Prepsol - is it bad??

[HowellingWulf]

You can also get it from the motoring section in Builders Warehouse. They only sell the small bottle and they are not renowned for their bargain basement prices.

 

Which is better? Gleen Green or Prepsol? Or shoud you use both?

[Johan Bornman]

Have been using Prepsol for years with no real adverse effect.

 

For serious grease and gunk ( moorcycle chain' date=' etc ), I have found it is not a serious degreaser, but its a really good cleaner.

 

Have used it on carpets, car seats, motorcycles, bikes etc.

 

What i have found is that it will dull paint. and when i say that it would seem that it is really effective at stripping the polish from paint. I washed a non metallic car with prepsol once...... and lets just say that I spent hours repolishing it.

 

I find that it tends to dull cheaper painted parts and shiny alu over time..

 

All of this my own experience, lest someone tells me I an idiot and it doesnt do it

[/quote']

 

I have the same experience as you. For mild oily stuff, including chains, it removes everything. For thick grease, it doesn't do the job. But then, nothing other than a hydrocarbon solvent like paraffin or petrol would. Just smear off the worst gunk and wash normally.

 

I also agree on the effect on paint and aluminium. It sometimes leaves a streak on paint and aluminium that doesn't seem to be permanent, but still persistent. I can't repeat the effect, sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesn't.

 

I've even had that effect on fork stanchions, which are anodised. Either way, it is not serious unless like you say, you have to re-polish four acres of 1952 Cadillac.

 

 

[Bike Mob]

I use Prepsol on everything too. never had a problem.

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

One thing I understand about degreasers is they must contain citrus to be most effective. I've not tried pepsol but will give it a go still.

[TNT1]

 

 

The only thing I know that definitely eats seals are those white bears.

 

 

 

... and some Eskimos...

 

[GoLefty!!]

Rubbish rumours.

Prepsol is soap - same as the stuff you wash dishes with' date=' except it doesn't have a lemon flavour.

It does ABSOLUTELY nothing to rubber and you're safe washing your bike with the stuff.

In the past I have requested a spec sheet for Prepsol and I still have it. The product contains no hydrocarbons either.

 

The only thing I know that definitely eats seals are those white bears.

 

 

[/quote']

 

 

And Sharks...

 

but they also eat Lions and Blou Bulle apparently...

[Plentipotential]

Prepsol is sold by Allijam Industries in Polly Street Joburg, R260.00 for 25 lt. 011 334 9049. I have used it on motorcycles for the last 5 years no problems. Do not use it in the sun, this is when you will find it tends to leave streaks. It can affect some plastics. The stuff is amazing to get mud/sand stains out of clothing, paint onto clothing with a paint brush and leave for ten minutes wash off in fresh water and stick clothing in washing machine.

I however, do not use it on my MTB. I am of the opinion that it does eat the seals. The seals on bicycles are soft and thin and if prepsol gets into the shock/forks or bearings it will degrease the part. Resulting in a problem, but that's just my opinion.

 

 

[Captain Slow]

I have used Prepsol on my bikes for a good few years!

 

I try to keep it away from BB's, Hubs, & derailleur unless very dirty!

 

Works like a dream!!

 

[Johan Bornman]

cut cut cut cut

 

 

I however' date=' do not use it on my MTB. I am of the opinion that it does eat the seals. The seals on bicycles are soft and thin and if prepsol gets into the shock/forks or bearings it will degrease the part. Resulting in a problem, but that's just my opinion.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Hmmm... Bike seals are mostly made from Buna rubber which is pretty much impervious to most stuff, including grease, oil and, Prepsol.

 

Buna seals are widely used in industry on everything from cars to..., I dunno, swimming pool pumps.

 

As we speak, I'm planning and experiment: Treat a variety of bicycle seals with Prepsol in a variety of methods including, soaking, dunking and drying without rinsing and whatever anyone else can come up with.

 

If you have any particular seals in mind, feel free to suggest, I'm sure I can conjure up most seals from my stock.

 

I'd like to put Prepsol's bad rep to rest for once and all....maybe Alijam will provide me with a lifetime of free Prepsol.

 

 

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Johan, see if Pepsol has any effect on one of these seals:

 

 

[jugheaddave]

 

cut cut cut cut

 

 

I however' date=' do not use it on my MTB. I am of the opinion that it does eat the seals. The seals on bicycles are soft and thin and if prepsol gets into the shock/forks or bearings it will degrease the part. Resulting in a problem, but that's just my opinion.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Hmmm... Bike seals are mostly made from Buna rubber which is pretty much impervious to most stuff, including grease, oil and, Prepsol.

 

Buna seals are widely used in industry on everything from cars to..., I dunno, swimming pool pumps.

 

As we speak, I'm planning and experiment: Treat a variety of bicycle seals with Prepsol in a variety of methods including, soaking, dunking and drying without rinsing and whatever anyone else can come up with.

 

If you have any particular seals in mind, feel free to suggest, I'm sure I can conjure up most seals from my stock.

 

I'd like to put Prepsol's bad rep to rest for once and all....maybe Alijam will provide me with a lifetime of free Prepsol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice work, I would be very keen to hear the results.

 

Maybe soak a standard (sealed) bearing for 5 minutes, then see if any prepsol has penetrated the bearing??

 

[Cassie]

cut cut cut cut

 

 

snip snip.....

 

As we speak' date=' I'm planning and experiment: Treat a variety of bicycle seals with Prepsol in a variety of methods including, soaking, dunking and drying without rinsing and whatever anyone else can come up with.

 

If you have any particular seals in mind, feel free to suggest, I'm sure I can conjure up most seals from my stock.

 

I'd like to put Prepsol's bad rep to rest for once and all....maybe Alijam will provide me with a lifetime of free Prepsol.

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

Johan, remember to take some pictures for before & after evidence....

(of the seals, that is...)

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

Nice work' date=' I would be very keen to hear the results.

Maybe soak a standard (sealed) bearing for 5 minutes, then see if any prepsol has penetrated the bearing??
[/quote']

 

With cartridge bearings costing R80 a piece, I'm not to keen on this experiment, not that I'm worried that the Prepsol will damage the seals, but that removing the seal will destroy it and effectively trash the bearing.

 

Doing this with an old bearing will teach us nothing other than prove or disprove that Prepsol attacks seals. The penetration part of the experiment will be moot, since we already know that the seal has worn away to a diameter smaller than the steel races, it being the reason the bearing failed in the first place.

 

What I'll do is photograph, with my macro lens, a damaged seal before and after and we can see if there is any additional damage.

Deal?

 

 

[Guest colonel]

I use Prepsol on EVERYTHING......MTB' date='KTM....all gear/kit without any problem! It's not "eating" rubber,fading plastics or mess up my riding gear...been at it for over 2 years...and I dont EVER dilute it!

 

?

[/quote']

 

 

 

The only problem in tat sentence is the 3 letters "KTM"

[Guest Big H]

Rubbish rumours.

Prepsol is soap - same as the stuff you wash dishes with' date=' except it doesn't have a lemon flavour.

It does ABSOLUTELY nothing to rubber and you're safe washing your bike with the stuff.

In the past I have requested a spec sheet for Prepsol and I still have it. The product contains no hydrocarbons either.

 

The only thing I know that definitely eats seals are those white bears.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Guten tag Herr Johann, could it tjust be zat zis soapy wunderbar "degreaser" iss ze zing zat caused ze red paint to ztripp auf ze frame off our most distinguished Nabe freund herr memperra?????/ whoez fahrrahd vass painted by zat company whu hass zat freulein zat vass trained by ze Waffen SS....ja??????

[chuck]

What I have found works great to remove the streaks it sometimes leaves behind, specifically on matt surfaces like shocks, is to wipe down the surface with some like Q20 making sure you wipe it properly with a clean cloth afterwards. It makes black matt surfaces look like new.