Happy New Year! I'm in the process of cleaning up my new 83 R80G/S and as I knock the rust off the front spokes all the chrome is gone and there's now what appears to be a copper coating ? (picture attached) The spokes seem to still have integrity but is this a safety issue and is there anything I can do to make them look better - short of having them re-spoked?
Thanks,
Greg
You might try some semichrome polish. I’ve had good luck with that on most metals.
Expect some banged knuckles though, reaching between all those spokes and all...
Thanks - I've just never seen the chrome wear off and a layer of copper underneath.
• Chrome won't stick to steel during the plating process, so the chrome layer is always preceded by a thin layer of copper plate. That's standard industry practice for any steel part.
• The copper will provide very little protection from corrosion. Rust is imminent, which will reduce the tensile strength of the spoke. I highly suggest you look into some stainless steel spokes, such as those from Buchanan. By installing one spoke at a time during the next tire change, the wheel will remain assembled and very probably "true", thus eliminating the need for a shop specialist. IOW, you can do this job yourself, in front of the TV.
http://www.buchananspokes.com/products/spoke_kits_bmw.asp
Hope this helps.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
@wobbly Thanks sounds like a very good idea - I looked at Buchanan's site and they don't list spoke kits for 21 inch front disk wheels - which my 83 80 G/S has?
@gpopovichcastlerockwinery-com They don't list them for 21", but they do list them for 19". That means they can certainly make them at very little added cost.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
I looked and Buchanan's is an hour from my house -- so maybe I'll have them lace-up the wheel. Thank you for your input- I appreciate it.
You'll like it. They make lifetime spokes.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
@wobbly Dropped off both wheels yesterday & they said I'll have them back next week - good as new. The rear wasn't all that bad but I thought it would not look cool to have nice new front & somewhat crusty rear.
Thanks again.
@wobbly Dropped off both wheels yesterday & they said I'll have them back next week - good as new. The rear wasn't all that bad but I thought it would not look cool to have nice new front & somewhat crusty rear.
Thanks again.
Some photos or a report on your new wheels would be fun to see and/or hear about. Hint, hint.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
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