9 replies to this topic

[Lucydog]

I have a pair of lightweight Sun Classic Sport rims/wheels which I use on a daily basis. They are comfy and really light to push, I got them second hand a few years ago, and were the perfect bargain buy!

However they are starting to look rather tatty, well I notice it anyway. The knuts are rusting, the spokes dull and the rims are a horrid grey. Id like to do a bit of DIY maintenance but am not sure the best way to go about it. Would it be possible to paint the push rims for instance, should I use wire wool on the spokes maybe, or could I paint those too?

Id just like a few tips and suggestions becasue I know its vanity but I want my chair to look as cool as possible!!

thanks
L

Edited by Lucydog, 20 February 2010 - 11:13 AM.

[dangerousdave]

Scratched - tatty - bent - dented - ripped - dirty
Want to clean mine afterwards

[COOL Mobility]

First clean with kerosene to remove grease and grime build up with a scouring pad to give some 'cutting action', then use something like a "CLR" Calcium, lime and rust solvent (use gloves as strong chemicals). After that you'll find the spokes are shiny stainless steel (only 306 - hence slight rusting that CLR removes) and alloy will be bright again. If not burnish it with a wet scouring pad and should look great.

Bigest problem is grime and grease from hands and road. Handrims get bashed up really badly but can be powder coated but forget paint - not tough enough. Easier and often not much price difference to buy new hand rims.

Pop out bearing and replace if any gritty noise when separately turned slowly by hand. Can regrease with SMALL amount of Moly grease if you pop seals off carefully, but usually not needed.

New tires and you'll have new looking wheels. To keep clean, try sugar soap every couple of months just brushed on then hosed off to keep greasy grime off.

Best of luck or buy carbon (mine are Karma) wheels that are really easy to clean...

Edited by COOL Mobility, 27 February 2010 - 09:42 AM.

[ADP-10-08-63]

1. Strip all parts.
2. Send then all away to be sand blasted.
3. Then have them powder coated .
4. Proffesionally put back together by a good wheel builder.

Best of luck.

[COOL Mobility]

ADP-10-08-63, on Feb 28 2010, 10:48 AM, said:

1. Strip all parts.
2. Send then all away to be sand blasted.
3. Then have them powder coated .
4. Proffesionally put back together by a good wheel builder.

Best of luck.

This would cost more than a new set of wheels with malor cost of wheel builder. Also, if you rebuild a wheel you always replace spokes as the metal fatigues and putting old spokes in is really false economy.

[ClaraTaylor]

I used to rebuild bike / wheelchair wheels all the time when I worked at the cycle shop - it's really very easy to do and of course most shops will have the ability to check that the wheels are balanced. Doesn't take a lot of kit because I used to do it at home on my bikes after I'd leap off rocks and ruin yet another....


Any who the reason I wandered over here - kind a nice motorcycle shop type place. They have this fantastic product - it's bright pink "grime be gone" type arrangement. I've used it on bikes for ages and now dad uses it on his car - you just hose down with a little water and the body work is shiny again. Spray some of this onto your wheels to protect them (and make it easier to clean).

[greybeard]

Clara, have you got a link, or at least the name of the product, please?

[robbo100bike]

Rub down with wire wool (B&Q) that will remove all the crud, rust and corrison. Use the finest grade wire wool on the rims and hubs so as not to scratche the shiny chrome. Then use AutoGlym or any other chrome polish with a nice soft rag. (old t-shirt / pants etc!!!). It takes time and abit of good old elbow grease but will make all the difference. One of them jobs u can do whilst watching TV.

New tyres as suggested above will help.

Another cheap trick - i have often bought a pair of new rims for £20each then got them laced into wheels for about £25 at a backstreet cycle shop. U end up with nice newish wheels for about £65. I have a nice pair of gold 24" rims here you can have for £20 the pair. The rims are in very good condition and they have purple(?) push rims on them which clash a tad in my book and are scratched in the usual way.

Good luck

[ClaraTaylor]

greybeard, on Feb 28 2010, 12:27 PM, said:

Clara, have you got a link, or at least the name of the product, please?

It's taken me all day to remember the name!!

http://www.muc-off.c...l_bike_new.html

http://www.muc-off.com/newindex.html

[greybeard]

Thanks, Clara.