Rusty spokes

Hi

Just got a new, old, bike. Rusty spokes. How do I clean them up? Was
thinking of using Hammerite
but that could be a messy job.

S

 

How rusty?

Still some chrome with a little rust?
All chromes gone just rust left?

If the latter then DeRust works well to turn the rust into something more
stable that you can then spray silver.

However, if the spokes are *really rusty* I'd thnk twice about using the
bike.
Spokes can break (not often) but if the spokes are that rusty and the rims
are steel, then the spokes can pull through the rim (really bad news) or
rust inside the rim can tear the tube (not much fun either).

 

R-GS owners who want shiny spokes generally end up buying stainless steel
replacements. I just leave mine, it's a 7 year old bike, cruddy spokes suit
it.

 

<pats Guzzi that came with SS spokes as standard>

 

Wire brush onna drill and aluminium wheel spray paint. Rusty spokes are
actually an MoT fail.

 

more recent R-GS, 2002 onwards IIRC, come with SS

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

Not if the rust is coated in a nice layer of dirt & brake dust...