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 > Cleaning Aluminum Wheels

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kg1d dx

Columbia Connecticut USA

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Posted: 06/26/08 06:44pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The wheels on my coach are aluminum and they are dull. I tried cleaning them as per manufacturers instructions (soap & water) but that did nothing. I tried to clean them with McGuires wheel cleaner still no results. Any ideas? They are Alcoa wheels.


2007 Sportscoach Elite QS40

VaNole

Virginia Beach

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Posted: 06/26/08 06:56pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I found this stuff on the web called "Bling Masters" and it worked for me. A little bit goes along ways.

V/R
Jeff


Very Respectfully,
Jeff

S*M*A*R*T 12508

brobox

Sunny SW. Florida

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Posted: 06/26/08 07:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

This will make your job simple. Mothers Power Ball available at Wal-Mart, the aluminum polish to go with it is on the same shelf in a red bottle.

Grab a cold one and make your polishing job simple.


Chuck
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02 Jeep Liberty Toad

kix

Racy Point, Florida USA

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Posted: 06/26/08 07:41pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

There are 2 different size Power Balls.......get both for an easy "shine up".


KIX
'02 Winnebago Ultimate Advantage
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CarlGeo

Central San Joaquin Valley, CA

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Posted: 06/26/08 07:42pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Do your wheels have the clear coating? If so, the only way to really make them shine is to remove the coating, and polish the aluminum. Removing the coating is quite a job,but can be done. Afterwards the aluminum will need to be polished with a good polish every six months or so. Probably the quickest way to determine if you have the coating is try to polish the wheel, and if it doesnt shine up quickly, they are coated. I removed the clear coating from mine, and it probably took about an hour for each wheel. However, when they are polished, they really look great!

ohdh

Schnecksville, PA

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Posted: 06/26/08 09:12pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

All info above is good EXCEPT for CarlGeo. His method will work in California but not on the east coast as I see you are in CT. Since we have a lot of acid rain and road salts used in the winter, our aluminum wheels without the clear coating will oxidize, haze in a matter of a few days after getting that first rain shower. A quick use of the Mother's is a good idea along with regular waxing of your wheels. I use Eagle One's Was-As-You-Dry since it is a spray on wipe off easy to use product. One possibility is that the clear coat on your wheels has already been stripped off. And if you are wondering, I own a wheel repair company, so I know of where I speak.

riggarob

Farmington, NH

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Posted: 06/26/08 09:59pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

brobox wrote:

This will make your job simple. Mothers Power Ball available at Wal-Mart, the aluminum polish to go with it is on the same shelf in a red bottle.

Grab a cold one and make your polishing job simple.



I don't know about "simple". My 1st time polishing the wheels, w/ the Power balls, it took about 3 hours each wheel!! And mind you they didn't look that bad (22.5 Alcohas, w/ 5000 miles on them). But, after I was finished it only took about a 1/2 hour every month or so, to get them back up. When we traded the rig in May, the dealer thought I'd had them chromed !! Liked anything else, if it's worth having, it's a pain in the a** ! Robbie


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Beware of those who point their finger the LOUDEST !

BigSkyBob

Western Montana

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Posted: 06/26/08 10:11pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Mother's small Power Ball and Mother's aluminum polish worked wonders for my wheels. I was told by the techs at the factory service center the new Alcoa aluminum wheels are not clear coated now. I did four 22.5" wheels to a brilliant luster in 1.5 hours. I was impressed. The hardest part was cleaning the power ball afterwards. So I cut the top out of a gallon jug to the size of the ball, filled the jug half full of hot soapy water and spun the ball in this solution for 5 minutes with my cordless drill; job done.

riggarob

Farmington, NH

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Posted: 06/26/08 10:48pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

BigSkyBob wrote:

Mother's small Power Ball and Mother's aluminum polish worked wonders for my wheels. I was told by the techs at the factory service center the new Alcoa aluminum wheels are not clear coated now. I did four 22.5" wheels to a brilliant luster in 1.5 hours. I was impressed. The hardest part was cleaning the power ball afterwards. So I cut the top out of a gallon jug to the size of the ball, filled the jug half full of hot soapy water and spun the ball in this solution for 5 minutes with my cordless drill; job done.


I believe you are wrong about the CC. I wanted that option, but the coach I wanted didn't have it. The rig next to it did, but I didn't like the coach. Anyway, they put a label on the wheels so you don't use abrasives on them. Actually, you use a plastic polish on the CC wheels. L8R, Robbie

D.R.Bain

Michigan

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Posted: 06/26/08 10:55pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

This reminds me of getting the clear coat off the brass buckle in the service only a much bigger project.


Dan, 2007 Damon Daybreak 3270


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