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Message started by procrastinator on 03/06/14 at 14:37:19

Title: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by procrastinator on 03/06/14 at 14:37:19

Hey guys the spokes on my 2001 LS650 look like crap is there any way to clean them up and bring them back to like new ?

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by v-pilot on 03/06/14 at 21:24:47

I've heard of using the outer cover from parachute cord. Cut a comfortable length and pull out the center part then make one complete wrap around the spoke and a dab of some cleaner or polish and saw it back and forth up and down the spoke...mat take you a while though :-/

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Michael L on 03/07/14 at 00:43:05

I've had the same thought with my savage.. Unfortunately they are not chromed, but only galvanised.. The only option would be to give them a good scrub with a steel brush attached to a drilling tool, but it may just make matters worse and they'll get more corroded.. The best option would be to relace the rims with chromed spokes, else I would say leave them be...

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by WD on 03/07/14 at 01:15:31

Appliance epoxy comes in "stainless steel look" these days... as well as gloss black, gloss white and gloss almond.

My Savage's front wheel is as old as I am and looks fine... the bike is a 98, the wheel, early 1970s...

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/mphsgal/LISA-HP/Photos/Savage/drum4_zps72b7c657.jpg

One of these days I need to final coat or buff the hoop. And polish the brake plate.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you, I hated the stock wheel, and an early Suzuki Titan hub/hoop with early Honda CB450 brake plate fit like it was made for the Savage...

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Arnold on 03/07/14 at 12:42:58

You can clean bikes? :)

Hey WD, you're gonna hook up your front brake?

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by verslagen1 on 03/07/14 at 15:04:18

you have the choice to replace them or paint them.

If you wanted something shiney...

http://www.eastwood.com/almost-chrome-aerosol-paint.html

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by WD on 03/07/14 at 23:30:56

51445F5C5C55445542300 wrote:

You can clean bikes? :)

Hey WD, you're gonna hook up your front brake?

Eventually. If I can ever manage to con it into running properly again. Cheap crap weak sister imitation electrical system on these things is driving me nuts at the moment. And that's AFTER deleting all the known issues it had almost 4 years ago... >:(

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by stinger on 03/09/14 at 03:39:38

If you go to Harbor Freights or most any hardware store you can buy these flexable foam sanding pads in different grit. Buy a fine one. It will wrap around the spoke and just wipe up and down and they will look like new. A little bit more work and they almost look like chrome. Might take a half hour to a hour to do the all of the front spokes but looks great when finished.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Dave on 03/09/14 at 16:45:30

56514C4B424057250 wrote:

The spokes are steel, and have a protective plating that eventually tarnishes. If you start sanding the remaining plating off.....the spoke will rust quickly. You should not be sanding on the spokes unless you are going to paint them.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/09/14 at 19:39:07

3B603D242122394D0 wrote:

After trying several approaches I went for this. It can put enough friction on them to make them too hot to touch. Even this, tho, wont bring them back to pretty. Theyre aluminum, & if youll look closely, youll see that the side thats facing forward on the top of the axle is more nasty looking than the back side. Thats pitting from sand & whatnot,, You cant fix that w/o polishing the surface smooth,, & yer not iguana get that done, I promise you.. What you will do is spend a few hours & wear your butt out to gain a 30% improvement.. After doing what I did, getting the results I got, my recommendation is, wash the bike, wax it, & ride it. Heck with the spokes. Keep the rim chrome up & itll look fine,.
Aluminum spokes suck for pretty.. ride it, man,,
IF you decide youre determined to clean them, pull the wheel & lay it on a 5 gallon bucket. Youll never do it again,,
I used Turtle Wax chrome polish. Maybe something a bit more abrasive, like rubbing compound would yield better results with less effort. I went thru several lengths of cord. They eventually break from all that rubbin & scrubbin.. But parachute cord with the innards removed proved to be the best way to scrub them. With some thinking youll be able to wrap it so it will walk down onto the nipple & even run between where the spokes cross.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Dave on 03/10/14 at 04:59:27

JOG.

I am pretty sure the spokes aren't aluminum - but plated steel. I don't haven any factory spokes around here - somebody take a magnet to the spokes and see if they are magenetic.

I respoked my wheels and used stainless spokes from Buchanan's.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/10/14 at 18:04:53

Ya know,, nowchew mention it,, I didnt get the gobs of black goo Id expect from albumium,, AND,, Albumium otta polish up easier & better than they did,, Ill bet youre right,, that kinda stress on aluminum is probably a coupla steps outside of smart.,.

Whatever they are, dont use Turtle Wax chrome polish,, It didnt wurk wurfaHOOT! IF I was gonna take another run at it, Id use rubbing compound on a couple of them & see how it does.. Mine is gone, Ill not be doin that again,,

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by procrastinator on 03/10/14 at 21:05:19

Ok THANKS guys. I think for now I'm just gonna keep the shine up on the rim and worry about it later.
I've seen some really nice spokes on a few different sites at so-so prices. What might I be looking at to have them put on ??

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/10/14 at 21:11:46

6B786D6A69706D190 wrote:

I think for now I'm just gonna keep the shine up on the rim and worry about it later.

Im shawked! Whats your name again?

I've seen some really nice spokes on a few different sites at so-so prices. What might I be looking at to have them put on ??

Why even bother asking? Its a lot more hassle than polishing,,& it costs more, too,, RIDE that Sucka, Duuude! Dont worry bout them spokes,, have fun.,,IF someone walks up & straight up TELLS you you need to DO something about those spokes,, just hand him a rag & walk AWFF..

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Dave on 03/11/14 at 09:55:37

62716463607964100 wrote:

Well....since you asked. Buchannan's is great. Stainless steel spokes are about $ 100 a set, they charge about $ 100 to lace and true a wheel for you.....the spokes look great when they are done and they will never rust.
http://www.buchananspokes.net/

If you can fiind someone to lace the wheels up for you and true them....you can save that part. It takes a long time to lace and true a wheel for a beginner like me, and I spend about 3-4 hours a wheel. The back wheel is a piece of cake and you can install the inner spokes first, then do the outer ones.....then tighten and true up the wheel. The front one is difficult as the small hub diameter and lacing pattern requires you to simultaneously do inner and outer spokes....and I have to use straws to help hold them in place while I make attempts to get the spokes installed in some kind of efficient manner.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by 533clive on 03/11/14 at 13:25:34

Am I being thick here, or could you not just cut one spoke out, put new one in, cut next replace, etc, etc

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by verslagen1 on 03/11/14 at 13:52:48

can be done, but in certain instances like when you have a cross 4 pattern, can be real tough.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by v-pilot on 03/11/14 at 13:52:55

They protrude into the rim at the nipple just a little and the way they are laced you can't fiddle them out without seriously bending them and then there is the issue of keeping the wheel true

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Dave on 03/12/14 at 05:30:51

181E1E4E41445B482D0 wrote:

Am I being thick here, or could you not just cut one spoke out, put new one in, cut next replace, etc, etc

You can only do that for the spokes in the rear wheel that are pushed from the center of the hub to the outside. The spokes that are pushed through the hub from the outside to the inside can't be wiggled into the correct position in the rim.....too many spokes in the way.

On the front wheel all the spokes are pushed from the outside of the hub to the center....and it is quite a dance to get them all installed properly. You cannot do one at a time.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Bubba on 03/19/14 at 10:01:40

These guys...
http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/home.htm
They do awesome work...
personally, i don't sweat the spokes but if it really bugs you you could give 'em a call...shipping the wheels would probably cost you a fortune...

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by cafecarl on 03/19/14 at 11:26:21

I got a stock spoke kit though a mail order supplier w/nipples for under $60. Rigged up a truing stand in my vise, took good notes as I disassembled the wheel and used a dial indicator to build it back. It came out great. The old spokes were pitted and rusted (yup steel). There's no way to get em back (except paint), I don't think
This route isn't for everyone, but it's an option. I had good results.
Just one more thing, I didn't have much success dealing with Buchannan. I got on a circular voice mail and gave up after getting back to the same one for the second time. My email also went unanswered. That's when I ordered the stockers. Good luck.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by Dave on 03/19/14 at 12:40:58

036728252D2C27490 wrote:

Just one more thing, I didn't have much success dealing with Buchannan. I got on a circular voice mail and gave up after getting back to the same one for the second time. My email also went unanswered. That's when I ordered the stockers. Good luck.

That is a shame you had touble - I don't believe that is common. I had great success with them, and they even made up a set for my 18" front and back rims from an email sent with photos and part descriptions - it all went smooth as silk. Another fellow in this site took his stuff over in person and they punched his rim at the correct angle and got him spokes while he waited.

Title: Re: Spokes - Clean up???
Post by savagerider87 on 03/20/14 at 11:12:42

6239647D787B60140 wrote:

This method works very well... However takes some time mothers mag and aluminum polish is excellent for cleaning and polishing spokes. Also, 5/32" parachute cord is what I'm currently using. I'm a believer, you can buy 50' of cord for like $ 6 or less compared to $25 for a polish impregnated lace such as luster lace for example. :)