Polished rims - now what?

[RudyF6]

Took almost 6 hours (Damn, should have done this when it was new - and I was younger!) to polish my rough looking rims. Looks great now, but what's my best bet for keeping them nice and shiny?

[Rams]

Took almost 6 hours (Damn, should have done this when it was new - and I was younger!) to polish my rough looking rims. Looks great now, but what's my best bet for keeping them nice and shiny?

Parked in one of those airbag things?   

Actually, a few minutes of attention (cleaning) (and a coat of wax  when needed) once a week or so will normally keep them looking good.   This I'm told, if it works out for you, come by and help me.   

[Jack B]

Just keep them cleaned and use a good wax. They will look good for a long time.

[Gavin_Sons]

Get them clear powdered coated

[t-man403]

Took almost 6 hours (Damn, should have done this when it was new - and I was younger!) to polish my rough looking rims. Looks great now, but what's my best bet for keeping them nice and shiny?

How about a picture to motivate the rest of us! 

[Jess from VA]

Whenever polished up to a high shine, a good coat of a paste wax is a must for best longevity.

Whenever I used my polishing compounds and hard cotton buffs on high speed drills for hours on end, the finishing wax job actually brings the high shine down a few degrees, but it's still the best way to keep the polish job lasting (short of clear coat).

These days, I'm trying to develop a love of flat battleship gray wheels.  It's not working (but I'm going to keep at it).   

[RudyF6]

Thanks for replies guys!

Regular wax on the bare alum? Ain't happening weekly, but I'll give it a shot.

I didn't take "before" pics, but Jess' "battleship grey" description is pretty close, and they felt like 220 grit sandpaper.

I still need to finish, but it starts with a good old soap and water bath today.

If this makes for motivation for anybody.........



I even did the rear that nobody sees!! (much worse than the front - started with sandpaper!)



I also have an all black tourer. The rims on that one are far worse off than the one in the pics, I'm thinking about blacking those out   

[Jess from VA]

Nice job Rudy.   

I stared at them for a few minutes, and I'm still not going out to polish mine. 

PS:  Am I looking at a rubber valve stem?

I always start with corrosive wheel cleaner or S-100 and steel wool hard scrub (nitrile gloves, eye protection), then a hot soapy water stiff bristle brush scrub and dry, then polishing compounds on drills/buffs.   I'm tired and my back and hands hurt just talking about it.

PS: wheel cleaner and S-100 makes your Kuryakyn pedal rubbers fall off.  (not in the driveway, somewhere out in the world)

[98valk]

seal it

http://www.topoftheline.com/16ozmaxpains.html

[RudyF6]

seal it

http://www.topoftheline.com/16ozmaxpains.html

THAT's what I'm talking about - I even have something similar I used on my boat once (never again will I wax 27ft of boat!). I'll try that.

Thanks!

[RudyF6]

Nice job Rudy.   

I stared at them for a few minutes, and I'm still not going out to polish mine. 

PS:  Am I looking at a rubber valve stem?

I always start with corrosive wheel cleaner or S-100 and steel wool hard scrub (nitrile gloves, eye protection), then a hot soapy water stiff bristle brush scrub and dry, then polishing compounds on drills/buffs.   I'm tired and my back and hands hurt just talking about it.

PS: wheel cleaner and S-100 makes your Kuryakyn pedal rubbers fall off.  (not in the driveway, somewhere out in the world)

Thanks Jess, I never used chemicals on them before, but I've been known to dip a scotchbrite pad in the soapy water to do the rims after everything else was done. I just got tired of the "brushed" look and started something I had to finish!

And yes, it is a rubber stem - last time though - just had rear tire changed and used my last OEM stem. It came apart when they installed it!    Next set will be metal for sure!! 

[t-man403]

Thanks for the pictures!

I need tires and I'll be taking off the rims for delivery to my dealer and was thinkibg I should give them a go over before getting the tires.

It's really a shame that more of the rim isn't visible.

[Pappy!]

What was your process to polish? Am I correct in that you polished them on the bike??

[Jersey mike]

What was your process to polish? Am I correct in that you polished them on the bike??

My thoughts exactly....almost. Mine were;

How The Hell Did He Do That?!

What did you use as far as cleaner &/or polish and how did you do it on the bike?

They look awesome, great job

[RudyF6]

What was your process to polish? Am I correct in that you polished them on the bike??

Yup, did them on the bike. Won't do it again. I have ideas for a jig mounted to my workbench and will remove the rotors if I do.

The rear was so bad, brake dust and road grime had etched into the wheel and I took that down with 180 grit sandpaper. Once that was gone, a Scotchbrite pad to level the sanding marks a bit.

I used a Mothers Power cone, a Power Ball Mini, and about a half of a jar of Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish.  And most of my energy for the day. And half the life of a drill I've never felt get so hot. And several ice cold Yuenglings.   

[Pappy!]

Hmmmm..... Stella's will have to suffice down this way.

[Jess from VA]

Last time I did the rear (bags off of course), I put her up on the jack, started her up, throttle locked at 2000 or so in first, and used bare hands (no gloves, ring, watch, sleeves, nothing to catch) and polish.  Had to work from the side as breathing the exhaust was not pleasant.  Only stubbed my fingers on the slots a few times.  Did the work in about a third or better of the usual time, but despite all due care, this seemed a great way to have a bad aw sh!t moment (not so much on the outside of rim, but reaching up into the hub, and real tricky on the caliper side).  If I could devise a way to put a polish pad on a stick to keep hands out of there, I might do it again.

Of course, off the bike is best, but in the past, off the bike has always been getting a new tire off and on pronto.

Working on the front is ten times easier than the back (of a bagger), and this explains why the front looks about ten times better than the rear.

[RudyF6]

I had thoughts of doing it that way Jess, but I couldn't get the picture out of my mind's eye of a rotor rubbing a hole in the back of my hand...........   

[Jess from VA]

That was not my worry.  Mine was having my hand catch on something and forever after being called Mr Hook.  And maybe catching my hand, and jerking the bike off the lift on top of me.

The polishing pads on a stick idea is a good one, but duct tape won't do it.  This is one of those.....spend hours wandering around Home Depot looking for something to work plans.  A stiff sponge/pad would conform to the varying shapes of the wheel, but how to secure it to the stick, and how to secure and replace polishing cloths to the sponge?

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

If I get to the point of polishing the wheels, this guy has a great how to video that won't get your digits compromised or your lungs sucking in exhaust.......
Sure, you have to take the wheels off, but this seems a whole lot easier (and safer too).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KGHuzv8qB0

[RudyF6]

If I get to the point of polishing the wheels, this guy has a great how to video that won't get your digits compromised or your lungs sucking in exhaust.......
Sure, you have to take the wheels off, but this seems a whole lot easier (and safer too).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KGHuzv8qB0

That's a bit more elaborate than I was thinking, but I have a drill press....   

Next tire change!