Wheel refurbishment?

[Vendetta761]

Hi There, I have just got one Z 1000 ST up as a rolling chassis and realise that the original wheels are looking tired and could do with a clean up. Perhaps I could ask Mikey to polish them up and then hunt for a local respray shop but I thought before I went down that route i would ask if anyone knows anyone good for refurbishing a set of Z 1000 ST mag wheels ?

[jphaynes669]

Hi v, ive allways done mine myself. Its not a very nice job but if you take your time the results aint bad. I restore the tyre bead first, wire brush and emery cloth work. I then restore
the alloy rims, if they are badly oxidised then use a chemical alloy cleaner to shift the grime and corrosion , once you are happy you can get the polish out. I use a course sizel wheel (small) and a grey soap for the initial run, after that its just tayloring down the soap and use softer wheels as you go, in the end they will gleam! but it could take a while, I have spent more than a day doing this. As for the paint and after going down the masking , priming, spraying route, I know opt for for a brush on job. Cleaning surfaces is vital for a good key, and good finish. Use a top quality artist brush about a quarter of an inch wide and you wontneed to mask off., and the paint I use is halfords satin black engine enamel! Its the best match and shows no brush marks, after about 3 coats the result is fantastic, and its very durable and tough. Dont forget the enamel thinners...to clean the brush
good luck.

[KeithZ1R]

As JP says it not difficult just time consuming, degrease, clean, strip with nitromors or the rustbuster equivalent, scrape the stubborn bits with summat appropriate, give the inside rims a good wire brushing and finish off with wire wool, mask off the outside rim and spray the colour of your choice. Done a few sets and the result is always satisfying, cheap too (even done em with the tyre in place wrapped in cling film)

[Vendetta761]

thanks both, I have a spare set of wheels so I will try things out on them though I may cheat a little and ask Mikey to do one whilst I am doing the other and then paint in house ,oops, meant in garage !

Thanks for the advice !