth it.just my 2c

[howard113]

Well, my linkage didn't move well at all, so I took it apart to look at the bearings, then they fell apart. Haha I don't think I'll be able to find all of the needles that fell out. I could try I guess. Or buy fresh bearings. Or try to make these work and save some cash. ?

i have the same problem man.i got a used 03 yz250f that i tore down to clean and rebuild and when i got to the linkage,suspension,shock and head stem bearing,they were all shot.they just fell apart and they were brown.i have to buy a pivot works bearing kit for 170$ that includes just the shock,linkage and suspesion bearings.there expensive stuff ?

[honda230rider]

"Today I cleaned and lightly polished the frame. It would be cool if I could somehow achieve that factory look. "

maybe your just trying to clean your frame?or are you trying to make that frame shine??i cant tell but for a maximum shining frame get lots of sand paper,start out at 120 gritt,then go to 220,400,800,1000,1200,1500,2000.then get a good qulaity polish and that thing will be a mirror!it will be alot of work but if its what you want,hey go for it!i polished the swingarm on my cr85 and it was tough to keep clean and shiney,after every ride i had to pull out the polish and re-shine it or else it looked dull.i also stopped at 1200 grit sand paper and it was already at mirror finish,i say go up to 2000 grit becuase it leaves the surface smoother and shinnier.i dont know about the frames,but my swingarm had a coating that was very tough to get through,it took me about 2.5 hours each side to get the coating off down to bare metal and that was with 100 grit sand paper which is pretty rough stuff.so yeah its definitely time consuming and it looks great but it really isnt worth it.just my 2c

I was trying to go for the look of this JGR YZ450F:

Not too shiny, but not too dull