Distraction can be dangerous behind the wheel or cleaning a wheel.

[Rick Morris]

OH and polish only in the direction of the machine finish on the wheels and If you have really bad corrosion you can use xx steel wool to start then go to xxxx and Mothers polish for the final finish I think youll be happy with the results

I had 000 steel wool here, I used that and then Barrasso on a micro fiber cloth. (I use Barrasso on the chrome and it works great.) After the Barrasso I used the Mother's Polish with the power ball again and it looked great. I went out to the garage this morning and I can see the most severe stain coming back. Overall the rim looks good. I will mount the tire and put it back on the bike. If it bothers me to the point of insanity, which it probably will I will powder coat the wheels black next Spring. Its funny, not much bothers me except a damaged or dirty polished wheel. The bike could have 3 layers of grime and dead bugs on it but if the wheels are dirty it makes me crazy. In fact I would even go so far to say putting a car tire on the back wouldn't bother me as much as a dirty Aluminum wheel. I should talk to someone about this.

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

Or is it just that you did it to yourself that's making you crazy? I would just keep using either Mothers or Blue Magic, eventually you will get to the depth of the acid etching and it will be fine. Just a lot of self induced elbow grease. Powder coating would work but it sounds like you have a thing for shinny wheels so you wouldn't be happy with that look either. Maybe find someone who prefers the powder coat look or is doing a custom paint scheme, and trade them for the shipping charge? You never know?

 

[cr0ft]

Or ship them to California. I would if I were in the states. Well, not during prime riding season perhaps, but over winter.

Sure, some cost involved, but basically eliminate polishing and still have great sparkly chrome wheels.

California Chrome Wheel Inc. - CalChrome Clear, a durable chrome finish for all seasons.

Never seen what the result is in person, obviously, but based on the info it looks like just the thing for bling fans. It's a combo of some kind of metal depositing that they top off with clear powder coat for durability. Sure seems to look better than the normal powder coat "chrome" that looks like silver paint, anyway.

 

[IMFASTTOO]

SOS pads?

Helped me clean up my filthy pitted rear rims a lot. Or rather, the local equivalent of them. Fantastic for any serious cleanup job, and don't really scratch. Just a thought.

NO use the steel wool pads with the MOTHERS aluminum wheel polish. SOS pads have a detergent in them

 

[Rick Morris]

Or is it just that you did it to yourself that's making you crazy? I would just keep using either Mothers or Blue Magic, eventually you will get to the depth of the acid etching and it will be fine. Just a lot of self induced elbow grease. Powder coating would work but it sounds like you have a thing for shinny wheels so you wouldn't be happy with that look either. Maybe find someone who prefers the powder coat look or is doing a custom paint scheme, and trade them for the shipping charge? You never know?

You nailed it. I am disgusted with myself for becoming distracted like that. I do have a thing for shiny polished wheels. I think it is from all the Center Lines I used on my hot rods when I was a younger man. I will continue to clean the wheel until I am satisfied. I really dont want to powder coat these beautiful wheels.

 

[Rick Morris]

NO use the steel wool pads with the MOTHERS aluminum wheel polish. SOS pads have a detergent in them

I would not use an SOS pad. I use Mothers wheel polish faithfully. Its just a stupid stain that some time on the therapist coach will help me get over.

 

[Rick Morris]

I do appreciate everyone's advice. You guys are great with help and advice. I have been on other forums for bikes or cars or whatever and none of them have a group of guys like this forum. There is the occasional ribbing here or there but in my opinion everyone here as great advice and input.

On another note; I mounted the new Avon Cobra this morning and took the R3R for a rip. It is still in the mid 40 degrees here on Cape Cod so the roads are still a little cool, but that tire is dramatically different from the Metzler. I launched it very hard a few times and it broke loose once but overall the Avon has tremendous grip and traction compared to the Metzler. Once the tire was warmed up I pulled the front wheels off the ground several times where the Metzler would just spin. I cant wait to get a good lean on when the roads are a little warmer.

 

[IMFASTTOO]

I had 000 steel wool here, I used that and then Barrasso on a micro fiber cloth. (I use Barrasso on the chrome and it works great.) After the Barrasso I used the Mother's Polish with the power ball again and it looked great. I went out to the garage this morning and I can see the most severe stain coming back. Overall the rim looks good. I will mount the tire and put it back on the bike. If it bothers me to the point of insanity, which it probably will I will powder coat the wheels black next Spring. Its funny, not much bothers me except a damaged or dirty polished wheel. The bike could have 3 layers of grime and dead bugs on it but if the wheels are dirty it makes me crazy. In fact I would even go so far to say putting a car tire on the back wouldn't bother me as much as a dirty Aluminum wheel. I should talk to someone about this.

If you use the steel wool and mothers polish you dont want to use the powerball as its designed for polished surfaces not the machined surface of the Rocket wheel I just wipe off the residue and the wheel polishes up nicely and after the wheels polished keep it cleaned with LEMON PLEDGE it will protect it and keep it from corroding and it will stay shiny

 

[cr0ft]

SOS pads may not be great to clean this up, but they're great for a lot. Including cleaning my whitewalls.

 

[cr0ft]

I do have a thing for shiny polished wheels.

Yeah, me too. Though I could certainly learn to love chrome!

Oh, the heady days when my rear rim looked like this:

Triumph Rocket 3 Touring Hinterrad.- Felge Wheel Assy, Rear non ABS

... gotta take the wheel off the bike and really get to polishing this weekend I think... Never taken it off the bike before, should be interesting, the brake disc has to be removed, there's just no way to work around it with the wheel on the bike.