Q: Another Wheel cleaning question.

[Dave334478]

Quote

 

Ok,

 

I searched, I read, I found out my 97 R1100R 3 spoke alloy wheels are the hardest ones to get clean.

 

What kind of finish is this? It feels like a satin paint but also feels like raw aluminum.

 

I got the old weight goo off with a cheap plastic light switch cover, you know the ones on the walls in your house, it left behind the little rectangle stains though. 

I scrubbed the brake dust and grease off with a toilet brush and dawn soap.

 

I'm hoping for a magic cure (yeah right) or at least the proper guidance on how to get the grease/oil stains out without harming the wheel finish.

 

 

So here's the before picture.

 

 

And here's the after picture.

 

 

I ended up using a pot scrubber from the kitchen and so much comet I was putting it on there like polishing compound.

"Often the old ways are still the best ways." - Me

[TEWKS]

I’ve had good luck with this stuff.

[Skywagon]

Goo B Gone and a rag.  Test first as some of these chemicals are harmful to rims.

[TEWKS]

Had bad luck with that Goo B Gone myself. You could try some isopropyl alcohol. Had success with that on some stickies.

[Dave334478]

1 hour ago, Skywagon said:

Goo B Gone and a rag.  Test first as some of these chemicals are harmful to rims.

 

1 hour ago, TEWKS said:

Had bad luck with that Goo B Gone myself. You could try some isopropyl alcohol. Had success with that on some stickies.

 

There's no goo or stickies. You can't feel anything. 

 

I'm talking about the stains like in the center of the picture on the spoke.

 

I looked for that "Greased lightining".  $3.26 at home depot and $25 at walmart /eyeroll

I'd really like to know what kind of finish it actually is. If it's just raw aluminum, I might polish it. I have the tools, chemicals, and experience to do that.

[eddd]

You might try some  Bon Ami.  It is a powdered cleansers with a motto "Hasn't Scratched Yet".  I've used it in several non-kitchen situations.  Like any product, try it on a small area first.

 

https://www.bonami.com/

[dirtrider]

9 hours ago, Dave334478 said:

Ok,

 

I searched, I read, I found out my 97 R1100R 3 spoke alloy wheels are the hardest ones to get clean.

 

What kind of finish is this? It feels like a satin paint but also feels like raw aluminum.

 

I got the old weight goo off with a cheap plastic light switch cover, you know the ones on the walls in your house, it left behind the little rectangle stains though. 

I scrubbed the brake dust and grease off with a toilet brush and dawn soap.

 

I'm hoping for a magic cure (yeah right) or at least the proper guidance on how to get the grease/oil stains out without harming the wheel finish.

 

 

 

Morning Dave334478

 

Those 3 spoke BMW wheels are not that difficult to keep clean, to me that honor goes to the older 'gold' Ducati wheels (especially the rear) as chain lube just flat discolored them. (they were painted with no clear coat over the paint). Plus the rear wheel had a large hollow center with holes cast in the center so it would take in all kinds of road goop & chain lube then spit it back out at a later time. 

 

That stain on your wheel looks sort of like someone bled the brakes & allowed the brake fluid to dip on the wheel (brake fluid is a good paint remover so can easily permanently stain painted wheels if allowed to remain on the surface).

 

 Also, metallic bake pad dust that is allowed to remain for long periods can also damage the wheel paint if it sees moisture.

 

Your wheel is painted (or some type of electrostatic powder coat) with a clear over it so you need to be a little careful in what you use to clean it with (nothing abrasive or acidic).

 

You might try  WD-40 (that won't work quickly but  if persistent the WD-40 might improve it over a few applications & time. (WD-40 is pretty harmless to clear coat so shouldn't cause any problems). 

 

If you try to remove that stain all in one session you will probably make it worse if you wear through the outer coating. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Oldrider51]

Since the wheel is painted, you might try to find a polish that is for paint. The polish would be for polishing out paint on a car or bike that is very fine and so it does not or should not scratch the wheel. I friend that used to paint sometimes used Semichrome polish. 

[Rougarou]

WD-40 for adhesive, spray and let sit for awhile, wipe off, I mainly use it when changing the date stickers on my license plates, and that adhesive is tough

[Dave334478]

Thanks people, I figured it out and edited my original post to add the after picture and how I got it clean.

 

There's still a very light stain on it but overall it looks a lot better. 

 

[Hosstage]

That turned out nice!

[Rinkydink]

17 hours ago, Dave334478 said:

Thanks people, I figured it out and edited my original post to add the after picture and how I got it clean.

 

There's still a very light stain on it but overall it looks a lot better. 

 

What did you end up using?

[Hosstage]

59 minutes ago, Rinkydink said:

What did you end up using?

It's a surprise prize, You have to go back and re-read the first post to find out!!

[Rinkydink]

17 hours ago, Hosstage said:

It's a surprise prize, You have to go back and re-read the first post to find out!!

Damn, evidently my speed reading course taught me to read right past all of the pertinent info....

[RTinNC]

My first BMW was a '97 R1100RT that had those same uncoated wheels.   I am VERY VERY anal and CDO (that's OCD in alphabetical order) 

 

The best cleaning product that NEVER harmed the finish was S-100 wheel cleaning Gel followed by a nice coating of Original Bike Spirits Spray Polish.   Worked like a champ! 

 

       

 

 

[taylor1]

+1 on the S-100    I use it on my airhead as it tends to get a little oily and grimy. Works wonders

[Tavi]

Best thing ever, you can find it at Dollar General or Dollar Tree for 1$! Works wonders. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area, and avoid inhalation.

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

On 1/1/2021 at 7:36 PM, Rougarou said:

WD-40 for adhesive, spray and let sit for awhile, wipe off, I mainly use it when changing the date stickers on my license plates, and that adhesive is tough

 

You peel off the old stickers?  That's dedication.  In Michigan (and I assumed other states), they're made to be difficult to peel off without destroying them, so I never bother to do it; I just put the new one on top of the old one.  Current RT is up to 12 stickers.

 

For removing old adhesive that's not terribly sun-baked (e.g. wheel weight residue), Goo Gone has worked well for me.  For removing sun-baked adhesive, road tar, and other persistent stuff, look for No 7 Polishing Compound at your nearest auto or hardware store.

 

[Rougarou]

45 minutes ago, Joe Frickin' Friday said:

 

You peel off the old stickers?  That's dedication.  In Michigan (and I assumed other states), they're made to be difficult to peel off without destroying them, so I never bother to do it; I just put the new one on top of the old one.  Current RT is up to 12 stickers.

 

For removing old adhesive that's not terribly sun-baked (e.g. wheel weight residue), Goo Gone has worked well for me.  For removing sun-baked adhesive, road tar, and other persistent stuff, look for No 7 Polishing Compound at your nearest auto or hardware store.

 

 

Yep, a straight razor, WD and patience.  I rarely get a full one off since they, like Michigan, are designed to stick.  They mostly break.  I have bits and pieces and some full ones on my garage cart, as that's where I stick em when I pull them off.  Then it's clean the old glue off and put the new sticker on.