Cleaning Tri-Glide Wheels

[ttanthony]

Has anyone had any success cleaning and polishing the Tri-Glide Aluminum Wheels. If so what products and procedures did you use. I know that the best way to handle them is to have them chromed, but that is a expensive process. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

 

[Gorilla]

Get a good polish for wheels. It will take a lot of work. Even then some of the stains will not come out short of sanding the wheels. Anyway when you get them to an exceptional level have them clear coated.

 

[WalterM817]

I use the old Honda spray cleaner on mine. Seems to shine as well as anything. Aluminum is a bear unless you keep after it.

 

[delta]

I use Flitz polish, love the stuff and it doesn't take much. Apply it with a paper towel and rub it in. Buff it with their buff ball. I do it twice a year. After every ride I lightly spray the rear rims with a detailer and wipe off with a dirty micro fiber towel. Takes less then 5 minutes. Sometimes I do it every other ride. The brake dust is some nasty stuff.

 

[Sloufoot]

I use Flitz polish, love the stuff and it doesn't take much. Apply it with a paper towel and rub it in. Buff it with their buff ball. I do it twice a year. After every ride I lightly spray the rear rims with a detailer and wipe off with a dirty micro fiber towel. Takes less then 5 minutes. Sometimes I do it every other ride. The brake dust is some nasty stuff.

I do exactly the same except after using the Flitz I put a good couple coats of a good carnuba wax. I keep putting off a clear coat of paint. But that is high on the list.
Love that Flitz !:Trike1:

 

[tfdeputydawg]

I use the old Honda spray cleaner on mine. Seems to shine as well as anything. Aluminum is a bear unless you keep after it.

At one time I also used the Honda cleaner/polish. Some time ago, Honda changed vendors and the formula changed!
All of a sudden my dark red Wing was almost impossible to keep from streaking when using the Honda product!
Asked the Motorcycle supply store I use what was going on and they told me the above info and introduced me to the product I pictured above, telling me it was the old Honda forumla being marketed by the former Honda supplier!
Been using it ever since.
Wash my aluminum wheels and use it and they shine like new. My wheels are not clear coated.

 

[GARYD]

After the wheels on my 2012TG got all stained (not pitted), I bought the H-D Anarchy chrome wheels for my summer riding and kept the stock wheels for winter riding. That way I don't give a damn about the salt messing them up. Yes it was expensive, but boy do those Anarchy wheels look great - especially with Wiley Shiney baby moon hub caps.

I originally bought a set of OEM wheels on e-bay to have chromed, but went with the Anarchy wheels instead. So if someone wants a set of brand new stock wheels let me know. I'll give you a good deal.

 

[53servicar]

after a recent 9000km trip on my 13 tri glide my wheels were in bad shape i used fine steel wool with auto sol or fitz paste this worked very well with little effort.

 

[DK Custom Products]

After cleaning them on the '11, only to have them stain and require constant attention to keep clean...on the '14 one of the first things I did was clear coat them with rattle can clear.

It's only been 3500 miles, but so far they just come clean with a wipe of a towel...less than 60 seconds per wheel to have them looking like new.

Kevin

 

[rhino 2]

I gave up after the first winter,11 T/G... I keep the Trike mechanically sound, But looking like i ride the thing. Every now and then I do get the urge to spit shine it 'But I've learned to get over that quick.. When one my Son's asks don't you ever clean that bike,
I just say A clean bike is an Unridden bike.. Besides they know where the soap and water is..

 

[ravenwolf]

I saw these on Ebay, not sure how well these work, or if anyone has any experience using these:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Davi...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item20e89fe93c

 

[GARYD]

Hate to say this, but those look hideous. Worse then those stupid leather fender bras. :AGGHH: JMHO

 

[ravenwolf]

Hate to say this, but those look hideous. Worse then those stupid leather fender bras. :AGGHH: JMHO

just to be clear, it's the chrome disk behind the wheel, not the fender skirt.

 

[rhino 2]

That chrome disk looks like it's wrapped [loosely] in aluminum foil,
Maybe it's just the camera angle???

 

[GARYD]

just to be clear, it's the chrome disk behind the wheel, not the fender skirt.

The picture changed. It now shows the chrome disk cover and a leather fender "bra". When I clicked on the link it showed a picture of a black "fender skirt" not the bra that's in the picture now. I don't know who switched the pictures, but I wasn't commenting on the chrome disk cover. I like those - unfortunately they won't fit my Anarchy wheels.

 

[ravenwolf]

The picture changed. It now shows the chrome disk cover and a leather fender "bra". When I clicked on the link it showed a picture of a black "fender skirt" not the bra that's in the picture now. I don't know who switched the pictures, but I wasn't commenting on the chrome disk cover. I like those - unfortunately they won't fit my Anarchy wheels.

I think they would look better painted black, would make the wheel stand out better. I think the polished discs takes away from the look of the wheels (IMHO). When i get my 2015 TG, i'll probably just clear coat the wheels like others on the forum have done

 

[dyna_rider98]

I like the disks but they are a bit spendy

 

[GARYD]

I think they would look better painted black, would make the wheel stand out better. I think the polished discs takes away from the look of the wheels (IMHO). When i get my 2015 TG, i'll probably just clear coat the wheels like others on the forum have done

You have a good point there. I was thinking maybe red to match my bike's color.

 

[Shriner Jim]

I'd be a bit more concerned about blocking air to the brakes. They need cooling.

 

[hocnsoc]

Semichrome polishing paste by Happich. I have been using this stuff for years with very good results. With some patience you can make your wheels look very close to chrome.
As the polish removes tiny particles of aluminum from the wheel surface it builds up on the cloth. You polish aluminum with aluminum so this black residual is very effective in brightening the finish. I get it from local HD dealer.

 

[HDB0B]

I use the Zaino Clear Seal Z-CS. I wipe my wheels clean with Zaino Z-6 Gloss enhancer. So far I have no staining issues and they look like new with no polishing. I will re-apply the clear seal every 3 months.

What rear pad options do we have.... Ceramic? Low dust? Other?

I've read that they can be spray can clear coated? Can they be clear powder coated???

My MINI has clear powder coated factory staghorns that I regulary clean with 50/50 water/S-100 spray mix. They still look like new after 6 years of use.

Bob orag:

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Z&Product_Code=Z-CS&Category_Code=

 

[GARYD]

All I know is I've tried every metal polish known to man and have yet been able to get those "water spots" out of the aluminum. I've even use steel wool and very fine grit sandpaper in a small spot, all with no affect. That's why I just bought the Anarchy chrome wheels and use the stock stained wheels for my winter riding - that way I don't care what the wheels look like. Costly buy I don't have to sweat over time consuming polishing my wheels. ThumbUp

The Anarchy wheels are soooo easy to clean - spray on glass cleaner and wipe off = about a minute a wheel = sparkling clean wheels. I don't use chrome cleaner on my chrome anymore - too abrasive.

A few years ago, so I could ride all winter, I used S100 Corrosion Protectant on all metal parts of my bike (still do)and it worked great, but then a couple years ago Harley came out their their Bare Aluminum Protectant = that didn't work worth shit and that's how I got the stains in the first place. So my advice is spray your wheels with the S100 stuff....just keep it off the rotors.

F%$# Harley for selling a bike with untreated aluminum wheels = stupid. But then I guess Harley doesn't think anyone is stupid enough to ride in the winter with salt on the streets.

 

[Phu Cat]

Never Dull works well for me. You can pick it up at most any car auto supply store. Saw it recommended on Harley Tech Talk and you can take what those guys say to the bank.

Phu Cat

 

[DK Custom Products]

I really like Never Dull, and use it on all my chrome. But, even combined with lots of elbow grease it would not get the spots off the wheels.

The best thing I found was Excite Pure Metal Polish. But even with that it took way too much time to get them clean, and then they just stained again right away.

This is why I rattle can clear coated them. Now I just wipe them off with pledge and they look like new in 2 minutes.

Kevin

 

[dirtdobber]

If you clean the wheels rather regular like I do, I use meguiars tire and wheel cleaning. This stuff is bad to the bone. I have a 4 wheel drive truck and the wheels stays messed up for long periods of time. I spray it on then clean with a rag to break the dirt lose and then wash off. If done like we shood you just spray it in and rinse if off. Spots are usually caused by not cleaning regular enough or not cleaning when the wrong kind of rad rash gets on em. Polishing them is a good way to make em look good for long periods of time. Just polish and use a sealer then your good for at least a year.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I agree with Kevin. That's what I used on my Hot Rod wheels for my Monte Carlo. Cleaned the hell out of them. Then clear coated them. Lasts a very long time. PLus a squirt of the hose and the break dust is gone !

 

[coronetracer65]

just to be clear, it's the chrome disk behind the wheel, not the fender skirt.

Wonder if they hinder the cooling on the brakes ?

 

[HDB0B]

I tried ArmorAll glass cleaner (no ammonia) (reccomended). I tried it .... I liked it.

Bob orag:

 

[ravenwolf]

Anyone have any experience with this?

http://master-formula.com/Metal%20Polish.htm

saw this recommended on HD forum website.