Is it possible to make the chrome on a neglected rear wheel shine again?

[No H2O]

I typically wash/wax/shine the bike weekly.
Mainly due to temperatures out here in the DC area I haven't had a chance to clean my bike in several weeks.
All the other components spring back to life, except the wheels, mainly the rear wheel.
Now granted it was pretty dirty so I used the home depot sprayer and sprayed it down with a Dawn detergent mixture.
The I used a separate home depot sprayer to spray it down with warm water.
Then I applied mothers chrome polish and let it sit for 30 minutes until hazy as instructed.
It came back to roughly the shine-level of polished aluminum but not the bright reflective chrome that it used to.
Is my rear wheel beyond the point of revival or do I need to go harsher with the cleaning such as brake cleaner or oven cleaner?

 

[SB03chopper]

Are you sure it is chrome? As Dogs did not come with chrome wheels, unless you had them done, and then they sometimes peel and pit.

 

[No H2O]

yeah they shined like chrome all summer and fall, i just let things slip the last few weeks

 

[SB03chopper]

I would put a magnet to them and see if it sticks.

 

[Sven]

I told you so... being my disclaimer. Never tried it, just mixing it up some. What if my 3 items were:
1. Vinegar. This is my 5% acid cutter.
2. Paper towel. This is how I hold the acid in the fibers.
3. Tin foil. This is my sander/buffer/surface shaver.

Still thinking this out so I'd pin hole the foil some. Wad up the soaking paper towel in the tin foil. The more I squeeze out the acid, the more I want a liquid surface between foil and wheel. First, I'd find the worse place and try cutting the finish wet style. Experimental size would be half a pinkie in size to test with.

If it didn't work.....

 

[No H2O]

I told you so... being my disclaimer. Never tried it, just mixing it up some. What if my 3 items were:
1. Vinegar. This is my 5% acid cutter.
2. Paper towel. This is how I hold the acid in the fibers.
3. Tin foil. This is my sander/buffer/surface shaver.

Still thinking this out so I'd pin hole the foil some. Wad up the soaking paper towel in the tin foil. The more I squeeze out the acid, the more I want a liquid surface between foil and wheel. First, I'd find the worse place and try cutting the finish wet style. Experimental size would be half a pinkie in size to test with.

If it didn't work.....

I never use any kind of metal on chrome.
In my experience even the finest grade steel wool can dull the chrome finish

 

[Sven]

 

[No H2O]

wow, ok well the proof is in the pudding so I guess I'm a believer now.
going to try it, I don't have any rust so it should work on the dullness.

 

[Mr. Wright]

Yeah if they really are chrome, Sven's trick really works. You can also use Coca-Cola to clean it with the aluminum foil. Then clean all that off with WD-40 and a rag.

 

[No H2O]

You can also use Coca-Cola

regular or diet?

 

[Tim]

Aluminum foil works wonders, even though it sounds like it wouldn't.

But be sure your wheels are actually chromed. Odds are they are highly polished aluminum and have become dull. Chrome just doesn't dull overnight.

 

[Mr. Wright]

regular or diet?

Regular. And warm.

 

[Mr. Wright]

The fastest way to find out if the are aluminum or chrome, is to rub it with aluminum polish. If the rag turns black, it is aluminum.

 

[jsousa515]

Are you sure it is chrome? As Dogs did not come with chrome wheels, unless you had them done, and then they sometimes peel and pit.

Big dog wolfs have chrome wheels


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[1 B.M.F.]

I use this stuff called Master Formula very little rubbing the more you use it the better it does lol

 

[jsousa515]

I use this stuff called Master Formula very little rubbing the more you use it the better it does lol

Thanks just ordered on eBay with the sealer


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[1 B.M.F.]

This stuff made my oxidation on triple trees and fender struts really shine and trust me I’m not the polishing type but it did so good I went and did my whole bike just haven’t figured out how to do fins on engine

 

[No H2O]

I use this stuff called Master Formula very little rubbing the more you use it the better it does lol

Bought Master formula polisher and sealer kit (two separate bottles). $40, and you don't get that much of it so it's expensive.
Finally had a chance to tackle that rear wheel yesterday and it works much better than mothers chrome polish.
The side of the wheel closest to the viewer is the polished side, the farther side is unpolished. The picture doesn't really show the difference as much though

 

[Brent Herridge]

Mother's Billet polish seems to be the norm here.

So you've used it before ?

Was it chrome or billet polish you're comparing to ?

 

[No H2O]

I used this stuff that's only like $6/tube, liquid grey. Wouldn't buy it again.