Boyntonstu
10 kW
My bike has always been in the garage, yet the spokes are oxidyzing.
Is there a solution?
Is there a solution?
How to protect spokes from corrosion?
- Thread starter Boyntonstu
- Start date
motomech
10 MW
Clean w/ extra fine (OO) steel wool and apply carnauba wax.
Or replace w/ stainless steel spokes.
Or replace w/ stainless steel spokes.
Drunkskunk
100 GW
Orange, green, or white oxidation? Different colors can mean different things. Knowing what the cause is can lead to a solution.
Orange is the oxidation of iron. A.K.A. "Rust". Good spokes are made of stainless steel, and won't rust. (unless they are good painted spokes, since paint doesn't adhere to stainless well) So rust on a silver spoke means it's crap. best to replace them.
Green is the color of oxidation from the brass nipple. the nipples would have to get wet and stay wet for a long time before this would be noticeable as anything more than a light tarnish on the nipple. Avoid this by getting your wheel someplace dry after it gets wet. A humid shed or garage isn't going to work.
White can mean 2 things, either Aluminum nipples getting very wet, or Galvanic corrosion between the brass nipples and the aluminum rim because they got wet and stayed wet. In both cases, salt and/or acidic chemicals can make this much worse. Fertilizers and ice melting compounds will eat wheels alive. If you're getting the wheel exposed to chemicals, wash them off as soon as possible each time, then store the bike someplace dry. Not just out of the rain, but out of the humidity, too.
With both green and white corrosion, you can improve things some by scrubbing off all signs of the corrosion, then spraying on a generous coating Camp Dry, Neverwet, RainX, or some similar water replant. This may work for painted spokes, too.
Orange is the oxidation of iron. A.K.A. "Rust". Good spokes are made of stainless steel, and won't rust. (unless they are good painted spokes, since paint doesn't adhere to stainless well) So rust on a silver spoke means it's crap. best to replace them.
Green is the color of oxidation from the brass nipple. the nipples would have to get wet and stay wet for a long time before this would be noticeable as anything more than a light tarnish on the nipple. Avoid this by getting your wheel someplace dry after it gets wet. A humid shed or garage isn't going to work.
White can mean 2 things, either Aluminum nipples getting very wet, or Galvanic corrosion between the brass nipples and the aluminum rim because they got wet and stayed wet. In both cases, salt and/or acidic chemicals can make this much worse. Fertilizers and ice melting compounds will eat wheels alive. If you're getting the wheel exposed to chemicals, wash them off as soon as possible each time, then store the bike someplace dry. Not just out of the rain, but out of the humidity, too.
With both green and white corrosion, you can improve things some by scrubbing off all signs of the corrosion, then spraying on a generous coating Camp Dry, Neverwet, RainX, or some similar water replant. This may work for painted spokes, too.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Drunkskunk said:
Thanks, the color is white.
I found a comment that recommended using candle wax.
Drunkskunk
100 GW
I missed that you're in Florida. Salt is murder on bikes.
Candle wax would work up north, but you're in Florida, and the melting point of candle wax (paraffin) is around 100 °F.
Candle wax would work up north, but you're in Florida, and the melting point of candle wax (paraffin) is around 100 °F.
Boyntonstu
10 kW
Drunkskunk said:
These are higher temp waxes (>200* F):
http://www.candlesandsupplies.net/Candle-Making/High-Meltpoint-Wax
