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Message started by Ruttly on 03/20/23 at 12:58:49

Title: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/20/23 at 12:58:49

My rear 19” hoop has some let’s say patina on the chrome. What’s the best way to smooth out that patina without damaging remaining chrome. I’ve been spraying with simple green it’s black sticky furry. Had to soak bead over night to get it off , removed tube and rim locks. Soaking the other bead now. Bitd we would used a new sos pad soaked in coke. Maybe something newer , better , they use now not what worked 50 years ago.

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by jcstokes on 03/21/23 at 00:29:53

There is a product Blue Magic made in Texas, Google Blue Magic metal polish.

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Dave on 03/21/23 at 03:11:24

White vinegar and aluminum foil removes light rust on chrome quickly without scratching the good chrome. Just wet a small piece of foil with the vinegar and rub lightly. The foil will become thin and weak after a little bit, and you just throw it away and use another small piece.

Wash off the vinegar when you are done.

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/21/23 at 09:08:49

I’ll give that foil thing a try tonite. It was never a real good looking rim but I’m looking for another vintage Borrani rim for the rear , I have another rear hub. My old can of Semichrome polish went bad well the can began rusting contaminating the polish so I ordered a small jar of that Blue Magic to try on the aluminum fuel tank and rear wheel. I’ve had real good success with just using simple green full strength for cleaning all the parts. Rinse them real good too. Seems to clean off everything except heavier rust with making it look not polished. It has lots of red heads here and there , they add realism. The bike you could say is in a state of arrested decay , after I ride it a couple times it will look perfect. Like it just rolled off the track in 1975 , a museum piece you can race in the vintage class. Thanks guys

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by LANCER on 03/21/23 at 10:42:27

Well, HOT DOG !

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/21/23 at 11:18:44

I’m trying to stay true to the era , it had some made in Sweden kill switch on the bike but looked too new , ordered 3 more kill switches. The least expensive one looked the era a tiny red button , perfect. Next was the throttle it had a made in Sweden side pull throttle, it had to go. Installed a 1/4 turn Magura throttle , all controls are Magura now. Details , details , details !

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/22/23 at 19:22:31

Salvaging a rusty chrome wheel with household stuff. Steel wool by itself it’s painfully slow and dulls the chrome. Foil and white vinegar I was amazed how well it worked but hard to work with between spokes and tried coke in and foil didn’t work as well as vinegar. So a $3 box of Brillo pads and $1 bottle of coke , got a cup for coke so I can dip Brillo pad in coke as I’m going coke reacting to rust with soapy steel wool it goes real fast , smooth , shiny , chrome is coming back to life 100% better. Tried vinegar and brillo good but coke is better. The brillo pads make it Easy to do between and around spokes. I’ll use that polish I ordered on rim to seal it when I’m done. I did find a used vintage Borrani 19” wheel to match the front , rim is in UK. I got to help him with his pricing a bit to help cover shipping.
My vote is for coke and Brillo pads to renew your rusted chrome wheels and it’s cost effective , the reason why we did it 50 yrs ago , it works!

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/22/23 at 19:29:01

Note: put a bunch of newspaper down it is a sticky mess. Wash as soon as possible spray , dry with compressed air , seal or wd40

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/25/23 at 07:58:31

If you’re cleaning large areas of chrome the foil & vinegar would work good , like car bumpers. If using Brillo/sos pads get the pad wet with water or soapy water otherwise when the coke mixes with the soap on the pad , it becomes a real sticky gooey mess. I salvaged the rim one more time , it ain’t perfect but looks ok. Won’t be long till I have a rolling chassis.

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/25/23 at 10:44:36

Genuine brass brush won't scratch chrome. Check it with a magnet. Buster Brown shoes used to sell them.

The stupid aluminum sspokes aren't worth much effort, but if you're desperate, gut a piece of parachute cord ,dose it with whatever you want, wrap it around a spoke and go to it

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Dave on 03/25/23 at 17:11:01

785F5E5E46532A0 wrote:

Note: put a bunch of newspaper down it is a sticky mess. Wash as soon as possible spray , dry with compressed air , seal or wd40

A few years ago I bought one of these little blow driers - I love it and use it a lot. When I wash a motorcycle it works great for blowing water out of the brakes, wheels, cylinder head, all the crap up around the forks and headlight, radiator....etc. When the blow drying is done a drying towel for the fuel tank and body panels.

The blower also works for drying parts you have cleaned with water or acetone prior to painting. It works better than air from my compressor as there is more air....and the electric motor heats up the air a little bit. It is also very handy for blowing wood chips off your table saw and other wood working tools.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/performance-tool-600w-garage-shop-blower?store=1392&cid=Shopping-Google-Local_Feed&utm_medium=Google&utm_source=Shopping&utm_campaign=&utm_content=Local_Feed&gclid=Cj0KCQjwt_qgBhDFARIsABcDjOcpTcdQCXZKNfLdH5mMQ_ff_qKHgHew_FCtQ0lZeDmyNklh2gCoF7YaAuGFEALw_wcB

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/25/23 at 21:15:43

That wheel was serious therapy ! Chrome all messed up , spokes not cut & finished , old bearings , rim locks too. I’ve been doing other stuff too but that wheel took 3 days. Definitely still looks vintage but looks 100% better. Bearings in , tire is on , ready for install.

Title: Re: Cleaning chrome wheels
Post by Ruttly on 03/26/23 at 09:48:23

I can tell already , it’s gonna have the race bike feel , light but with a very solid feel. Stock rear hub with a steel rim , it’s heavy but once it’s spinning it should eat thru any loose stuff on the track , almost like having a flywheel for a rear wheel. My heart beats faster when my hands are on the grips , yup I got the fever , bad ! :o