Author Topic: Cleaning wire wheels  (Read 6224 times)

MotoGoosy

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Cleaning wire wheels
« on: May 24, 2015, 10:25:58 AM »
Don't want to use water, but my fingers are killing me trying to clean the wire wheels and hubs on the EV11.  How do you guys do it?

Offline Sasquatch Jim

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2015, 10:47:28 AM »
  Lie down beside your beloved and gently fondle the spokes with a soft cloth and polish.
  It's a sort of religious experience.
Sasquatch Jim        Humanoid, sort of.

MotoGoosy

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2015, 10:50:33 AM »
Grrrrrrr!!  That's the hard way.  I just want to blink my eyes twice and see them look like new.

Offline acogoff

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2015, 11:13:15 AM »
    Easiest to just ignore them until the wheel is off for some other reason, then a smallish brush of your choice and soap and water will get things cleaned up until the first rainy ride or half mile of gravel road makes them look the same as they did before.
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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2015, 11:13:15 AM »

Offline rbm

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2015, 11:33:42 AM »
Flitz Ball or non-name equivalent, electric drill and metal cleaner / polish.
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canuguzzi

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2015, 11:56:04 AM »
Use one of those bike wash liquids and water; I know its California but use a bucket and just say the bike belongs to a celebrity.

Offline jackson

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2015, 12:31:30 PM »
Posted this earlier but it disappeared after the site had connection problems all morning.
Go to Amazon and type in "spoke brush".  They have more than one brand.  Here's just one: http://www.amazon.com/Large-Wire-Wheel-Spoke-Brush/dp/B0007LMC1C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432575015&sr=8-1&keywords=spoke+brush
NO longer can ride

Offline Red07

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2015, 01:20:43 PM »
I would try a mothers power ball. (The small). I recently purchased the large powerball to clean/polish the wheels on my truck.  Easiest thing ever.  Took about 15 min total.  They attach to any drill.   I can't believe I hadn't bought one of these sooner.  I used the Mothers carnauba wax and had excellent results.  To do it by hand would have taken several hours.

They also make a cone, which could be useful on spoke wheels.  My local Walmart carries all of them.  Check it out.

Randy

MotoGoosy

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2015, 01:28:46 PM »
I'll look into that.  Did it the old-fashioned way yesterday:  Two fingers, a toothbrush and Mother's Chrome Polish.  Fingers are sore today.

Offline atavar

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2015, 01:43:01 PM »
Oh for goodness sake..  Ride the Bike!  Those hours you spent fondling spokes could have been used smashing bugs on your windscreen!  If you spend hours and hours detailing your bike you are going to be loath to ride for fear of getting your bike dirty.  Nothing is sadder than a perfectly detailed garage queen.

If your must get a bottle of wire wheel cleaner -  spray, rinse and ride!
2008 Norge - Black Wing Squadron

MotoGoosy

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2015, 02:26:11 PM »
Can't, I just bought 4 more toothbrushes and a longhandled dishbrush (for the hubs)!!!!!!

Offline atavar

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2015, 09:18:29 PM »
Cut a strip of leather like this that fits very loosely around the hub, it will polish as you ride..  :P

« Last Edit: May 25, 2015, 09:19:30 PM by atavar »
2008 Norge - Black Wing Squadron

MotoGoosy

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2015, 11:01:04 PM »
Great idea!!  Thanks.

Offline Aaron D.

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2015, 06:25:46 AM »
I would think Guzzi vibrations would keep them clean.

Offline Idontwantapickle

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #14 on: May 26, 2015, 02:25:51 PM »
Oh for goodness sake..  Ride the Bike!  Those hours you spent fondling spokes could have been used smashing bugs on your windscreen!  If you spend hours and hours detailing your bike you are going to be loath to ride for fear of getting your bike dirty.  Nothing is sadder than a perfectly detailed garage queen.

If your must get a bottle of wire wheel cleaner -  spray, rinse and ride!

Snort! I'm the opposite. I washed my bike the other day, what was I thinking! It took HOURS of riding to get it back to normal.  :bike
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Offline atavar

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2015, 05:24:35 PM »
I would think Guzzi vibrations would keep them clean.
Your Guzzi vibrates?  I didn't think that was a trait.. 
2008 Norge - Black Wing Squadron

Offline greyghost

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2015, 05:39:06 PM »
When I was young, the cool guy next door had a yellow Corvette. I was hanging out over there hoping some cool would wear off, when there was a screech from the kitchen, and his wife came out with his wire wheel cover in her hands. "Don't you EVER put these in my dishwasher again!"
He shrugged and said it works. What's the difference?

Granted, getting your wheel in there would be tough.
California 1400 Touring
Aprilia Dorsoduro 900

Offline Aaron D.

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #17 on: May 26, 2015, 08:43:24 PM »
Your Guzzi vibrates?  I didn't think that was a trait.. 

Mine doesn't. His does.

Offline Guzikid

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #18 on: May 26, 2015, 09:00:16 PM »
  I just use S-100. Spray on-let sit for about 10 minutes-Spray off with water-Wipe dry with paper towels. Go ride !  The Kid

Offline johnr

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2015, 03:26:02 PM »
My Guzz has those rims that have the spokes terminate at the outside of the rim clear of the tyre. If you want to have a spoked wheel and tubeless tyres it is the most elegant design I've ever seen and I cant understand why Guzzi stopped using it. (I would be interested to know)

But they are a total bugger to clean. The recessed central part of the hubs is nigh on impossible to get at. I have thought of a leather strap there like old push-bike practice.



The rims get covered with brake dust which despite being attacked with a variety of vicious chemicals and a dish wash brush continues to stick like sh*t to a blanket.

What do you people use on these wheels?
« Last Edit: May 27, 2015, 03:43:15 PM by johnr »
New Zealand
2002 Ev tourer (Stalled again...)

Offline O

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #20 on: May 27, 2015, 07:20:58 PM »
I would think Guzzi vibrations would keep them clean.

That's what I rely on.  Why clean when you can ride?  Winter is the perfect time to clean spokes.

EDIT - Just realized the OP is in San Diego...no winters there.  After the past winter, I'd like to move there, but the lack of water gives me pause.
« Last Edit: May 27, 2015, 07:22:31 PM by O »
Owen

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Re: Cleaning wire wheels
« Reply #21 on: May 28, 2015, 06:14:09 PM »
FWIW, I have always used a bannister brush and half a bucket of soapy water. My fingers do take a beating however and the fibres of the brush curl up after a while.
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