Hitchcocks Forum

hi all.. just noticed my 600 mile old Clasic 500 is showing signs of rust on the rims and especially around the spoke nipples. i had sprayed the rims etc with ACF50.

i cleaned them up with paraffin. washed and dried them, sprayed with GT50 maintenance spray with PTFE, THEN sprayed with chainwax as a temp measure.

and better long term ideas to keep the water out from between the nipples and rims? waxoil?

I think I would be taking a trip back to my Dealer if my bike was rusting after 600 miles! Is it still under warranty or just low mileage from storage?
My 1959 Cub rims still look good today and that has been around a while without much more than a quick polish.

Mind you if you have been out on the salt covered roads lately I think you have covered the best maintenance process.

I agree with Rocket. If your bike is still under warranty take it back. My 2005's rims are still perfect.

The quick appearance of spoke nipple hole rust normally occurs when rims are chromed first and drilled later.
I've found that drizzling a little Holts clear enamel paint into the nipple holes to coat the unprotected steel (although time consuming) works quiet well.

only bought it in October, with a 2 year warranty. will see how it fares and go back with it when its warmer!

would waxoyl do the job?

I use waxoyl on rims. Brushed on round the nipples then wiped off. My 2008 rims are still pristine with this treatment and it has also arrested rust on my 1962 Cub.
It's also a good idea to treat the insides of the rim every time you have the rims off. I've given up doing tyres myself (arthritis in the fingers) but the guy who does them for me lets me take the rims away before the new tyres go on. I use that rust neutralizer stuff then Hammerite.