chrome hub caps

[C-85 726]

Hi R/S members,

I have two W/H's and one pair of front chrome hub caps which have rusted over the years. I knew they would rust as I don't think the initial chroming was done very well. I had been waxing the caps, but they still rusted and I'd like to get them back to shinny again and was wondering if you folks have dealt with this.

C85

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[ricksrj58 273]

i have had good luck using never dull,comes in a silver can with a pop off lid. walmart,parts stores ect will have it. will take some elbow grease.

[porkchop 1]

:ychain: I have had good luck with fine steel wool and turtle wax or any car wax.

[W9JAB 156]

I would say your passed the point of no return

on this that need to be polished out and rechromed.

:ychain:

[Zeek 2,286]

was wondering if you folks have dealt with this.

I have found this works wonders when used as directed with 0000 steel wools and a red shop rag. It can be used on anything, not just aluminum.

Gord's Aluminum Polish

[Save Old Iron 1,568]

red rust = oxidized base metal - not chrome

if you start polishing this piece, your just polishing the steel underneath the chrome.

[Zeek 2,286]

red rust = oxidized base metal - not chrome

if you start polishing this piece, your just polishing the steel underneath the chrome.

I agree. Although what I recommend will dress it up a bit, I think the chrome plating is gonna need a redo.

[massey 119]

Send them out and get them redone.

[C-85 726]

Hi members with great advice and suggestions!

Does anyone have a recommendation on who does a good rechroming job and if so I wonder what the cost of this would be?

C-85

[Zeek 2,286]

Hi members with great advice and suggestions!

Does anyone have a recommendation on who does a good rechroming job and if so I wonder what the cost of this would be?

C-85

I have used this place before because the are close to me. It took several weeks to get a chrome back rest for a Harley done because they do runs of certain types of plating at different times.

B&B Chrome Plating

Not sure about price. Depends on amount of prep required. Mine was a 36" tall backrest of fresh steel, but was a little detailed =$150

[C-85 726]

Hi Tom,

Thanks I'll give those folks a try.

C-85

Dennis

[stoneman 10]

i got 4 caps that are now on my C-81. they were twice as bad as yours . . . no sign of chrome anywhere. i gave the guy 10 bucks for them.

across the street from me they make all kinds of cleaning products, mostly for automotive applications. i took them over and my buddy dropped them into a bucket of hydrochloric acid for maybe 10 minutes. i took them out 1 at a time and used a bristle brush on them.

i was totally amazed at the results. took them back to my shop and polished them up, and put 'em on and they look great.

i doubt if you'll find hydrochloric acid for sale anywhere, but you may find that one of your local auto detail shops has it.

it works great on rusty old parts too. just wet down the part, or the whole tractor first, brush it over with the acid and then rinse it.

i may be able to get them to ship this stuff out so if anyone is interested in it . . . let me know and i'll get prices.

jdog got 5 gallons of it but i'm not sure if he's used it yet.

[Zeek 2,286]

Hi members with great advice and suggestions!

Does anyone have a recommendation on who does a good rechroming job and if so I wonder what the cost of this would be?

C-85

Before you spend a lot of money, you may want to try this first.

Electrolysis Rust Removal

You may get results similar to what stoneman got.

Definitely worth a try for the money.

[dirtflirt2 0]

before you go to recroming them try using regular vinegar , i got set rusty set of hub caps just like yours off ebay last week and used a blue paper shop towel and soaked it real good then laid it on for 1-hour or so, still took some elbow grease but it turned the rust loose with out scratching it up like with steel wool.. finished it up with some mother's polish and they all turned out great!!

[Kelly 1,030]

As far as the new style hub caps like the ones shown, you might be better off buying new ones on ebay, about $125 all 4 chroming will cost more I'm sure.

[squonk 42,568]

Mine weren't that far gone, but after some red rouge on a buffing wheel then some never dull they came out pretty good.