Cleaning Wheels - Help/Advise Needed.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 532
Likes: 10
From: Cottleville, Mo.
I have worked on my aluminum wheels so much it's redonkulous.
I checked and the local chrome shops around here said they would not chrome plate aluminum wheels. All stated it eventually flakes off. What the guys who charge $500 on up on the internet do different (or HD on the Limited wheels) I couldn't say.
I have checked into powder coating them black. I was quoted $175.00 for both wheels to powder coat black and then a clear on top. They need the bearings out so you will have to factor in a set of new front / rear bearings installed. That is the direction I am going.
I checked and the local chrome shops around here said they would not chrome plate aluminum wheels. All stated it eventually flakes off. What the guys who charge $500 on up on the internet do different (or HD on the Limited wheels) I couldn't say.
I have checked into powder coating them black. I was quoted $175.00 for both wheels to powder coat black and then a clear on top. They need the bearings out so you will have to factor in a set of new front / rear bearings installed. That is the direction I am going.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
I needed to get out from under spokes and put a 9 spoke cast on the front, Fat Boy solid disk on the rear. The front looks like crap but I will just live with it until I can afford something nicer.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 67
You can rub on those bad boys with polish until the cows come home and you won't make a dent in them. You need something much more aggressive than a mere polish. Here is what I did, with excellent results:
Take the wheel off the bike and put it up on your work bench where you can easily work on it. Get a sheet of 600 wet sandpaper and cut it into small squares that you can work with. Wet the paper and start rubbing the cast aluminum wheels. Dip the sandpaper in water every 20 seconds or so, and keep rubbing. The 600 grit has enough abrasive in it to remove the stains which are on the surface of the wheel. After you have sanded the whole wheel, wash off all the debris with warm, soapy water and dry.
Next, use a little Mothers Polish on a small cotton buffing wheel that you attach to your 1/4" electric drill. I think the disk is about 4" in diameter. This is not a flat buffing pad, it is a buffing wheel much like a jeweler uses. I got mine at Lowes. It is small enough to get into all the tight places on the wheel. Every few minutes take a clean soft cloth and wipe off the black oxidation. It took me about 2 hours of labor to do each side of the wheel and when I got finished I put on a good coat of paste wax. The brake dust is what makes the spots on the wheel. When the dust gets wet it etches the aluminum.
The only long term solution is to wash your wheels good every week or so to be sure the brake dust does etch the wheels. I know, it is a huge pain.
Take the wheel off the bike and put it up on your work bench where you can easily work on it. Get a sheet of 600 wet sandpaper and cut it into small squares that you can work with. Wet the paper and start rubbing the cast aluminum wheels. Dip the sandpaper in water every 20 seconds or so, and keep rubbing. The 600 grit has enough abrasive in it to remove the stains which are on the surface of the wheel. After you have sanded the whole wheel, wash off all the debris with warm, soapy water and dry.
Next, use a little Mothers Polish on a small cotton buffing wheel that you attach to your 1/4" electric drill. I think the disk is about 4" in diameter. This is not a flat buffing pad, it is a buffing wheel much like a jeweler uses. I got mine at Lowes. It is small enough to get into all the tight places on the wheel. Every few minutes take a clean soft cloth and wipe off the black oxidation. It took me about 2 hours of labor to do each side of the wheel and when I got finished I put on a good coat of paste wax. The brake dust is what makes the spots on the wheel. When the dust gets wet it etches the aluminum.
The only long term solution is to wash your wheels good every week or so to be sure the brake dust does etch the wheels. I know, it is a huge pain.
Last edited by texaswiz; Mar 25, 2013 at 04:46 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Carrollton, Georgia
I have the same problem with my wheels. I used some simichrome metal polish on mine but really had to put some work into it but they came back to original condition. It is the stuff that turns black when rubbing. Just dont get any on your tires it is hard to get off.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,880
From: Oklahoma
My son works at an aircraft paint shop. On the unpainted parts, they use "Flitz" and it can make aircraft aluminum look like chrome. Have no idea how it would work on your wheels but if nothing else helps, it's worth a try. If anyone uses it at the nearest airport, perhaps they would let you try a daub or 2 on a rag before you buy.
Last edited by btsom; Mar 25, 2013 at 05:43 PM. Reason: Mis-remembered the name of the product
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Branchville, nj
My son works at an aircraft paint shop. On the unpainted parts, they use "Flitz" and it can make aircraft aluminum look like chrome. Have no idea how it would work on your wheels but if nothing else helps, it's worth a try. If anyone uses it at the nearest airport, perhaps they would let you try a daub or 2 on a rag before you buy.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 14
From: Michigan
Had same
Reading this thread reminded me I had that exact thing on my 2010 ultra wheels and never did find a way to get it off. I have a 2009 Road king now same wheels and just went to garage to see if my wheels had that.
They don't so how do you keep that from happening ? Will wax protect for a season of riding?
Not trying to hijack thread but unsure how to get the op pics in another thread.
Thanks for topic and good luck with yours.
Hap
They don't so how do you keep that from happening ? Will wax protect for a season of riding?
Not trying to hijack thread but unsure how to get the op pics in another thread.
Thanks for topic and good luck with yours.
Hap
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Saint Cloud Florida
I notice you are from FL. If it is not too far, try Henry Canup's Custom Metal Polishing, 617 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168, 1-386-846-5421. His web site is http://www.getpolished.com/ I have seen his work and have some of his polish. It is fantastic. He is truly a professional. Hope this helps.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
My son works at an aircraft paint shop. On the unpainted parts, they use "Flitz" and it can make aircraft aluminum look like chrome. Have no idea how it would work on your wheels but if nothing else helps, it's worth a try. If anyone uses it at the nearest airport, perhaps they would let you try a daub or 2 on a rag before you buy.
I also tried on an old aluminum pipe that looked terrible from sitting out in the weather and like said above it shined it up like chrome.
