Cleaning wheels?

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MOFAST
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Cleaning wheels?

Post by MOFAST »

Couple questions-

1. What is everyone's preferred way to get all of the wheel bore polish (novus #2,bore polish #1) out of the spokes on the wheels and have shiny, clean looking wheels?
2. When cleaning wheels to re-prep do you use soapy water or rubbing alcohol, and why?

I have to admit this is a weak area for me, I can make fast cars, but my wheels always look terrible.
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birddog
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by birddog »

I have the same problem! Novus 2 seems impossible to remove from the spokes and all my wheels look "dirty" as a result.

I've tried using alcohol and a qtip, but that doesn't seem to remove it.

I've not re-prepped any wheels to date as I've yet to re-use a wheel for a new build. I'm sure that time will come (maybe for next years mid-america race), but used all new parts this year.

With pack and district Scout races, we always have to start with new parts and do everything from scratch.

birddog
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Noskills
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by Noskills »

I have the same problem but have reduced the mess some by dropping wheel in alcohol right after polishing. Scrubbing with a-tip and using canned air to blow away remainder. Still have a few white chunks in the spokes but better
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gpraceman
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by gpraceman »

How about some alcohol and an old tooth brush?
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by Topspin.D »

gpraceman wrote:How about some alcohol and an old tooth brush?

That's what we like to do...
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birddog
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by birddog »

Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a try next time.
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sporty
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by sporty »

Warm water. Seems to work well. I also have used a tooth pick in the spokes of the wheels.
Iso. I have used. But risky to get on hub and can take my coating off. I just added. Can be done. Just something to keep in mind if you have already prepped your hub.
I also noticed with iso. It tends to dull my polished area. If I rub with it or get it on the hub.
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LightninBoy
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by LightninBoy »

1. After polishing with Novus #2, I put the wheel into warm soapy water and hit the bores with a pipe cleaner.
2. Same for reprep - I wash the wheels (and axles) in warm soapy water.

I don't use rubbing alcohol at all anymore.
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Derby Evolution
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by Derby Evolution »

Run them under warm water, a sink sprayer works great to get it out of the spokes. I do not use alcohol on the wheels, warm water and Dawn soap is all that is needed.
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jzarvey
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Re: Cleaning wheels?

Post by jzarvey »

+1 for warm water, Dawn and old toothbrush for the spokes.
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