Waiting for O-rings, polishing rim

[Walküre]

The worst thing I've found on my Valk, unfortunately, was the corrosion on the rims. The gent I bought it from, lived right on the Mississippi River, and about 5 miles down a dirt road. It was obvious that he parked it very often, with dust and dirt on the rims, and the moisture got in there, and ate the crap out of the rim. Nastiest aluminum I've seen in a LONG time - well, not since my Navy days, and salt water corrosion. Needless to say, it all has to be sanded down, and I had to start with 120 grit! Usually I've been able to start with either 220, if really bad, or 320, normally. But, it'll be worth it in the end. Here's a pic - you can still see a bit of the corrosion, at the back of the rim, on the flats, but I had to get at least a small patch done, to be sure that it would polish out, or whether I had to start looking for a different rim, keeping this as a "spare". But, it'll turn out good enough, especially since I have added the stock saddlebags.

This sure is fun!! I'll buy the first beer, if anyone wants to come over and help...

[Bone]

The wheels are a lot of work they say I haven't taken time to start on mine.
Have you seen the videos on YouTube ? On the search bar I typed in "how to polish motorcycle rims" and got several videos. Guys use a drill press chuck to spin the wheel on a home made spindle. 

[98valk]

http://topoftheline.com/rolmetpolkit.html

mirror shine. once aluminum is polished to this level corrosion stops, then once a yr repolish with the ultra fine polish and then seal again.

for the best mirror finish, sand down the machining groves left on the wheel before using the kit.

[Skinhead]

I'm in the process my self, PIA.  I don't have a dril press, but used the balance stand and a hand drill motor with a wire wheel to spin the wheel/Tire, works pretty well, but ties up one hand

[fudgie]

I did that once. With bags on it never gets done. I clean the rim when the rear is off. Its light gray all year. Cant see it from the drivers seat! 

[NITRO]

Seeing your 2000 red and black Standard make me miss mine...



The Interstate makes me feel better, but I REALLY liked my Standard.

[Walküre]

http://topoftheline.com/rolmetpolkit.html

for the best mirror finish, sand down the machining groves left on the wheel before using the kit.

Goes without saying - they disappear pretty fast, with the 120 grit. I'm really not looking for mirror finish - the corrosion is just too deep, I'd have to do some serious cutting to get rid of it all (and you DO have to get rid of it ALL, for mirror!), and it IS the rear wheel, under fender, hitch, bags, etc. I'll get it to a pretty decent shine, then keep it up. It doesn't take much to keep it up, once it's done, and I'll do a thorough job, every 10,000 miles, when I do the spline maintenance. I don't mind working on it at all. It's not a PIA, it's a LOL...(labor of love).

The Rolite is nice, but a little salty for my rims. Mother's does just fine. Most of the work is elbow grease, and time consuming. I do need to get a few new buffing wheels, though. Again, I wouldn't have gone through any of this, if the wheels weren't so bad, to begin with. The front is nearly as bad, sadly. When I find time to pick up my rear-front wheel from Jabba, I'll do that one, as well. Should be easier, though - except polishing the stainless on the rotor.

Yeah, I wanted an I/S when I first saw the Valk, back in 2000, but tastes change over the years - rode a bunch of Wings, and when I sold my Aspencade, decided if I had another, it would be an early 1000 or 1100 standard. The standard Valk suits me, as I can have my way with it - It's basically a Tourer now, and that's how I think it will stay.

R

[Dave Weaver]

Let me know when you get real good at that and I'll bring mine up to you.

[John U.]

My 98 Standard had nasty wheels when I got it. PO never cleaned them. After trying some hand polishing and realizing that I may be too advanced in years to complete the job, I saw the youtube video. I bought a cheap benchtop drill press just for that job. Let me tell you, it was worth the 40 bucks. I used a spare rear axle and a few pieces of 2x lumber.
It is still a time consuming pain in the hands, but the results, even on pitted rims is worth it. The first time is by far the worst, once they're smooth and polished it's easy the following year
And best of all, now I can drill holes with wild abandon.  

[Walküre]

Let me know when you get real good at that and I'll bring mine up to you.

I was BORN good at it, and only got better! Did a lot of show cars, years ago. Most fun, was when I worked in a plating shop, and had a lot of gold-plate on one of the cars. Worst was doing an entire Datsun tranny, by hand. Got smart after that, and bought a buffer that looked like the old-fashioned dentist drills...remember those? Wish I still had it, but it went with the shop when we sold it.

Come on up! just bring lot's of 




R

[Walküre]

As an aside, got my VIN numbers for the trailer yesterday. Made my VIN plate, that attaches to the side of the tongue. Just one more thing to polish...



I just love this shtuff...

R

[Walküre]

Mase - what a gracious offer, that's what these boards are all about!

I received my o-rings last week, and I'm just waiting until I finish my polishing. But, I certainly appreciate the offer!

I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of the folks here...

Roger

[fudgie]

Mase - what a gracious offer, that's what these boards are all about!

I received my o-rings last week, and I'm just waiting until I finish my polishing. But, I certainly appreciate the offer!

I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of the folks here...

Roger

That.....is a funny tag line. 

[Walküre]

Rims are finished, think I'm going to tackle the tire change tomorrow - if I can find a 90 degree valve stem. I'll at least get the old tire off. After all this time, and thinking about getting a Patchboy stem, I forgot!! BITES!! It just grates my butt to pay $15 shipping, for $8 worth of valve stems...

[Hoser]

Hey, your'e purty good at that.  As for the patchboys, buy a bunch of them, shipping is the same,  you can hand them out as party favors!  I bought a dozen,  I'm down to two, guess I better put em on my own bike!  Hoser 

[Walküre]

It's not so much the meat that's left ON the tire, as the pattern of the meat, that LEFT the tire!!

Ran it when I first got the bike, at -15 psi...cupped really bad. Still put 3K miles on it, but going darkside, and now is the best time to do that. Especially since I am DOWN again, waiting on valve stems. I contacted the local dealer, they promised they have 90 degree bolt-down valve stems, $8. so I drove in, and all they had was a 90 degree pull-through, with a silver collar. Still $8!!! No thanks...

Ordering the Patchboy stems now...

R

[donaldcc]

I forgot!! BITES!! It just grates my butt to pay $15 shipping, for $8 worth of valve stems...

I recently got 4 of these from Jake Wilson for $2 each along with a couple jugs of coolant.  $7 shipping for all and free shipping for order over $99.  Haven't used them yet, but will change tires and coolant so will see what I think.

http://www.jakewilson.com/productDetail.do?navType=type&webTypeId=372&navTitle=Motorcycle+Tire+Accessories&webCatId=38&keyword=90+VALVE+STEMS&prodFamilyId=19082

[Walküre]

Yeehaww!! Test drive in the morning!!! A little late tonight, just in case I DO have any trouble. But, it's done!





I have 6 extra 90 degree Patchboy valve stems, if anyone needs some...

R

[Warlock]

The worst thing I've found on my Valk, unfortunately, was the corrosion on the rims. The gent I bought it from, lived right on the Mississippi River, and about 5 miles down a dirt road. It was obvious that he parked it very often, with dust and dirt on the rims, and the moisture got in there, and ate the crap out of the rim. Nastiest aluminum I've seen in a LONG time - well, not since my Navy days, and salt water corrosion. Needless to say, it all has to be sanded down, and I had to start with 120 grit! Usually I've been able to start with either 220, if really bad, or 320, normally. But, it'll be worth it in the end. Here's a pic - you can still see a bit of the corrosion, at the back of the rim, on the flats, but I had to get at least a small patch done, to be sure that it would polish out, or whether I had to start looking for a different rim, keeping this as a "spare". But, it'll turn out good enough, especially since I have added the stock saddlebags.

This sure is fun!! I'll buy the first beer, if anyone wants to come over and help...

Can't see them real good, but I used my wife's thread mill to polish these rims and they were in real bad shape.

David

[Jess from VA]

IF you really want to be adventurous, stick the bike up on the jack, start it up, put it in gear and run it at about 2000 RPM, and then polish the rear wheel at the bottom only, real easy.   Be careful of your fingers in the spokes.

[Walküre]

Rear's done - spent an hour and a half doing the front that way, and can't see any improvement at all...

R

[Hoghead]

I've seen lots of polished wheels and Valkyries. You need to put up more pics of the shop.

[Walküre]

I've seen lots of polished wheels and Valkyries. You need to put up more pics of the shop.

http://crbest.com/shop/

[Dag]

This is my rim before polishing


After polishing


And a video
Polishing Rims

[Dag]

Dag,

What compound and wheels did you use to polish the rims with?

Mase

My rims were horrific.
I started with 400 grit paper, continued with 600 grit and 1000 grit. (wet) 
Than I grinded with Tyrolit Spindle mounted flap wheel, 50x50x6mm VL Medium
Finally I polished with Autosol Metal Polishing.

[Gunslinger]

Hey, your'e purty good at that.  As for the patchboys, buy a bunch of them, shipping is the same,  you can hand them out as party favors!  I bought a dozen,  I'm down to two, guess I better put em on my own bike!  Hoser 

Next time you see me remind me and I'll give you a few extra. I also bot a box full of 'em as the shipping didn't change. I'm only going to need 6 for my 3 and 2 for RoadKills bike. I have at least a dozen.

[big turkey]

I think I will get my rims Powder Coated Black or red or something.

Not at all into polishing anything very often.

It's a cop out I know , but I can live with it.

AL