Our Bare Aluminum Wheels...How Do You Treat Them?

[MDO]

OK Freewheeler owners.

I like the look of the enforcer wheels on my Freewheeler. I'm not sure how to care for them.

Do we wax them or use Mothers Mag Polish?

My middle son thinks I should get them powder coated gloss black. I'm thinking they would look great in a chrome look powder coating, but I look at another color, bronze or gold & I like them all.

So, let shelf the powder coating with it's 100's of color options & talk care for the bare aluminum wheels. When I pull them for flushing the rear brake circuit, I'm thinking of trying a test on them, once I narrow it to a couple products.

I may pull the hub caps & try a few things on them to narrow the field. I have some Lucas Slick Mist tire & trim that says it's good on rims.

Mother's also has a ceramic spray coating that looks tempting.($25) I also have Lucas Slick Mist Speed Wax.

So, as far as cleaning/protecting ,

What have you tried & what were the results?

As always, If I am caught with this information, I will disavow any knowledge of your involvement.

[Jack Klarich]

I use bar keepers friend and a soft tooth brush to clean mine

Then I use Pledge spray furniture wax to polish them

IMO black and chrome would look nice on your rig

[MDO]

I use bar keepers friend and a soft tooth brush to clean mine

Then I use Pledge spray furniture wax to polish them

IMO black and chrome would look nice on your rig

Thanks. I was wondering if I could just wax them. I'm very curious about the ceramic coating, but I need to learn more.

I may try my Lucas on the hub caps. Yes, I'm thing the chrome powder coating would look good. I just didn't want to unmount the tires until I replace them.

[Jack Klarich]

Here is my 15 Freewheeler with RJS Originals rear wheel discs

My Freewheeler was the test mule for these

I have since put them on my 17 Freewheeler, they look good and keep the harmful brake dust off the wheels

I clean and polish my rear wheels less often now

[1dn5up]

Rattlecan after Scotchbrite.

[Zammy]

Not a FW but I've been using this since the trike was new, twice a year, they still look pretty good after 18,000 miles. The brake dust is the biggest culprit but I wipe the wheels down after every ride with just a paper towel.

[zoood]

Here is my 15 Freewheeler with RJS Originals rear wheel discs

My Freewheeler was the test mule for these

I have since put them on my 17 Freewheeler, they look good and keep the harmful brake dust off the wheels

I clean and polish my rear wheels less often now

Hey Jack,... Im over here in Missouri now. How about a phone number to you that works. Our new land line is 660 477 0109. Cell phones drop calls out here. Call us on the land line if ya need us. RJ

[TWISTED1]

Thanks. I was wondering if I could just wax them. I'm very curious about the ceramic coating, but I need to learn more.

I may try my Lucas on the hub caps. Yes, I'm thing the chrome powder coating would look good. I just didn't want to unmount the tires until I replace them.

Hi Michael, I had OPTI-COAT ceramic coating applied to my wheels last spring. It works great for me. I grab the hose and spray the wheels and the dust and grime come right off. I had it done at a local auto detail shop. The cost was 25 bucks a wheel. They say it is good for about 10 years. If it only lasted a couple of years I would still do it again in a heartbeat. That has been my experience with ceramic coatings so far. I have always been a big fan of Mothers for all my bikes in the past. I am new to this ceramic stuff but so far I am very happy with it.

I hope that helps.

See ya, Steve.

[CrystalPistol]

My Lehman's wheels have a wheel manufacturer's clear coating over aluminum and painted surfaces. just wipe with wax.

I have striped two sets of rubber like coated (like epoxy paint?) Ford wheels back to bare aluminum using stripper, sander, spinning wheel on car bare, then wet or dry fine sandpaper, then polishing … and once polished with a polish intended for aluminum, just lightly detail polish maybe once a year and those wheels look good and sit in the driveway. Getting them smoothly polished makes it easier to maintain a sparkly look. I've tried clear coatings, but if scratched or any gets peeled, one has to remove coating to make it look good again, in my experience.

I learned to polish on older Brit bikes.

[Free Bird]

I have always used DuPont #7 rubbing compound for stain/pit removal and then semichrome polish for shine.... It takes a while on the first treatment (hours) but then you have permanent shine. Something in the two compounds acts like a way in that I have never had aluminum that I polished revert to the pitting that it exhibited pre-polishing. But be warned.... it is a bear to get the initial polish to a luster that you will like. somethings 1200 grit sandpaper is needed for the first phase to get the scratches and mill marks out. But I guarantee a product that will please once you do it.

[MDO]

I think I'm going to try and find a ceramic coating spray and apply it myself. I will have to wait till spring and warmer temps.

If that doesn't work, I will go with a pro coating it.

I like all your input and experiences. Thanks all for your input.

[Jack Klarich]

I think I'm going to try and find a ceramic coating spray and apply it myself. I will have to wait till spring and warmer temps.

If that doesn't work, I will go with a pro coating it.

I love all your input and experience. Thanks

Michael, Try this

[GARYD]

I ride all winter here in Chicago so I need something for my wheels. I have been using S100 Corrosion Protectant for over 10 years. A couple years ago I tried the new H-D bare aluminum product. It completely ruined my wheels. Since then I use the OEM wheels as my winter wheels (they're already ruined) and bought a set of H-D Anarchy chrome wheels as my summer wheels. Problem solved. Windex is all I use now to clean the chrome wheels.

I would highly recommend S100 CP if just starting out with a new bike. I would polish the wheels and then spray on the S100 and buff it out.

Don't understand why anyone would sell a car/bike with untreated aluminum wheels in the snow belt. They have to be morons.

[MDO]

[QUOTE=GARYD;631715]I ride all winter here in Chicago so I need something for my wheels. I have been using S100 Corrosion Protectant for over 10 years. A couple years ago I tried the new H-D bare aluminum product. It completely ruined my wheels. Since then I use the OEM wheels as my winter wheels (they're already ruined) and bought a set of H-D Anarchy chrome wheels as my summer wheels. Problem solved. Windex is all I use now to clean the chrome wheels.

I would highly recommend S100 CP if just starting out with a new bike. I would polish the wheels and then spray on the S100 and buff it out.

Don't understand why anyone would sell a car/bike with untreated aluminum wheels in the snow belt. They have to be morons.[/QUOTE]

I agree. I have a quart of S100, but have not got to use it yet. I'm more of a wipe my trike down a section at a time than hose/bucket type. My 14 year old Honda Sabre 1100 was only water washed 2X.

[MDO]

Michael, Try this

I've seen that is either Lowe's or Home Depot. I'm gonna look at it the next time I'm in there. Thanks.

[jjvw]

new have to order at store

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b.../01024/6091178

[Drummer65]

I use Mother's Billet aluminum polish and with a little elbow grease my wheels look like chrome.