Cleaning of Rims
- Thread starter SniperX
- Start date
Hi Sniper X
You do not say what you want to clean- road grime or residue left by the brake blocks. Road grime yuo wash off when you wash the bike. Be carefull about degreaser it may work its way into your bearings. I normally wash with normal car shampoo. Use a sponge and a stiff brush to get rid of mud and other crud. NEVER EVER USE A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON YOUR BIKE!!!!!!!!!!! Water WILL work its way into your bearings and they WILL rust. To remove rubber and smoothen your braking surface use a Mavic rim rubber erasor. They are expensive and difficult to get hold of but worth while in the end. I use the souring pad of a 3M dish scourer. (that black layer fused to the sponge) Use a lot of water and work very judiciously. Remember you are working with aluminium and you do not want to weaken your rim. It may be unhealthy!!! and Expensive !!!!! Also when you clean the rims inspect your brake block. There might be small pieces of steel and grit embedded in the rubber. These will scratch and gouge marks into your rim that in the end will affect your braking ability. Remove these with a sharp pointed object or replace the brake blocks.
Keep those wheels spinning ...and clean!!!!!
Big H
You do not say what you want to clean- road grime or residue left by the brake blocks. Road grime yuo wash off when you wash the bike. Be carefull about degreaser it may work its way into your bearings. I normally wash with normal car shampoo. Use a sponge and a stiff brush to get rid of mud and other crud. NEVER EVER USE A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE ON YOUR BIKE!!!!!!!!!!! Water WILL work its way into your bearings and they WILL rust. To remove rubber and smoothen your braking surface use a Mavic rim rubber erasor. They are expensive and difficult to get hold of but worth while in the end. I use the souring pad of a 3M dish scourer. (that black layer fused to the sponge) Use a lot of water and work very judiciously. Remember you are working with aluminium and you do not want to weaken your rim. It may be unhealthy!!! and Expensive !!!!! Also when you clean the rims inspect your brake block. There might be small pieces of steel and grit embedded in the rubber. These will scratch and gouge marks into your rim that in the end will affect your braking ability. Remove these with a sharp pointed object or replace the brake blocks.
Keep those wheels spinning ...and clean!!!!!
Big H
Hi Sniper X
On V-brakes it is easy. I suppose on racing callipers you will have to remove your wheel and try with good lighting to inspect as good as possible. Do not remove the pads if you can because it will stuff up the toe-in alignment to the rims. You will be amazed to see the amount of metal and other that gets picked up. If you use the degreaser on a cloth it will be fine. The bearings are in the hubs and they are not sealed or ipervious to the penetration of moisture. Be very carefull that degreaser does not run down the spokes. Why do you use the degreaser. Does it remove or strip the rubber residue!!!!
Big H
On V-brakes it is easy. I suppose on racing callipers you will have to remove your wheel and try with good lighting to inspect as good as possible. Do not remove the pads if you can because it will stuff up the toe-in alignment to the rims. You will be amazed to see the amount of metal and other that gets picked up. If you use the degreaser on a cloth it will be fine. The bearings are in the hubs and they are not sealed or ipervious to the penetration of moisture. Be very carefull that degreaser does not run down the spokes. Why do you use the degreaser. Does it remove or strip the rubber residue!!!!
Big H
Sniper X.
I might be barking up the wrong tree, but I am sure that members on the Forum will agree ...or disagree. Most tyres are made of synthetic rubber. The whole thing is kept together with a blend of (this is part I am not sure about!!!!) fluorocarbons and carbon mixed at heat. The combination of stuff like alcahols etc in the degreaser might ... or might not affect the working quality of the rubber in your tyre. I do not tnink the over judicious use of degreaser is conductive to the life of your tyre. Better find out more but the ????? in me questions their use.
Big H
I might be barking up the wrong tree, but I am sure that members on the Forum will agree ...or disagree. Most tyres are made of synthetic rubber. The whole thing is kept together with a blend of (this is part I am not sure about!!!!) fluorocarbons and carbon mixed at heat. The combination of stuff like alcahols etc in the degreaser might ... or might not affect the working quality of the rubber in your tyre. I do not tnink the over judicious use of degreaser is conductive to the life of your tyre. Better find out more but the ????? in me questions their use.
Big H
