Cleaning solid wheels
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 18
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Cleaning solid wheels
Amigos,
i have an '03 Fatboy. The solid wheels have a very deep set, mottled, staining which is much more noticeable on the side of the brake discs. I have tried to remove the "staining" with steel wool pads, Dremel metal polish wheel, rubbing compound, Nev'r Dull . . . all to no effect.
Does anyone know how make the wheels **** and span again?
Thanks!
i have an '03 Fatboy. The solid wheels have a very deep set, mottled, staining which is much more noticeable on the side of the brake discs. I have tried to remove the "staining" with steel wool pads, Dremel metal polish wheel, rubbing compound, Nev'r Dull . . . all to no effect.
Does anyone know how make the wheels **** and span again?
Thanks!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Sand with multiple fine grade sand paper and polish. Mine were rather pitted when I got them and I used s100 polishing soap on them for the pitting. It worked well but it sounds like yours are much worse.
Drew
Drew
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 266
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From: Down by the River
I'm in the same boat with an '03 Fat Boy, brake dust has etched it's way into the aluminum, other sides of the wheels cleaned up nice, but the brake sides are ugly. Tried everything mixed with a lot of elbow grease, and nothing seems to clean them up. Gotta try the S100 polishing soap next, after that it's wet sanding.....
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2009
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Thanks, guys. I did some searching through old posts and saw that wet sanding using progressively finer papers should obtain the best results.
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Road Captain
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
Mine were in terrible shape. The previous owner must have never cleaned the wheels. I used synthetic steel wool (scotchbrite). Started wet sanding with the red pad until I could not really feel the pits. Then went to the gray pad for the final sanding, followed by Mothers polish on a power ball. Wheels look as good as new.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
There's several auto tire and rims shops around here that will polish older wheels back to new looking.
Might try to see If they'll do a bike rim... thinking it'd be a lot less greenbacks $$$$ than a new set of wheels
Might try to see If they'll do a bike rim... thinking it'd be a lot less greenbacks $$$$ than a new set of wheels
