Are my spokes black through grime or just that colour?

Bambam3 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Karma :

Probably a silly question, but my rims are chrome, the spokes are all black.

After a bit of a scrub with car/bike wash and a kitchen pad for dishes it shows silver under it, not chrome as it seems slightly duller, but steel possibly?

Anyway, I'm not sure whether to continue scrubbing and get them all steely just incase they're actually black and I'm taking the paint off. Embarassed

Not sure just how black the spokes get through grime tbh, as they're pretty covered.

Looked at pics of my bike all over the net and all spokes are silver matching the rims, but being a noob I'm unsure.

It's 5 years old, a month or two old to me bit rusty all over, but today is cleaning day, so need to be sure. The nipples are black too, bit rusty themselves, so any advice on that would be helpful.

Pics for reference..

BanditsHigh · Worse than a woman Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Karma :

Most likely steel so they will clean up, but the first hint of salt/water will make them rust like buggery ... I'd clean them up and possibly give them a coat of zinc primer Thumbs Up

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

I would've guessed steed, could take a while to clean them up though Smile

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Bambam3 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Karma :

Cheers, so wheel cleaner stuff would be ok right? I read it can take chrome plating off, but if they're steel I imagine it's fine, just be careful where I get it.

Would a rag soaked in WD40 be ok once clean until I can pick up some ACF-50 stuff?

Bambam3 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 19 Feb 2010 Karma :

BanditsHigh · Worse than a woman Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Karma :

You might find a small fine wire wheel or wire brush will speed up the grime removal considerably.

I'd hold off on the WD40 if you are going to ACF-50 it ... not used myself (yet) but it may not adhere as well if WD40 is in the way Thumbs Up

Mark65 · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 May 2008 Karma :

Try some vineger and fine steel wool, soak wool in vineger then rub the spokes. I had the same black stuff on my sproket, chain tugs and some fastners and the vineger made them sparkle.

Mark
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temeluchus · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Karma :

wire wool and a little light oil will do the trick.

the only way to protect them after cleaning would really be to paint them.
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