Polishing Spokes
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 32
Polishing Spokes
I like the look of spoked wheels but dang the work to floss them. Has anyone come up with any idea of how to clean the spokes without having to sit for hours and I mean hours (6 to be exact) running a shoestring with cleaner over the spokes? Mine seem to have light rust on them.
An answer of trade them for non-spoked wheels is not an option. Tell me what you do to keep your spokes shiny and bright.
An answer of trade them for non-spoked wheels is not an option. Tell me what you do to keep your spokes shiny and bright.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
Granted, I only have one spoked wheel but geez... 6 hours! It takes me about 20 minutes MAX to 'floss' my front wheel with shoe laces and some wax. A little less time if I use a 1" strip of micro fiber cloth. I only need to do it about once a month. Do you use a wax on the shoe string, or just wipe the spoke off?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Burlington NC
Wire rims!
I have on 07 ultra with wire lace rims and they are a pain to clean! I think I am going to buy one of those cone power ***** that Mothers car polish has. They look like they would work pretty well since they have a little bit of a point on them to get in those tight spots.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 32
I just completed the spoke cleaning about an hour ago. That would be at 11:30 PM. I started at 6:00 PM and had put in about an hour or so last night before i had to go to a house fire. So that is yes 6 and 1/2 hours minus a meal and any other interruptions. I burned through 2 - 1" ribbons just cleaning the back rim and one shoelace on front rim. I used Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish. When I got finished cleaning them I polished them with Nu Finish. Tomorrow I will put a little Turtle Wax on them to hopefully protect them from needing flossing so soon. The last flossing was about 6 months ago.
I put my bike up on the jack and then while sitting in a rolling shop chair, I floss the spokes. I have close up pictures of the spokes and the minute rust particles (brake dust) on them. The spokes are rough to the touch in the before condition and smooths after flossing. I wrap the shoelace or whatever I use around the spoke 2 times so that while I am flossing, I am flossing all around the spoke. When I am on the inside spoke I cross over and around the overlying spoke as I come to it. The outside spokes are relatively easy.
I tried the Mother's $23 foam cone this time before flossing but it was a no go on removing the rust even with cleaner. I am going to try the cone on my triple trees and some other easier to reach areas. I may even try to put the wax on the spokes with it.
In the pictures you can see one horizontal spoke clean and one dirty, then both cleaned and finally the rear wheel cleaned and polished.
I put my bike up on the jack and then while sitting in a rolling shop chair, I floss the spokes. I have close up pictures of the spokes and the minute rust particles (brake dust) on them. The spokes are rough to the touch in the before condition and smooths after flossing. I wrap the shoelace or whatever I use around the spoke 2 times so that while I am flossing, I am flossing all around the spoke. When I am on the inside spoke I cross over and around the overlying spoke as I come to it. The outside spokes are relatively easy.
I tried the Mother's $23 foam cone this time before flossing but it was a no go on removing the rust even with cleaner. I am going to try the cone on my triple trees and some other easier to reach areas. I may even try to put the wax on the spokes with it.
In the pictures you can see one horizontal spoke clean and one dirty, then both cleaned and finally the rear wheel cleaned and polished.
Last edited by Sharpie; Jan 20, 2014 at 01:01 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
I thought that I was a bit obsessive about my bike. As much as I like my bike to be clean, I'm not sure that I'd spend that much time cleaning the spokes. lol
Do you live by the ocean? How about brake pads, what kind are you using? I switched to the Lyndall Z+ pads a couple of years ago and most of my brake dust problem disappeared. With a solid rear wheel the brake dust was a big problem. Especially after I chromed the wheel. As long as I wipe the wheel(s) down once a week with spray detailer it's a two minute job to clean them. Plus, the brakes perform better than the OEM.
http://www.lyndallbrakes.com/for-har...n-motorcycles/
I tried the Mother's polishing wheel but it didn't work too well for me. I couldn't get it in between all the stuff on the rear wheel (rotor, caliper, etc). It works well on my cars wheels though.
Do you live by the ocean? How about brake pads, what kind are you using? I switched to the Lyndall Z+ pads a couple of years ago and most of my brake dust problem disappeared. With a solid rear wheel the brake dust was a big problem. Especially after I chromed the wheel. As long as I wipe the wheel(s) down once a week with spray detailer it's a two minute job to clean them. Plus, the brakes perform better than the OEM.
http://www.lyndallbrakes.com/for-har...n-motorcycles/
I tried the Mother's polishing wheel but it didn't work too well for me. I couldn't get it in between all the stuff on the rear wheel (rotor, caliper, etc). It works well on my cars wheels though.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 32
I live 2 hours inland. Still on the factory pads. I think it is all brake dust. Are the Lyndall Z+ ceramis pads? I used the Mother's cone today to apply the wax to the wheels. It does pretty good for that job. It may be ok on the front wheel if I would clean it weekly.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
No, the Z pads are not ceramic. The composition looka almost like HD pads. I don't what they're made of but they definitely put out way less dust and they last longer. I've found that they seem to work better in wet weather also.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 32
I just looked them up. They are Carbon Fiber pads. They claim no dust. The rusty dust is my problem.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
My spokes look like new so I'm a fan of the Z pads. I'm guessing that the combination of them and using a good detailing spray wax is what's keeping them corrosion/rust free.
(FWIW: I live about 45 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean)
(FWIW: I live about 45 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean)
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
Get a jar of Mothers alum polish and a bag of 0000 steel wool. Dip the steel wool in the polish and do the rim and spokes by hand and just floss the areas you can't reach. Might take an hour if that long.