Rim Cleaning Tips

[JohnnyCanuck]

Sounds good and will do. Will report back the results.

 

[nolton]

Yes they do have clear coat and the wheels are aluminum. The clear is VERY thin and it doesnt take much to rub it off. I have polished mine off just with cleaning so now I do a serious polish job by removing the wheel from the bike and polish everything hard then follow with a 2 coat wax. Good winter job.
If you want the wheels to look like chrome you have to buy a polishing kit and have a die grinder or you can use a drill. That is more time consuming but they look great.

when you get them looking the way you want, keep them waxed!!!!!!!!! or you will have to start over again.

 

[TRIIICK]

Simple Green Extreme Aircraft Cleaner - YouTube I use Simple Green on my rims and it cleans them really well. There are different variations of this cleaner from motorsports to aviation. The regular one i get at Home Depot does the trick for me.

How to clean a piston the "Green" way - YouTube

 

[mully95]

Yes they do have clear coat and the wheels are aluminum. The clear is VERY thin and it doesnt take much to rub it off. I have polished mine off just with cleaning so now I do a serious polish job by removing the wheel from the bike and polish everything hard then follow with a 2 coat wax. Good winter job.
If you want the wheels to look like chrome you have to buy a polishing kit and have a die grinder or you can use a drill. That is more time consuming but they look great.

when you get them looking the way you want, keep them waxed!!!!!!!!! or you will have to start over again.

I thought they were clear coated but wasn't sure. They sure feel like they're clear coated...lol

I'm seriously thinking about powdered coating or painting mine so all I have to do is wash them. I'm still debating however.
http://www.r3owners.net/bearclaw-corner/12343-powder-coated-wheels.html

 

[JohnnyCanuck]

Great advice - I'm going to give it a whirl when I detail the Rocket.

 

[nolton]

If you want to make the wheels really shine, this is what you need


Eastwood Buff Kit and Metal Protect 14 OZ Aerosol

or

Eastwood Buffing Kit - Paint Buffing Kits - Buffing and Polishing Kit

and this


Buff Rake

aluminum will load up a buffing wheel really quick, thats why you need the rake.

You can also use parts of this kit to buff out CD's and other plastics with a very soft compound paste.

 

[mully95]

Nolton you getting serious now!

You forgot to add tons of hours of work!

 

[nolton]

Nolton you getting serious now!

You forgot to add tons of hours of work!

No man. You can have them done in 2 days.

I did 4 wheels in 2 days with a drill.

 

[rash_powder]

I found kerosene removes all the road scuzz and such quite well. Wipe them down with it and then wash.

You don't get a high luster shine like a good polishing, but it is much quicker and gets them clean.

 

[Dennsell]

I found kerosene removes all the road scuzz and such quite well. Wipe them down with it and then wash.

You don't get a high luster shine like a good polishing, but it is much quicker and gets them clean.

Just a pointer here Guys..
Take care not to get excess Kero on the tyres.. Kero will dissolve and break rubber down.. if it gets behind the rim you will loose the tyre seal.