Wheel cleaner?

[solo1]

What is a really good wheel cleaner? I've got some real grungy wheels on my Nighthawk.

Obviously I'm looking for something that just jumps out of the bottle and does the job while I sit back and watch.  Yeah, right!

Seriously, the only stuff that ever worked for me, took a lot of elbow grease.  Maybe something new and improved?

[Jess from VA]

OOOO steel wool treated with BomsAway for rough stuff, followed by cotton soaked BomsAway is the fastest handjob I know (as opposed to power drills with balls and buffs, and chuck marks in the wheels). 

One bottle will last for some years.  shake will and use sparingly.  The stuff is liquid not like Mothers or other paste polishes that require hard work both on and off.
http://www.hondadirectlineofshadyside.com/stores/product.asp?pid=4345&str=2&ID=141757311

[Cattman]

I agree with the Bom's Away. I also picked this up at the Cleveland bike show. http://www.ride-onshop.com/Cleaning_Wax_Polish-Kleer_Chrome_Ultra_Aluminum_Chrome_Polish.html and it does great on my chrome and wheels both. Like the BOm a little goes along way.

[Joe Hummer]

Nothing says "I Love You Dad" like having your son burn some elbow grease on your wheels.   

I have used steel wool and WD40 on my rear rim before.  It comes out looking good but not a polished finish.

Joe

[sheets]

I use aluminum polish I've picked up at various truck stops.  A thick liquid/paste.  Shake well before using.  Smear it all around with my hands then use multiple soft rags (old T-shirts followed by micro-fiber 'cloth') to wipe off and polish.  Use to get stuff similar to Never Dull at Les Schwab (sp?) Tire.  Its called Heavy Metal.  Got a bottle of Heavy Metal in liquid form (looks about the same as the truck stop stuff) a year or so ago.  Bike up high on a lift and a milk crate for a stool . . . easy done.  

[sugerbear]

i used mother chrome/aluminum polish, and the mother mini ball with extension on an electric drill(not battery) took a while but turned out quite nice.
had to do it a little at a time(hands couldn't hold the drill for long periods)

polish until turns black, wipe off and repeat until happy.

[solo1]

thanks guys, I'm going to try Boms away.  Mark says that he has some somewhere out in the garage.  Thanks again.

Wayne

[paul]

What those guys said....We were talking about cleaning bikes at work today and a guy says he uses spray and wash on everything on the bike,,he swears...and on his vet engine,,,says the rubber comes out staying black /hoses tires/ect...he rides a sport bikes mostly,,,says he rinses the bike  sparys on the spray and wash lets it sit for a couple minutes,,,rinses clean//???Ill try it on thr vt750 and see whats up,,,,,have you all heard that one yet?????

[houstone]

After you get the heavy stuff off (I like bronze wool for less scratching...), you might try White Diamond Polish (http://www.whitediamondpolish.com/).  Someone here suggested it a while back, and I bit the bullet and ponied up for it.  It is expensive, and takes elbow grease, but it works very well.
My $.02 worth.
Jeff

[joefromperry]

Flitz works best for all my bikes, wheels, chrome, etc.

[PAVALKER]

Obviously nothing will jump out of the bottle and get er done without some effort on your part.

If they are dirty and have been untouched for years, I scrub em with soft scrub with bleach and a kitchen sponge, then use a Brillo pad to clean and smooth them more.... and finally after a rinse off I use the Mother's Mini Power Ball and White Diamond.  Tried Flitz and don't care for it, still have most of the tube.  Once you get er done with the Mini Power Ball, you should be able to touch em up with a rag and some White Diamond now and then.

[solo1]

I found some Wham Bam in the garage.  I used that on a soft rag for the smooth part of the wheel and used 4x steel wool for the porous parts.  It cleaned right up with just a little scrubbing, about 30 minutes.
The Nighthawk wheel had a big accumulation of chain grease and crud. What made it easier was the rear drum brake, no brake dust and no brake disc to work around.

I'm not too particular since the Nighthawk is not rolling in chrome.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Mildew]

I bought some s100 at the local Harley shop. (comes in a white bottle) It's $10 a small bottle. You just spray it on an let it soak. Let it soak up to 2 hours then spray it off with high pressure. Then use your favorite polishing method.  I force the big mothers powerball on my wheels. It took all the black stuff off my wheels and it also took my kids burnt tennis shoe off my cobra pipes

[Jess from VA]

I bought some s100 at the local Harley shop. (comes in a white bottle) It's $10 a small bottle. You just spray it on an let it soak. Let it soak up to 2 hours then spray it off with high pressure. Then use your favorite polishing method.  I force the big mothers powerball on my wheels. It took all the black stuff off my wheels and it also took my kids burnt tennis shoe off my cobra pipes

You must NOT let S100 get dry before cleaning it off.  It will etch and stain aluminum (wheels) if you do.  Even though is says spray on, hose off, I use long and short bottle brushes to clean the wheels, brakes, engine bottom....but it must be kept wet, and hosed off thoroughly before it drys. 

[R J]

I bought some s100 at the local Harley shop. (comes in a white bottle) It's $10 a small bottle. You just spray it on an let it soak. Let it soak up to 2 hours then spray it off with high pressure. Then use your favorite polishing method.  I force the big mothers power ball on my wheels. It took all the black stuff off my wheels and it also took my kids burnt tennis shoe off my cobra pipes

You must NOT let S100 get dry before cleaning it off.  It will etch and stain aluminum (wheels) if you do.  Even though is says spray on, hose off, I use long and short bottle brushes to clean the wheels, brakes, engine bottom....but it must be kept wet, and hosed off thoroughly before it drys.  

10-04 what Jess says.      I have a pair of wheels in my garage I used s100 on and never kept it wet....      Didn't know I was supposed to till it was too late.

I have chrome wheels now.   I use a power ball and Meguairs, Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum polish.  

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Consumer (Meguiar's Brand)>Wheel Care&sectionID=13101

Yes, I know, I use Mag and Aluminum polish on Chrome wheels.  Works and it was free.....

[Mildew]

Thanks for the tip. I remember simple green staining my big rigs wheels a long time ago. Since then I've been using aluminum cleaners on wet wheels, which is what i've done with the s100 and it worked well like that. I should have mentioned that in my previous post.  I also do it on cool wheels in the shade. Mornings are best imo.

[X Ring]

I have used steel wool and WD40 on my rear rim before.  It comes out looking good but not a polished finish.

Joe

Thanks Joe.  That was the easiest time I've ever had cleaning brake pad material off a rim.  Took 10-15 minutes a side.  Now to the polishing.  Mothers Powerball Aluminum Polish and a Polishing Ball.

Marty