Aluminum Wheel Corrosion

[ctwo]

I was changing a motorcycle tire and had the question of what to use for lubrication. I used Windex because that is what I saw on youtube. Now the guys are telling me the ammonia will corrode the aluminum rims. Well, my flavor of Windex did not list Ammonia on the label, but the Windex website does. Either way, there is probably some other detergents to be concerned of, or not? The rims are painted, but have a couple spots that have been smoothed out with some sand paper and file, so bare aluminum theres...

[f350ca]

Dish soap probably isn't the best but does work.
Was polishing an aluminum canoe this fall, with aluminum polish and a sheep skin buffing pad on the 7 inch sander/polisher. You could see it was shinny through the black residue but when I tried to wash the residue off with windex the shine wasn't there. Took a couple of tries to relies the windex had ammonia and was tarnishing the aluminum instantly. Soap and water worked.

Greg

[jcfx]

Aluminum and anything alkali do not mix, ammonia is a alkali,
a few of the degreasers I use like purple cleaner advise testing on aluminum before using.

[ctwo]

I have purple power. OK, we will see how pitted the rim gets after a year, when I will likely need a new tire.

[Glenn Brooks]

I used to have a gallon of some kind of etching fluid made specifically for cleaning aluminium. Used it every three years or so to remove the zebra marks on my aluminium mast on my sailboat, caused by the rope and wire halyards running up to the masthead. This stuff was a Chemical etch-brush it on, let sit, hose off. Worked great. However once the annodizing is gone, it's hard to keep the corrosion off the surface.

You might call of one the marine rigging shops in the Bay Area and see what they use to clean aluminium masts. Iam sure there are several different proven methods out there that will work.

Glenn

[CaptonZap]

Dish soap probably isn't the best but does work.
Was polishing an aluminum canoe this fall, with aluminum polish and a sheep skin buffing pad on the 7 inch sander/polisher. You could see it was shinny through the black residue but when I tried to wash the residue off with windex the shine wasn't there. Took a couple of tries to relies the windex had ammonia and was tarnishing the aluminum instantly. Soap and water worked.

Greg

Next time you do this, take some regular flour and sprinkle it an a soft rag and wipe the metal. It will take away the black smut.

CZ

[SteveHGraham]

Here in South Florida, people use Sheila Shine for aluminum tuna towers and rocket launchers.

[warmstrong1955]

Here in South Florida, people use Sheila Shine for aluminum tuna towers and rocket launchers.

Been usin' your bottle opener again Steve???

[SteveHGraham]

That bottle opener is great. Don't be jealous.

I should get some more beer.

http://www.sheilashineinc.com/

[EOsteam]

Some of the best places to check out are the Aircraft supply houses. Aircraft Spruce, Chief Aircraft etc.. Airplanes have lots of Aluminum and the aircraft cleaners are made to play nice with Aluminum.

HJ

[shootnride]

I was changing a motorcycle tire and had the question of what to use for lubrication.

A good friend of mine has a tire changing machine and has been changing my motorcycle tires for quite a few years (as well as probably hundreds of others) and this is the product he uses: https://www.nomartirechanger.com/Tire_L ... e-pint.htm

It has always worked very well both for dis-mounting and mounting tires and there's never been any sign of any kind of corrosion.

Ted