Wheel corrosion?

[RedPearl1200]

These are the stock wheels on my 2006 XL1200. I think they were mostly neglected for the first 10 years of their lives. I wanted to put the mirror polish shine on them, but they seem to be developing the beginnings of surface corrosion. You can't feel it - it's smooth, but it will not polish out with Mother's Mag Polish, Brasso, or Barkeeper's Friend.

The wheels are in otherwise great condition. The black coated spokes and hubs are all still shiny & free of chips. I do the black with carnauba car wax.
I'd like to keep them on the bike, but I'd hate to have to sand them, because they'd have to be off the bike, and with tires off, and likely have to be done with several different grits, then polished. I'd consider a set of spokes before I'd do all of that.

At first, it looked like clear coat deterioration, but I don't think these wheels are clear coated. I'm getting the expected black residue when polishing.

Any thoughts or ideas on getting these shined up would be appreciated.

[bustert]

simplest thing is to fine media blast them and have them powder coated. this will also allow color change if you wanted.
i will throw this out, powder coat is tough but you need to be careful when changing tires. repair can be done but requires baking them again. i hated the cast look on my 01 sport so i blasted the front and then primed and painted with wheel paint so it is an easier repair, likely on the machine. the rear will get done on the next tire change.

[Andy56]

The wheels on the T are an uncoated alloy. Does this stuff corrode or just get the white worm when clear coated as happens to diamond cut car wheels?
This the front on my T. They just required a going over with Autosol original and then a finer metal polish followed by a wax coating to seal them.

[RedPearl1200]

Thanks folks.

@bustert, I'm most likely not going to go to the trouble to re-finish the wheels. I'd buy chrome spokes first.

@Andy, I have not heard of or used Autosol. Those wheels look good. Were they corroded any before you used the Autosol? It would be great to find a polish that will take the light corrosion off without having to sand or use steel wool. Then I could put the mirror shine on with the Mother's.

[Andy56]

They were not corroded and I am perplexed that yours are. The alloy may possibly get a certain amount of oxidation but it shouldn't be hard to remove.

I have also polished fork sliders after removing the clear coat. Even after neglecting them for some time they came up shiny again and no stubborn marks like your wheels.

Solvol Autosol for alloy is quite abrasive but not like sand paper.

http://www.autosol.com/product_p/1000.htm

[koolbreeze]

Almost looks like hard water stains. Try a little white vinegar on a cloth and see if it takes any of the white stuff off.

I have used buffing wheels along with mothers in my cordless drill with good success for polishing my rims.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RedPearl1200]

Thanks folks. I ordered the Autosol. I found it packaged up with some of those little buffing wheels, so, it should be here in a couple of days. I'll try the vinegar too. Will update later.