ptxyz Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 i got what at first glance was a good price on a front wheel to get my bird back on the road after my curb hopping incident. now that i'm faced with removal of the crappy chrome, i'm wondering if i shouldn't have spent the extra coin for a black one... i've read some on-line tips about using bleach, oven cleaner, 30% muratic acid and a few others that escape me at the moment. any advice on this? i'm not looking for a perfect finish. the bike was crashed and painted flat black by a previous owner. rattle can black is what i'll probably end up doing. i'd be happy with a 10 footer finish on this front wheel. don't care to spend any more coin to complete her rehab. here's the offender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 i got what at first glance was a good price on a front wheel to get my bird back on the road after my curb hopping incident. Not an expert, but if you're going to paint, you only need to etch the metal enough to make the paint adhere well. I can't imagine you'd need something all that caustic to achieve that goal. Fine sandpaper might do the trick, but getting into all the nooks and crevices.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Media blast and paint. Getting someone properly equipped to blast it shouldn't be prohibitively expensive if you're willing to remove the tire and bearings yourself. Short of that, Zero is right- scuff it up and spray it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptxyz Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 just for kix, i took a wire wheel on my drill to 'em for a few minutes. man, chrome's tough! easy enough to blast away the bubbly parts but, just putting a scuff on what's left takes some pressure! oh yea, brake fluid was another thing mentioned... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Your wire wheel is likely steel, chrome is considerably harder than steel. Try a scotchbright pad (those green kitchen scrubbers), IIRC, those will scuff chrome. That, or sand paper will work quicker than the (relatively) soft steel wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbrxxquad Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Look up electroysis. Not going to come off with anything you mentioned. Basically a coating of chromium metal plating. A bad one for sure because they failed to clean the metal well enough. So it is just layed on top of the aluminum in a sheet. Kinda like laying aluminum foil on it only harder than shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptxyz Posted July 17, 2013 Author Share Posted July 17, 2013 little update, i just collected my naked wheel from valley plating here in san jose. $50 for them to take it back to raw aluminum. there's a bit of pitting from corrosion that had started under the crappy chrome but, it's nothing that can't be buried under a little coating, perhaps with a bit of sanding. the local shop with the best reputation wants $125 to powder coat but, given the bike it's going on is pretty rough already i'm still shopping and may end up taking the ol' rattle can to it. this will all have to wait for a week or two since i've other irons in the fire and my klr's been serving my transportation needs. thanks all for your input. here's a pic, never seen a naked wheel before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkxx Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 here's a pic, never seen a naked wheel before. Shouldn't this be marked NWS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Krypt Keeper Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 if it was me doing it on the cheap. clean with a degreaser, dry nicely, and apply 4 or 5 coats of spray paint 1 coat should just be a light mist and the metal underneath still showing some.. light coats and plenty of time to dry and cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBLXX Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 little update, i just collected my naked wheel from valley plating here in san jose. $50 for them to take it back to raw aluminum. there's a bit of pitting from corrosion that had started under the crappy chrome but, it's nothing that can't be buried under a little coating, perhaps with a bit of sanding. the local shop with the best reputation wants $125 to powder coat but, given the bike it's going on is pretty rough already i'm still shopping and may end up taking the ol' rattle can to it. this will all have to wait for a week or two since i've other irons in the fire and my klr's been serving my transportation needs. thanks all for your input. here's a pic, never seen a naked wheel before. Plastidip. $11 both wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodeRash Posted July 19, 2013 Share Posted July 19, 2013 Look at Rustoleum high performance wheel coating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptxyz Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 perhaps i'm naive but, i'm @#$^in' speechless. seriously, the seller's still claiming the wheel's straight?! i've received a non contested pay pal w/shipping refund but, this bugs me. the wheel's good for rollin' a bike around the shop or scrap for beer money.http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-03-HONDA-CBR-1100XX-BLACKBIRD-FRONT-WHEEL-RIM-1100-XX-2001-2002-OEM-/400543236436?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d423cc154&vxp=mtr"ready for chrome or paint", courtesy of ptxyz (now slightly wiser) the chump?!worth a potential pay pal/ebay flame war? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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