Wheel cleaning help
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Stage II
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Rapids, Ia
Wheel cleaning help
I have an 07 Sportster with the 13 spoke Magnesiun rims. The forward side of the rims ( the side that catches all the debris) is nasty dirty looking. The backside of each spoke is clean. The polished lip and all other polished areas are..... Well look iodized. Any help or reccomendations on what will clean these up a little. I've bought about 7 different products, and no such luck. I've power washed them.... At a total loss here. Please reply here or to e-mail bill.myers1975@gmail.com 
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 743
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From: Cape Town
Howzit
After i do a clean cleanig with a light absasive sponge padrust specks and corrosive build up,,i cote the spokes with a lube spray"mine is called tool in a can",Please "dont get on your disk pads"then when it looks dirty i just wipe it down.
Novice
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 23
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From: In Limbo
My Sportster had been completely neglected and left in a parking lot outside for two years prior to me buying it, the wheels were/are in an aweful state. Flitz polishing paste works very well if your's aren't in that bad shape. I had to use super fine steel wool first to get mine looking half presentable. I'm probably going to have them powder coated this coming fall so I don't hve to sorry about it in the future.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 38
From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'
My rims were real bad also. A couple of winters ago I took off my wheels and removed the pulley and rotors. Polished the smooth by hand using Mothers Paste, painted them and did a slight polish on them again. I detail the bike in time for pollen every year. Once you take the time and effort to get them right. The maintenance is a lot easier. 
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
I painted mine, too. I used Mother's aluminum polish on the spoke faces and rim, and applied with a drill. A Dremel would work just as well, or better. Anyway, the spoke faces look like mirrors.
I went with black epoxy paint, but VHT has a silver and some other colors that may be worth looking at.
Previous to painting, I had marginal success using a stiff brush and full power Dawn dishwashing soap or Shout laundry stain remover.
As usual, prevention and proper maintenance is the key to making it easier to clean/keep clean.
A couple of before and after photos...
I went with black epoxy paint, but VHT has a silver and some other colors that may be worth looking at.
Previous to painting, I had marginal success using a stiff brush and full power Dawn dishwashing soap or Shout laundry stain remover.
As usual, prevention and proper maintenance is the key to making it easier to clean/keep clean.
A couple of before and after photos...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
Three options now:
1) Live with the dirty look even after cleaning.
2) Send your rims out for powdercoating/painting/chroming.
3) New rims, preferably custom & chrome.
1) Live with the dirty look even after cleaning.
2) Send your rims out for powdercoating/painting/chroming.
3) New rims, preferably custom & chrome.
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 23
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From: In Limbo
Spent all day yesterday cleaning my rims, and got them clean, unfortunately the polished portion is pretty severly pitted. Any suggestions other than powder coating or painting? Figure there has got to be an easier method than sanding by hand with 1200 to get them smooth again.
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