WARNING - DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!!

[K9Anniv]

Meguiar's "Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner", Item # G14024

DO NOT...I REPEAT...DO NOT let this stuff touch any of your billet aluminum, especially the engine!! Better yet..don't use this crap at all!

After riding home through an unexpected rain storm Sunday evening, I thought I'd get my new K9 cleaned up today and bought some of Meguiar's Chrome Wheel Cleaner - the spray-on, rinse-off stuff - as my wheels and many other items are chrome on this bike.

Well, being the idiot that I am, I thought - since there's a lot of chrome on the engine, why not spray it on there too and "rinse it off"...seems easy enough, right? WRONG!!! This stuff made the chrome look great, but major 'fubarred' the aluminum...AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Now I've got at least 40 hours of detailing with wadding material, aluminum polish, LOTS of Harley softcloths and microfiber towels...and that's just for the parts I can see!

I am sick about this (I only have 700 miles on this new bike), and laugh if you want...I realize my stupid mistake:loony: and am trying to forewarn others so they don't make this same mistake as I did.:bang: :nono:

That's it - now I'm going in the can to throw up (again!), then back out to the garage and keep polishing!

Believe me, if I could hit the "rewind" button back to this morning, it would be soap and water ONLY!!!

If anybody has any miracles up their sleeve, other than what I'm already doing, I'm all ears! Thanks!

 

[Old Hippy]

Meguiar's "Hot Rims® Chrome Wheel Cleaner", Item # G14024

DO NOT...I REPEAT...DO NOT let this stuff touch any of your billet aluminum, especially the engine!! Better yet..don't use this crap at all!

After riding home through an unexpected rain storm Sunday evening, I thought I'd get my new K9 cleaned up today and bought some of Meguiar's Chrome Wheel Cleaner - the spray-on, rinse-off stuff - as my wheels and many other items are chrome on this bike.

Well, being the idiot that I am, I thought - since there's a lot of chrome on the engine, why not spray it on there too and "rinse it off"...seems easy enough, right? WRONG!!! This stuff made the chrome look great, but major 'fubarred' the aluminum...AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Now I've got at least 40 hours of detailing with wadding material, aluminum polish, LOTS of Harley softcloths and microfiber towels...and that's just for the parts I can see!

I am sick about this (I only have 700 miles on this new bike), and laugh if you want...I realize my stupid mistake:loony: and am trying to forewarn others so they don't make this same mistake as I did.:bang: :nono:

That's it - now I'm going in the can to throw up (again!), then back out to the garage and keep polishing!

Believe me, if I could hit the "rewind" button back to this morning, it would be soap and water ONLY!!!

If anybody has any miracles up their sleeve, other than what I'm already doing, I'm all ears! Thanks!

 

[Mickeetwo]

Man that sucks. Thanks for the heads up. Wish I had some words of wisdom

 

[K9Anniv]

Time and elbow grease seem to be working, but man...avoid using this stuff!

As far as pictures, what's to see? The billet is dull, stained and spotted, but not pitted. I washed the "junk" off pretty fast..would hate to see what would have happened had it stayed on there any longer!!!

It's polishing out okay...just takes 'time and pressure'...:zzdisappointed:

 

[Finn]

I'd say if it's a chrome cleaner, and your chrome looks great, the stuff works great.

 

[scubaman15]

I have to ask ....... did the directions for warn of this impending doom?

 

[chopsteak]

I use diluted simple green on the engine,rims,brakes, and underneath the engine, when I wash my bike which is probably twice a year. I usually wipe it down with the clear ice. I love that Ice car wash and spray detailer. It work better than the bomb. Anyway sorry to hear about that. Sounds to me like it sat too long. I have had better luck with that stuf misting the bike, spray it and let it sit for about 5 seconds, otherwise it will etch.....

 

[K9Anniv]

I have to ask ....... did the directions for warn of this impending doom?

Not really...just said use on chrome, and it worked fine on the chrome wheels. If only I'd kept it away from the engine..:bang: It was my screw-up:zzdisappointed: anic2: ...now I know better, and so does eveyone reading this...which I why I posted as an FYI..

 

[bdmridgeback]

Yep, that sucks! FYI...

Don't use ANY... Wheel cleaner on your bike unless it is S100 Polished wheel cleaner. That works awesome and is the ONLY thing to use on polished aluminum.

Anything with a High PH will tear up aluminum!!! In otherwords... Acid!!!

 

[LARS]

ouch!!! that really blows,hope everything works out

 

[Baldielox]

Meguiars Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner contains Phosphoric acid and Hydroxyacetic acid. Any cleaners that use acid of any type will dull polished aluminum badly. try using Flitz with 0000 steel wool on the bad spots, and follow up with Flitz on a soft cloth.
If you have any problem areas, hit me up and send a pic and I'll be happy to help you out.

- B

 

[sinbad767]

Sorry to hear of your doom.
Today, I took my boys wakeboarding on my local lake. My buddy who was wearing my brand new sunglasses jumped in the lake with them on... Poof... $100 Gone. Then, an hour later I was emptying ice out of a soft cooler into the lake when I saw my iphone slip out one of the side pockets. Poof... $400 replacement cost.. no insurance! ahhh

Nobody is stupid proof!

 

[K9Anniv]

Meguiars Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner contains Phosphoric acid and Hydroxyacetic acid. Any cleaners that use acid of any type will dull polished aluminum badly. try using Flitz with 0000 steel wool on the bad spots, and follow up with Flitz on a soft cloth. If you have any problem areas, hit me up and send a pic and I'll be happy to help you out.

- B

Thanks. The only thing that's working well is Wizards Metal Polish (their wadding cloth in the metal can). The aluminum 'cream' polishes aren't bringing the shine back like the wadding material. I haven't tried any paste yet, like Flitz as you'd suggested.

Most of the "stains" seem to be coming off with the wadding material, so whatever chemical is in Wizards wadding seems to be the trick.

Fortunately there's more chrome (less aluminum) on this bike than was on my '05 Chopper, so my main concentration is on the engine fins and jugs.

It's just going to take a LOT of time, patience, perseverance, wadding material and softcloths/micro-fiber towels to bring it back the way it was, but I'm confident (hopeful) it will eventually happen with no permanent damage. Just soooo many 'nooks & crannies' to polish!!!

 

[Vegas]

Gotta love that....try to shine her up and dull it up. Sounds like something that would happen to me. That bottle should say not to be used on aluminum. I agree with the S100. It' made for bikes and safe for all finishes. I never wash mine with anything but detailer but I don't get caught in the rain either.

 

[barhopper]

Sorry to hear of your doom.
Today, I took my boys wakeboarding on my local lake. My buddy who was wearing my brand new sunglasses jumped in the lake with them on... Poof... $100 Gone. Then, an hour later I was emptying ice out of a soft cooler into the lake when I saw my iphone slip out one of the side pockets. Poof... $400 replacement cost.. no insurance! ahhh

Nobody is stupid proof!

I jumped into the Sea of Cortez with my nice expensive sunglasses on and came up with them gone. Dumb ass. :bang: :bang: I also 1 time put my cel phone on the bumper of my truck at home depot, loaded stuff in, drove off. Stopped a few miles down the road once I realized it, phone was gone. :bang: :bang: Dumb ass. Rented some jet ski's in cabo and I fucking hit my wife's ski, that cost me $400. :angry: Dumb ass.

 

[jeffbradford]

sorry about all the polishing that is about to happen, It happens to the best of us! Try to get some WHITE DIAMONDS POLISH it lusters up really good and cuts quick.

 

[BIKERDAD61]

Meguiars Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner contains Phosphoric acid and Hydroxyacetic acid. Any cleaners that use acid of any type will dull polished aluminum badly. try using Flitz with 0000 steel wool on the bad spots

- B

WTF??? Steel Wool to polish aluminum!!????
I don't think so, will create cross contamination and leave carbon deposits in the aluminum which in turn will rust!!
I would use the Scotch Brite red pads and Fitz maybe, then polish with a soft cloth. :2thumbs:

 

[LDO]

I use diluted simple green on the engine,rims,brakes, and underneath the engine

:2thumbs: :2thumbs: Me too. Works great!:2thumbs: :2thumbs:

Sorry about your bike K9...sux.

 

[RRRUFF]

Sorry to hear this! Remember grasshopper, wax on, wax off.:roll:

Seriously, thanks for sharing. Read them labels guys.

 

[chopsteak]

This thread could go on indefinitely.... I have done some dumd ass things myself.