 Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144 |
So, has anyone else noticed pitting in their aluminum wheels? Now, of course this is not like chrome pitting , where there’s rust (as this IS aluminum) but rather, tiny little pits in the aluminum about the size of a grain of sand. I’ve tried everything to remove them and nothing seems to remove them. Any ideas? 
"It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you're out there."
- Hells Angels President (Philadelphia Chapter)
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
Doesn't the aluminum have some sort of clear coat? Could that be what is pitting?
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
I think the aluminum is clear coated. I've heard paint remover is the way to go to get through the clear coat, then one can work at the aluminum.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144 |
Thanks guys. Clear coat, ay? That corresponds well with what I'm seeing. Hmmm... do I want to remove the clear coat or will that speed the aluminum degradation?
"It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you're out there."
- Hells Angels President (Philadelphia Chapter)
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
I would strip and polish those babies!
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
do I want to remove the clear coat or will that speed the aluminum degradation?
Bare aluminum WILL oxidize ( aluminum oxide , the white stuff ) and will require constant polishing unless you isolate it from oxygen and water . Road salts and humidity will wreak havoc on aluminum wheels .
Clear coat 'em . Some of the powder coat folks can do it great .
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 144 |
Well, they don't appear to be clear coated as I used both Aircraft paint remover and regular (burn your hand off strength) paint remover and nothing came off. The spots are still there too!
So, I'm guessing it's some sort of oxidation caused by the road salt, Etc. here in PA. I think powder coating would be the way to go. Any other ideas?
"It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you're out there."
- Hells Angels President (Philadelphia Chapter)
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 404
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 135
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 135 |
As you've discovered the aluminium wheels are not clear coated. There are spray cleaners designed for bare ali, I used an Autoglym custom wheel cleaner and followed it up with their Aluminium wheel sealer. Any bare ali needs to be kept waxed on a regular basis to protect it from brake dust and the elements. I'm not a big fan of clear coat on ali, heard too many stories of moisture getting under the coating and eating the metal like a worm and blowing the coat.
Try solvol autosol applied with a nylon scouring pad to clean up the pits as much as possible and then keep em waxed.
best of luck mate
John
the trouble with the world today is apathy.
but I don't care
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
Stripping any coating, than powder-coating may be your best long-term solution.
I noticed some new Harley's last week that had very pitted aluminum fork tubes. Now that would make me real mad.
Al
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78
Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 78 |
ProClean Aluminum Polish works well if you keep up with it.
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 518
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 518 |
I posted something about my aluminum wheels doing this last spring, bike is just a year old now. I have tried everything and nothing seems to work.
You! Off My Planet!
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
Most car speed shops sell a kit containing everything you need to recondition aluminum wheels. I don't remember who makes it anymore but it has the stuff to strip them and then polish them and then put a new protective coating on.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
What do you mean by pitting?
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Aluminum Wheel Pitting
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
What do you mean by pitting?
Little holes , like a cavity in a tooth .
Pits cavities holes voids
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