Mag wheel corrosion

I offered a guy $200 for a 650 sitting in the junk area of his boat engine repair yard. He told me that he had $400 into that bike from an old deal for a boat motor or something. Anyway... The bike is all there except for one missing side cover. The engine has 2,941 km ! but is locked up. He says that the bike ran when he got it, but it has been sitting in his back junk area for years. He said that it's probaby just the rings and that a good soaking with diesel should free the engine. The plugs are all still in the head so it's sealed. To the point though, can the old aluminum mag wheels be wire wheeled up to remove the corrosion/ozidation from sitting outside for years? They look pretty scruffy. Are old mags beaten up by the weather salvagable as long as they aren't chipped/cracked ? Are they pretty tough ? How touchy are they ?

Post edited by: old650, at: 2007/05/14 12:41

you didnt say if you were going to by it or not, for parts only?
the mags can be cleaned, I saw some alum cleaner at the yamaha dealer, the guy in the parts dept said it was great stuff,

Don't use a wire wheel. Well at least that wouldn't be what I prefer. I would use a piece of steel wool, usually I think 000, not sure but the one with just 0's. On my 1000 I used steel wool and some denatured alcohol or you can go for what BSK suggested.

If you're talking the bead area, electric or air 'medium' wire brush, sand out and deep pits or groves that traverse the bead area with 80 grit, and sand around circumference with 120 grit until all 80 grit and wire brush marks are gone. Tubeless will seal fine after this treatment. Use 'tire ease' or other non-caustic mounting aid. If you use soap or detergent, you'll have a mess in a few years.

Outside? Beadblast and paint or just leave it alone. What's an old bike without patina?

Thanks guys, good information .....as always. I'm unsure if 1. The owner will sell at what I consider a reasonable offer and 2. I'm unsure about using the bike for parts as I already have one parted out in my shed. The thoughts of freeing up that engine with such incredibly low mileage on it (if this is the original gage set), is VERY intriguing however. It would be a jack pot just to have a barely broken in engine sitting around as a spare. My broken up spare bike also has wire wheels, which are cool, but I also want some mags. I'm not in a rush and I told him that I'd give him time to think the offer over. I'm just doing a mental evaluation of usable parts, and there are many, on this extremely neglected old Kaw.

I freed my old 76 with auto trans oil. I had someone recommend it instead of diesel because the diesel strips all lube from the walls when the piston begins to move. I still have serviceable compression!

I am stripping and painting a rear wheel for my 81 this week. Mag wheels generally have less maintenance than a wire wheel (IMHO). I use triple 0 steel wool and Mothers to polish the shiny spots. Will still need a liberal dose of elbow grease to finish. Oh yeah, and a can or two of satin black case paint!

You could also, consider powder coating the mags and doing a polished lip. That would be sweet.

I would tell the guy you don't care what he has into the bike. Give him your offer with cash in hand and see what he says. People like seeing the green. Oh, and probably disregard the part about telling him you don't care what he has in the bike. Haa

Sounds like a fun project.

Good luck.

Post edited by: austin3119, at: 2007/05/18 02:28

I used a medium and then a fine cup brush for the wheels on my ZN, followed with a little polishing using some Nevr-Dull, and then rattle-canned the "spokes" with a semi-gloss black enamel.
It was pretty quick and easy to do, and IMHO they came out great!

Harbor Freight has these cup brushes available in varying grits, they are fairly inexpensive, and if you take your time they won't leave brush marks like wire cup brushes tend to do.


2" SHAFT MOUNT CUP BRUSH, 80 GRIT



Post edited by: RetroRiceRocketRider, at: 2007/05/18 10:56