cleaning wheels
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 927
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
cleaning wheels
what is the best way to get the stock UC aluminum wheels looking new again after they have started to dull? Also is there a clear coat finish on these wheels or it is bare metal?
can anyone recall the name of the company where you can exchange the stock wheels for the same style stock wheels except chromed at a fair price?
can anyone recall the name of the company where you can exchange the stock wheels for the same style stock wheels except chromed at a fair price?
Last edited by hdbe; Jan 17, 2010 at 01:01 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: york,pa.
I got some liquid stuff called NO WET ULTRA metal polish , works pretty good but some elbow grease is required. There are a lot of metal polishes that will though. mother's makes some. good old simichrome is always around. the no wet works a little easier than a lot those pastes though.
Last edited by flylock; Jan 17, 2010 at 12:55 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Western Wisconsin
I've always used a cheap spray wheel cleaner (whatever's on sale) followed by the power washer....they stay nice and shinny.
But if I needed to bring the shine back...I'd used simichrome.
But if I needed to bring the shine back...I'd used simichrome.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 1
I just tried this same thing. My aluminum wheels are stained and corroded from the previous owners laziness! I bought a pack of assorted buffing wheels w/assorted jewelers rouge sticks (the buffing wheels attach to a power drill). They cleaned up a a lot, but to get them looking new again I had to break out the sand paper and sanded out the stains and pits.....depending on how bad yours are, I would start with 600 grit paper then 800 then 1000 then 1500.....(I have in the past had to start with 320 grit sandpaper and worked my way up on other metal items i was restoring) then start buffing them with a buffing wheel attached to a power drill using the jewelers rouge. It's a pain in the *** but it can be done.....They can look like new again!
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 726
Likes: 12
From: Eugene, OR
When I purchased my 09 SG the wheels were extremely stained and they looked horrible, they were clean to the touch but stained. I but the bike on the jack removed the saddle bags and commenced using the HD metal polish and spent about a day rubbing out the stained a few inches at a time and then would wipe down each polished area before moving on, after I washed the wheels down with a mild soap and then dried everything. After a lot of elbow grease and work they finally looked like new and I was happy with the results. I have not since I keep my bike pretty clean had to rewax the wheels since March 09 I just wash and wipe them down when I am done cleaning the rest of the bike. I would love some aftermarket wheels but $3000 is a little rich for my blood. Good Luck any hi quality metal polish should work well for you. I used microfiber towels as well.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,656
Likes: 10
From: Northwest Arkansas
When I purchased my 09 SG the wheels were extremely stained and they looked horrible, they were clean to the touch but stained. I but the bike on the jack removed the saddle bags and commenced using the HD metal polish and spent about a day rubbing out the stained a few inches at a time and then would wipe down each polished area before moving on, after I washed the wheels down with a mild soap and then dried everything. After a lot of elbow grease and work they finally looked like new and I was happy with the results. I have not since I keep my bike pretty clean had to rewax the wheels since March 09 I just wash and wipe them down when I am done cleaning the rest of the bike. I would love some aftermarket wheels but $3000 is a little rich for my blood. Good Luck any hi quality metal polish should work well for you. I used microfiber towels as well.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/media...89_M_19bce.jpg
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
These guys below are supposed to be real good platers.
Chemicalguys.com has a wheel sealer but it has to be reapplied every so often. Wheels are not clear coated. Bare aluminum
Chrome Wheels Exchange - OEM & Aftermarket Motorcycle Chrome Plating Exchange,
Chemicalguys.com has a wheel sealer but it has to be reapplied every so often. Wheels are not clear coated. Bare aluminum
Chrome Wheels Exchange - OEM & Aftermarket Motorcycle Chrome Plating Exchange,
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
These guys below are supposed to be real good platers.
Chemicalguys.com has a wheel sealer but it has to be reapplied every so often. Wheels are not clear coated. Bare aluminum
Chrome Wheels Exchange - OEM & Aftermarket Motorcycle Chrome Plating Exchange,
Chemicalguys.com has a wheel sealer but it has to be reapplied every so often. Wheels are not clear coated. Bare aluminum
Chrome Wheels Exchange - OEM & Aftermarket Motorcycle Chrome Plating Exchange,
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 726
Likes: 12
From: Eugene, OR
Yes that is exactly what I used. Worked good for me and has held up well
