Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech pitted chrome front wheel

anyone have advice on cleaning up and polishing my front wheel? I left the bike covered in the carport for a month or more and now the front rim is not the same shiny chrome finish as the rear. I guess the wax off the chain protected the rear rim. This, btw, is not chem.corrosion just weather pitting.
TIA

Try a little Super-Fine steel wool, than follow up with some good quality wax.

Simichrome and some good old elbow grease.

Works wonders on any and all metals.

I would go with the Simichrome. The chrome on Triumph parts is thinner than frog hair, so you don't want to use anything abrasive on it. And any wax-based product will eventually discolor in the sun when used on chrome, so again I recommend the Simichrome. (Sorry, Al, my opinion)

Al, thanks for the note. I'm a little concerned with scratching the chrome but, it's on the wheel and not on the more obviously seen areas higher on the bike. So I may try the super fine wool if the simichrome doesn't work.

Phil, got your note but... Another have question. The pitting is in between the spokes as well as being along the inner radius of the rim's edge so could I use simichrome with a buffing or polishing wheel on a dremel tool? Or is that too agressive?

Hey Grump, good to hear from you. I get it! Simichrome is the best way to go...or at least the best way to start. If that fails then perhaps more "aggressive" products and methods. As you'll see in my note to Phil I'm wondering about a dremel tool used with caution. I've tried a pretty good bit of elbow grease and chrome polish already with marginal results. I think I've seen small barrel style polishing attachments for the dremel so I may give that a shot.

I'm not looking forward to bending over for several hours so taking the wheel off may be my next option and work on it inside the house - with,of course, fortified beverages & in the warmth.

thanks for the reply.

eric

You could use a dremel with the cone shaped felt but first try the Simichrome on a rag using your fingertip. I have successfully used it to remove surface pitting that other polishes would not touch. The stuff is amazing. It also leaves a 'film' (for lack of a better explanation) that subsequently shines right up with minimal effort.

Eric,
I bought a small Husky air buffer and a buffing pad for my bench grinder and I use both with the Simichrome on the bike. A dremel would work, but you may not be done in time for spring..... heheheh...

We had spring again down here in GA last week...today it's gone again!

Thanks Phil, I'll try it next week.

Semichrome here too. Great stuff... Phil hooked me up with a link where you can buy it in bulk. The best thing I've found to get get cooked on bugs and debris off the exhaust.