Topic: A Question and a Comment

[NewOldSchool]

First, my bike say for two weeks in what I realized was a drippy corner of my garage. The front spokes, which were perfectly clean before it was stored, now have some slight surface rust on a few of them. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to detailing so this is driving me crazy! Whats the best way to remove surface rust on spokes? Im thinking brillo pad or steel wool and wd40?

Also, New chain and sprockets = AWESOME! Its like riding a new bike, no more snatching and chain noise. I got an HKC O ring chain and sunstar sprockets for $120. Turns out the countershaft sprocket on the bike was a 17. No wonder 5000rpm only got me an indicated 70mph! I like the stock gearing a lot more. The smoothness I experience cruising and on the freeway was a fair trade off for whatever acceleration I lost.

[Kong]

No steel wool and WD-40 isn't any good for any purpose what so ever.  Get some chrome polish and a rag and clean the effected spokes.

[Silverback]

I'm about to start cleaning up a bike that is in potential restorable condition. Extremely light rust with no bad pitting.  I have used steel wool before. It will get the rust off, but it will leave scratches. Some might not notice, but a keen eye will see them immediately. Not a restoration quality procedure IMO.

So, chrome polish will effectively remove the rust? Something like Neverdull, or is there a product you can recommend?

[NewOldSchool]

I tried neverdull today and it seems to be working, just takes alot of elbow grease.

[Hannibal Smith]

No steel wool and WD-40 isn't any good for any purpose what so ever.  Get some chrome polish and a rag and clean the effected spokes.

Yep! I agree completely. Steel wool WILL scratch chrome....this is FACT.
WD-40 is safe to drink.

[Gordon]

WD-40 is safe to drink.

So is vinegar, but it will remove rust nicely. 

[NewOldSchool]

who said anything about chrome? I'm not that stupid. I'm talking about removing rust from standard steel spokes, 37 year old spokes at that.

[xsmooth69x]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100532810/h_d2/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&keyword=drill+polish&jspStoreDir=hdus&Nu=P_PARENT_ID&navFlow=3&catalogId=10053&langId=-1&ddkey=Search

maybe something like this will help? this is an example but home depo has like 20 different kinds of them more coarse more fine polishing pads that fit on the end of any regular drill

if the rust is not crazy and you dont have huge pits this should work

elbow grease is over rated 

[Markcb750]

Yep! I agree completely. Steel wool WILL scratch chrome....this is FACT.
WD-40 is safe to drink.

You can have "facts"  and you can have a MSDS sheet...

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infwd40-msds.pdf

[Lars]

O-ring chain. What bike? Can't use that on all bikes.

[Toxic]

Heres something I picked up from here.   Get a wide shoe lace and wrap it around the spoke once and pull it back and forth.   I have access to 1" wide cotton laces that are used to make lanyards that you wear around your neck.  Works great.  Put whatever desired cleaner you want to use on the lace and use a second clean one for polishing.

I mix a powdered cleaner like "Bar Keepers Friend" with water to make a paste.

[Hannibal Smith]

Yep! I agree completely. Steel wool WILL scratch chrome....this is FACT.
WD-40 is safe to drink.

I was afraid someone was going to take that seriously.........................
You can have "facts"  and you can have a MSDS sheet...

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infwd40-msds.pdf

[jay_m]

i know this isn't really about chrome, but for light surface rust on rims, a little plain water and tin foil works wonders. the foil is softer than the chrome, so doesnt scratch, but removes surface rust wonderfully leaving no trace of abrasion.

[Silverback]

who said anything about chrome? I'm not that stupid. I'm talking about removing rust from standard steel spokes, 37 year old spokes at that.

Wire brush!