Cleaning Spokes

Discussion in 'General (Main)' started by SnoDrtRider, Jan 16, 2017.

  1. SnoDrtRider Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    South Jersey, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 WR 390
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 BMW F 800 GS,1974 Yamaha TY 250
    I just discovered (at least I think I did) a great way to clean nasty old spokes.

    I was looking around the shop and I knew I wanted something thick and clingy but nothing I had came to mind. Then I see it... A bottle of Aluminum Jelly... Hmmm.
    Viscosity is about what I want but the directions say do not apply to ferrous metals... I decide to do a test. I apply some to a spoke with a small SS brush that I got at Harbor Freight the brush is like a toothbrush and just the right size for scrubbing spokes.
    So I put it on and brush a few strokes and the grunge starts coming off. I hose it off and the spoke looks like new!

    OK I'm all in now!
    I set the wheel up on the lift with a piece of cardboard under it and get busy... Took about 15-20 minutes to apply to all the spokes working from both sides brushing the back of the spokes from the opposite side.

    I let it sit for about 15 minutes and hose it off.

    Wow! what a difference!

    This is what the spokes looked like before... I had since cleaned the rim with some Specialty Reducer.

    [IMG]

    These are after about a half hour of work...

    [IMG]

    [IMG]
  2. ghte Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bright, Victoria Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2 x 310's, 2016 Beta 480, SWM RS650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 Multi ,Griso1100, Monster695
    Unbelievable result. Good discovery. Well done.
  3. oldbikedude Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Honey Brook Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1988 wr 430 with cr suspension
    Other Motorcycles:
    66flh,67 CA77,76 CR125M,73H1,74ty250
    Nice job, but now u need to paint the hubs... Lol
  4. SnoDrtRider Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    South Jersey, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 WR 390
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 BMW F 800 GS,1974 Yamaha TY 250
    Yeah, well you know as well as I do that one thing leads to another and another and...
  5. oldbikedude Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Honey Brook Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1988 wr 430 with cr suspension
    Other Motorcycles:
    66flh,67 CA77,76 CR125M,73H1,74ty250
  6. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    I have a few of rusty nasty looking spokes on the rims to clean up. Your way sounds good. O was also thinking about polishing them once the rust is gone with the simi chrome polish with a dremel? Or clear coating them so they can't rust again.
  7. SnoDrtRider Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    South Jersey, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 WR 390
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 BMW F 800 GS,1974 Yamaha TY 250

    Still on the fence about polishing but they should get some sort protection. I would use a strip of towel with a little polish of choice... Dremel is a little tough to get into the tight spots IMO. Plus they have no power at all. I tried my Father in Laws a few days ago... seems like a children's toy.
  8. oldbikedude Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Honey Brook Pa.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1988 wr 430 with cr suspension
    Other Motorcycles:
    66flh,67 CA77,76 CR125M,73H1,74ty250
    Old shoe lace & use polish of choice. Wrap the shoelace around the spoke & use the push pull method. Scothbrite really bad ones.
    SnoDrtRider likes this.
  9. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    Years ago in the 50's we used rolled up into a ball aluminum foil to remove rust on bumpers. My older brothers did it on a 50 mercy and 52 Chevy. I watched I was 10yo.
  10. MikeDi Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    U.S.A. New England
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1983 WR 430
    Other Motorcycles:
    Stuck in the 80's vintage
    can you post a photo of the product? thanks Mike
  11. SnoDrtRider Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    South Jersey, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 WR 390
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 BMW F 800 GS,1974 Yamaha TY 250
    There are probably other brands but I picked up Locktite Brand... I forget where... Had to be Ace Hardware, Home Depot/Lowes or Advance Auto/Auto Zone.
    There is also Naval Jelly for rust but I had this and it worked for me... Have not had a chance to try Naval Jelly.
    Whatever you do be careful if your rims are nice! Mine are all scarred and faded so I didn't really care if it discolored them but it looks like it hasn't.



    [IMG]
  12. MikeDi Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    U.S.A. New England
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1983 WR 430
    Other Motorcycles:
    Stuck in the 80's vintage
  13. cnyboy Husqvarna

    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2011 TE250
    Other Motorcycles:
    YZ250F, K1200RS, DRZ400S
    Let's see the rest of that old bike!
  14. SnoDrtRider Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    South Jersey, USA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1980 WR 390
    Other Motorcycles:
    2013 BMW F 800 GS,1974 Yamaha TY 250