Hitchcocks Forum

Good afternoon all,

I chrome on the rear wheel of my 2002 Bullet is beyond redemption, and I have taken the plunge and ordered a new wheel as advertised by Mr. H. This raises a couple of questions upon which I would appreciate your collective wisdom:

1. Why has the rear rim suffered more damage than the front? I would expect it to be more protected by oil from the chain, engine and breather catch tank.

2. How do I protect the replacement? I am thinking of some kind of laquer rather then an oil product.

3. The new wheel will not have stainless steel spokes. I have never built a wheel before, but do you think it would be relatively easy if I swopped them one by one?

Thoughts most welcome.

Cheers, stephen

Hi Stephen. You're correct in suggesting the rear wheel rim is less likely to rust as it is usually protected somewhat by the drive chain grease which gets spread over it. First (and only) thing that springs to mind is it is possibly acid spray from the small plastic battery vent pipe that often is routed down just in front of the rear wheel. Wheel building is probably best left to an expert but here is a very good set of instructions (2 parts) if you want to try (good luck) http://www.instructables.com/id/ERL9F0H ... L/.......I don't have a product to help guard against rusting apart from oil or grease and keeping salt spray off of them by washing it off. many owners buy Satainless Steel rims (some have a gold tint though but others are very similar to chrome, so you need to check the colour if you are fussy) Clean, polished chrome rims might benefit from waxing with car polish.

My personal view is that British Chrome wheels are far superior to any others. One thing i will say is, dont polish with an abrasive such as Solvol Autosol good though it may be, so always use liquid polish as you use on the paintwork.

Stephen, maybe the rim was poorly plated in the first place. I keep my rims regularly polished with the same polish I use on the paintwork, currently Turtlewax, though I have used other. The rims on my 2005 Bullet are perfect. If you don't want to use polish wipe a clean rim round with WD40 or GT85. For more lasting protection apply a thin coat of the expensive ACF 50. They will rust very readily if you take no preventative action. A friend who neglects his Bullet had most of the chrome rusting in the first months from new. I agree with Les's advice regarding wheel building and Geoffro's cleaning advice. Regards Edward

My 2006 Electra X has a rear rim thats starting to show some slite pitting, the front rim is perfect. I keep it well waxed, and it isnt getting any worse, never thought of the battery vent pipe. Needs looking into

Thanks all. I have in the past used Autosolvol but had begun to wonder about the wisdom of using an abrasive on chrome as opposed to alloy. So the answer is to keep up to date with the cleaning and use a protective fluid. Not rocket science I guess!
My other bike dates to 1953 and the original Dunlop rear rim appears to have lost all chrome plating but has not pitted or bubbled with rust, and actually looked all right. In a fit of enthusiasm I recently replaced it with a new Chrome rim, (I did not do the re-build!)and rather wish I had not as it has lost its "patina."
Incidently the catalyst for the change of rim on my RE was a rear wheel puncture last weekend, my first for quite a few years. What I strange sensation "squirming" down the road. Luckily at low speed so no ensuing disaster, just a tedious push home!
Thanks again
stephen

I always spray with WD40 to clean the rims. I suppose it penetrates into where the spoke nipples fit which has to help keep rust at bay. Also, if you're changing tyres, always plan time to paint the inside with a rust converter. I've yet to take a tyre off any bike and not find some rust.

Stephen, I've always used a thin layer of Waxoyl on mine during the winter months as I'm out in all weathers. Clean it off in spring with a bit of white spirit on a rag. The bike's from 2000 and the rims are showing no sign of rust. it's nice when you clean the crud off in spring and it's all shiny underneath.
regards, Chris

Chris (Stockport) You've just reminded me of something that gave me a laugh. When i was a Telegram Boy we used to have 30 minutes each day to clean our bikes and one day, as mine was clean, i decided to give the Assistant Inspectors Triumph Speed Twin wheels a clean as they were filth, nice surprise for him i thought. Next day he came up to me red with rage, he had greased the wheels like you do for the winter. He did'nt show it but i like to think he saw the funny side of it.

Hi guys -------- STEPHEN, the others have given all the good advice you'll ever need on cleaning but P-L-E-A-S-E don't use SOLVO AUTOSOL on Chrome !!!! It's meant for Aluminium and does have very abrasive particles within... Wheel re-build by individual spoke replacement ??.. I've done that a few times in the past but only to do a spoke replacement. Follow that link that LES H has given---for my money(and life expectancy) I'd go to a professional for now. I DON'T clean my wheels at all during the winter---there's enough road muck to give a "natural" protection until the spring----then it's a wipe-over with the oiliest rag I have----this leaves a thin film on the rim. During the Summer (?) it's a quick spray with a WD40 cheapie version then the oily rag treatment again. But mine's a 24/7 bike so I'm not that fussed...GEOFFRO, --- I was a Transport Technician at GPO Reading MTW up at the HPO garage with 10 Bantams - a gaggle of Raleighs and the first of the Puch "Flatpack" mopeds. Even to-day, RED makes me TWITCH !!!