Rust in rim

mgalactico · 12-18-2011, 11:19 AM

While winterizing my bike I noticed that the front wheel rim has some rust. It looks like it was painted over. Any advice how I can nip this in the bud? The bike will be stored in a non heated shed for the next three months. Thanks.

JWR · 12-18-2011, 01:12 PM

You can stop it from spreading.

Clean all rust off, then use paint or finger nail polish to stop the air from getting to the weak spot.

You can get Clear in a spray can also.

mrlmd1 · 12-18-2011, 01:42 PM

You have to scrape and sand it off, then coat it with a rust converter, changes ferric oxide to ferrous sulfate which does not rust (and turns it black). When you are sure you have that whole area covered/contained, then you can spray paint it with some silver colored paint, and with all the dirt and dust that gets on there, may not be too noticeable. What you have started out as a scratch or nick in the chrome plating, then it started rusting underneath and lifted the chrome off and then it spreads. The rust converters are readily available in any auto parts store in a small plastic bottle, that should be enough to cover all the bad spots on the bike and have plenty left so you can keep doing that whenever it pops up.
I live down in Fl. right on the water and the humidity and salty air has done a great job of rusting all the spokes on the front wheel of my Suzuki S50 and has started to bubble the chrome on the handlebars, mirror stalks, and a few other places. A good coat of wax on all the chrome and the rest of the bike will help protect it too. Keeping that at bay is a never ending job of maintenance.

Gz Rider · 12-18-2011, 02:07 PM

...

mgalactico · 12-22-2011, 02:42 PM

Thank you for the advice. I sanded the rim and got some but not all rust. I stopped because unfortunately I also pulled out Crome. It looks as if it was painted once as some of the 'chrome' is very flaky and soft.

mgalactico

Water Warrior 2 · 12-22-2011, 03:15 PM

Japanese chrome is not the best in the world. Thin and flakey is common. Just be thankful they never figured out how to chrome cardboard.

blaine · 12-22-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Just be thankful they never figured out how to chrome cardboard.

Yet !!!! :biggrin: :poke2:

mrlmd1 · 12-22-2011, 04:40 PM

The chrome is flaky and soft because of the microscopic rust underneath it allows it to be lifted off easily, or it was poorly applied. Good chrome shouldn't flake off if you sand it, but it will scratch. Sand it off, coat the rim like I said with a rust converter, then spray paint it.

12-18-2011, 11:19 AM	#1
mgalactico Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Rust in rim While winterizing my bike I noticed that the front wheel rim has some rust. It looks like it was painted over. Any advice how I can nip this in the bud? The bike will be stored in a non heated shed for the next three months. Thanks. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-18-2011, 01:12 PM	#2
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Rust in rim You can stop it from spreading. Clean all rust off, then use paint or finger nail polish to stop the air from getting to the weak spot. You can get Clear in a spray can also. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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12-18-2011, 01:42 PM	#3
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Rust in rim You have to scrape and sand it off, then coat it with a rust converter, changes ferric oxide to ferrous sulfate which does not rust (and turns it black). When you are sure you have that whole area covered/contained, then you can spray paint it with some silver colored paint, and with all the dirt and dust that gets on there, may not be too noticeable. What you have started out as a scratch or nick in the chrome plating, then it started rusting underneath and lifted the chrome off and then it spreads. The rust converters are readily available in any auto parts store in a small plastic bottle, that should be enough to cover all the bad spots on the bike and have plenty left so you can keep doing that whenever it pops up. I live down in Fl. right on the water and the humidity and salty air has done a great job of rusting all the spokes on the front wheel of my Suzuki S50 and has started to bubble the chrome on the handlebars, mirror stalks, and a few other places. A good coat of wax on all the chrome and the rest of the bike will help protect it too. Keeping that at bay is a never ending job of maintenance. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-18-2011, 02:07 PM	#4
Gz Rider Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 852	Re: Rust in rim ... __________________ *Alert - This person is a douche. Use these comments and advice at your own risk*
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12-22-2011, 02:42 PM	#5
mgalactico Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Re: Rust in rim Thank you for the advice. I sanded the rim and got some but not all rust. I stopped because unfortunately I also pulled out Crome. It looks as if it was painted once as some of the 'chrome' is very flaky and soft. mgalactico Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-22-2011, 03:15 PM	#6
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Rust in rim Japanese chrome is not the best in the world. Thin and flakey is common. Just be thankful they never figured out how to chrome cardboard.
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12-22-2011, 04:40 PM	#8
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Rust in rim The chrome is flaky and soft because of the microscopic rust underneath it allows it to be lifted off easily, or it was poorly applied. Good chrome shouldn't flake off if you sand it, but it will scratch. Sand it off, coat the rim like I said with a rust converter, then spray paint it.
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