Borrani Rims..how to rehabilitate those ??

[RoyRogers]

Looking a little used and ugly, any good recommendations?.








Have tried this one..



works pretty good, at last, steel wool and polish. But there are to many stonechips (?), and the cannot be remove very easy.
Hydroblasting a alternative? Or sandblasting and powdercoating?
Spokes comes loose without raw force.


No I am not buying new ones 

[canuck750]

Start with either soda blasting or vapour blasting the bub and rim, follow up with an orbital sander 500 grit on the rim surface



It should get to this before polishing



Flat file the rim lip to remove deep gouges or nicks (too a point)





I start polishing with a rough sisal wheel and medium grit polish followed by a fine buffing wheel and fine polish





This hub was soda blasted, vapour blast finish looks better though

[Triple Jim]

My Mille's original front hub was about that bad, and I was able to get it decent looking by using a
Cal Custom Purple Metal Polish and Deoxidizer kit (2 bottles) with a scrub brush, and then minimal
rubbing with a Scotchbrite pad.  I was going for decent-looking though, not show-polished.

[RoyRogers]

Thanks a lot to both of you. 

I'l try it out, it will take a few days..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm not sure what's available to you chemical-wise in Norway, but here in the 'States we have NAPA Aluminum Brightener:



Spray it on, let it foam up and work a while then use a pressure washer to rinse it off. Works very well. Perhaps you have something similar available?



Then, if you want it shiny, any number of aluminum polishes will do the job.

[Don G]

 :1:
Charlie has got it right, no point taking your wheels to bits, I use a product that Truckers use on polished aluminum, on crusty areas such as the hubs give it a couple of applications with high pressure wash with hot water. Then a bit of polish such as Solvol Autosol or Mothers , less work and less time than a complete strip down.  DonG

[canuck750]

:1:
Charlie has got it right, no point taking your wheels to bits, I use a product that Truckers use on polished aluminum, on crusty areas such as the hubs give it a couple of applications with high pressure wash with hot water. Then a bit of polish such as Solvol Autosol or Mothers , less work and less time than a complete strip down.  DonG

I would tend to agree unless the inside of the rim shows significant corrosion, I have seen rims where the spoke nipple opening is dangerously corroded with little structure left to support the spoke tension, more so with steel rims but I had a Borrani front rim that was too far gone to use.

Example of a steel rim that looked good on the outside



And acid washing will not get the corrosion trapped on the nipple and the nipple hole in the rim until the nipple and spoke is removed

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

And acid washing will not get the corrosion trapped on the nipple and the nipple hole in the rim until the nipple and spoke is removed.

For that, I use a variety of stainless steel wire brushes in my Dremel. The little "cup" brushes are perfect to get down around the nipples. Still might not get it all, but then not every wheel has corrosion there.

[John Ulrich]

Take em apart.

[RoyRogers]

As suggested, I have taken them apart. Just to be sure all old goo are removed..
look at the rear rim



Did file those nicks and burrs..to an extent.



Spokes cleaned



All the rest are to be (wet-) glass-blasted. I will deliver all parts Monday and talk it over with the guy
actually doing this.

I did try some aluminum chem, strongest I could get, no way. Due to environmental laws that
"good old stuff" are long gone.

[RoyRogers]

Next:
It seems to me, that something is missing, shim(s) perhaps??
Both sides of the rear wheel hub have those marks pictured.




Found this picture in another thread, like it ought to be.

http://s249.photobucket.com/user/canuck750/media/1974%20Guzzi%20750S/DSC04920_zps4vzbcdle.jpg.html
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=80897.msg1274237#msg1274237

[RoyRogers]

Came out ok.



Cleaning, etch-primer and some colour..




I like it like this, others may not.



Thank you for your advises

[canuck750]

Nice work, the wheel looks great! :1:

[RoyRogers]

I have cleaned those rims inside and sprayed one round of etch primer and rim paint. Should I do something more to protect the inside? (Underneath that rubber rim strip)

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'd think you are good to go..

[canuck750]

Should be good for at least another 40 years!

[RoyRogers]

 

[Tom]