Newsgroups: alt.mountain-bike
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2001 7:53 AM
Subject: Simple Green & Aluminum Mountain Bikes
> Presented for your consideration:
>
> I've seen a number of postings from mountain bikers that
> use Simple Green to clean their bikes and/or components.
> I myself used it as a general cleaner/degreaser on my bike
> but have discontinued the practice since I came across
> reports that the US Army and Air Force had prohibited its
> use on their aircraft and other equipment. Now you can
> think what you like about the Army and Air Force or even
> the US government in general, but when it comes down to
> taking care of its equipment, they have a pretty good
> record.
>
> The AOPA (Airplane Owners and Operators Association) has
> also come out recommending against its use. Airplanes
> constitue a pretty big investment and they are not cheap
> to repair and maintain. The AOPA is a private group not
> usually given to putting out bad advice to their members.
>
> Aviation-grade aluminum is pretty expensive stuff. The
> paint used in painting aircraft is usually very high
> quality and much more durable than auto paint, and
> probably the paint used to on bicycles. I don't have
> any credentials in metallurgy but I do know that aluminum
> bike frames in particular are touted as being high-grade
> aluminum. Other components are made of aluminum as well,
> like cassettes and handlebars. I also seem to remember
> the words 'aviation grade' used in describing the
> materials used in some bicycle parts.
>
> So between the the US Army, the US Air Force, and the
> AOPA, I think their advice on this issue is worth
> considering. There are enough other products available
> that do as good or better job than Simple Green that this
> should not be a showstopper for anyone.
>
>
> Below are excerpts of some of the inforamtion available
> on the web:
>
> Aircraft Cleaners
>
> Simple Green and other cleaners that are not listed in the
> Technical Manuals are taboo for a very good reason - they
> hurt the metal used to build the machine.
>
> It has been brought to the attention of the U.S. Army
> Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) Depot Maintenance
> Engineering Team that numerous units are using the
> commercial product SIMPLE GREEN as an aircraft wash.
> STOP! This product has been through Department of Defense
> (DOD) testing and was determined to be highly corrosive
> on aircraft aluminum and also a catalyst for Hydrogen
> Embrittlement in high strength aircraft alloys.
>
> While a highly effective cleaning agent for floors and
> non-aluminum / non-high strength alloy vehicles this
> product is not approved for aviation usage. If your unit
> has been using SIMPLE GREEN on a regular basis, it is
> recommended that a thorough fresh water wash with the
> approved cleaners per the appropriate airframe maintenance
> manuals be accomplished as soon as practicable. This
> should be followed up with a corrosion inspection /
> treatment and application of approved Corrosion
> Prevention Compounds (CPCs).
>
> Mr. Richard Cardinale,
corrosion@amcom-cc.army.mil
> (361)961-4041, DSN 861-4041
>
>
http://safety.army.mil/pages/lessonslearned/simplegreens.html
> ============================
>
> AOPA advised caution with any cleaner and stated that "No
> cleaner should be left on an aircraft for an extended
> period; any cleaner should be promptly and thoroughly
> rinsed off the airframe with water."
>
> It's Simple -- Don't Use This To Clean Aluminum
