Projects Magnesium 12 spokes - cleaning of dirt and oil - not polishing, not blasting

So I picked up these really nice 12 spoke Americans on the weekend. Before I get a lot of folks posting links to some of the great techs and older posts on here about restoring magnesium wheels (which I have read through) let me be clear that I just want to clean them up and get the grease out without damaging the magnesium or removing the patina.

Thanks for help


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And the pic!


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I would take them to the car wash and pressure wash them first. That will probably be the best way to see what you have.

 

Spray them with brake cleaner. It won't remove any of the corrosion, and the only color change will be the dirt that's gone.

 

Use a mild dish soap (Dawn), dry and follow up right away with Gibbs Brand.
If you aren't familiar with it, check out these links.......
http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/ (scroll down past the sales pitch, down about a third of the page)
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/about-gibbs-brand-penetrating-oil.137392/

 

I don't know about magnesium wheels. I have used spray Gunk on aluminum wheels to get tough brake dust off. It has worked well for me. Just don't do it on wheels that are still warm...it will stain them. Gene.

 

Don't use chemicals on mag! Gunk wheel cleaner will make them react! As will some chlorinated solvent brake cleaner.

Wash them with varsol and a plastic brush. I worked in a helicopter overhaul shop for six years. Mag is really reactive to even common chemicals.

 

Let your dog pee on them for 2 weeks they will be ready ! I ran mags for years , trying to keep them polished , caused me to get gray hair and then loose it !


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Over 4 decades, I've mostly used WD40 to maintain a cool shade of gray. Haven't noticed any detrimental effects, yet.

 

Hot water will turn them dark grey.....
We wash mag parts at work with dawn dish soap and cold water... Then rinse with cold water...

 

Thanks everyone “dawn” is the winner. I’ll post when they are clean.


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when I pick up mag wheels sometimes the patina does not match wheel to wheel or has stains. I glass bead them clean then let them age to perfection. wd-40 gives them a dark grey uniform look without any white corrosion. I prefer the look of polished mag. staying on top of them is key.

 

X 2 on Bowie's WD-40, once thy're clean. Keeps my spokes and centers the right shade of grey.

 

No personal experience, but consider soda blasting.

 

Heli parts are blasted with recycled plastic.

 

You might PM harryhotrod and see what he did, looks killer.

 

Sure does look the goods! Thanks for the tips everyone!


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Does anyone have the bearing numbers for these 15x3-1/2 to suit an early Ford spindle?


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call pete and jakes. they have the ford bearings in stock.

 

Numbers from my notes-
Early Ford/Timken
Inner cone B 1201/15118 Inner cup B1202/15250X
Outer cone B1216/09074 Outer cup B1217/09196

Be wary of bearings listed or advertised as replacement for Timken, they could be off-shore mediocre quality.

 

Great info and advice, thanks guys!


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Hi 345
As my front and rears were different colours with various stains etc etc, I media blasted all four (walnut shells) to get a uniform light grey, then used a product call ROCAL, it is a zinc based anti seize compound, wipe it on and rub it back off, they look a nice dark grey and the product stops oxidation when then get wet or damp........spent years trying to keep on top of them when polished.........never again
Bear claws got the same treatment

 

And "bear paws" too!

 

looks like he's got good taste to me (with extras too)

 

Your coupe looks great with the paws and 12 spokes Maneri
Could only find this photo of the paws on my roadster........must have been a while back as they were polished then.......

 

There is just something about polished magnesium. I swear at them everytime i have to clean them up. I swear by them when im done.

 

That bright white high light of magnesium is absolutely stunning. Pretty awesome too that the low maintenance approach can also be spectacular. I like the light duty bead blasting to even out the base tone. Will give that a crack I think


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Gibbs!

Pat

 

make sure its glass beading. there is a difference. sand or worse yet oxide will produce a very rough finish.