Fatboy wheels Chrome or Polished?
Debrantley
wheels polished or chromed. Which does everyone prefer? I have heard that
chrome will eventually chip and polished is hard to take care of. Also will a
150 series tire fit on the rear ok without any modifications?
Thanks!
Daren
Roach
"Debrantley" <debra...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030620221508...@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I am going to replace my tires on my 2001 fatboy and thought about having my
> wheels polished or chromed. Which does everyone prefer?
Everyone prefers chrome.
--
Roach - aka "Shut Up Bill"
PhillyHoodlumｩ#2, BS#196, DOF#yes MANS, SENS
'98FXDirty "DeerSlinger"
"Peace Out!", In Memory of Hoodlumｩ#20
Greybeard
"Roach" <Ro...@hoodlums.org> wrote in message
news:vzPIa.57604$Io.54...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
>
> "Debrantley" <debra...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20030620221508...@mb-m22.aol.com...
> > I am going to replace my tires on my 2001 fatboy and thought about
having my
> > wheels polished or chromed. Which does everyone prefer?
>
The quality of chrome plating can vary all over the place, but generally,
chrome has a much better chance of adhering longer term to cast or forged
spoke wheels because it has smaller shapes it can "wrap around." That's fine
for the spokes (or features that serve as "spokes"), but not much of a
consolation prize because the peel usually starts at the edge of the rim,
anyway. Chrome uses a nickel underplate and it adheres much better to
ferrous substrates. When plating aluminum, it pretty pricey because of the
additional underplating before they can nickel plate prior to chrome
plating.
Because of the rough texture running from the hub, outward to the cast-in
holes at the outer periphery, Fat Boy wheels must first go through a
pre-plate sanding and polish, presuming you want a chrome-like luster as
opposed to a bumpy sand-cast finish. The rather large areas having this
rough texture make the Fat Boy wheel one of the most labor intensive,
difficult, and therefore costly wheels to polish, much less pre-polish, then
plate. Remember, unlike car wheels, there's two sides and that's a heck of a
lot of area to sand and polish before plating. As an example, if you check
the H-D site, you'll find they now offer Fat Boy wheels in chrome plate, but
at a price tag of $999.00 each. My shop polishes Fat Boy, V-Rod, and Deuce
rears, primaries, cam covers, and gobs of other H-D parts, but we're not a
plating shop. We do aluminum alloy Harley part polishing only.
As to maintenance of bare aluminum, there are other ways you can seal to
avoid oxidation: (1) baked-on clearcoat, which will last about the same
length of time as chrome, sometimes less or (2) leave them bare and use a
high-penetrant, hydrocarbon sealer having a clear paraffin base. The latter
is now available in a spray aerosol and is the same/similar stuff that keeps
commercial aircraft so bright and shiny (depending on the carrier), except
they use the bulk form that's mist-applied using a long wand from a
hydraulic lift. It's made by Boeing, the airplane folks and is called
"Boeshield T-9." Do a search on the name and you'll find it. The sealer
isn't particularly expensive stuff, but must be reapplied about every 6-9
months, depending on coastal vs inland exposure. Application is a mere wipe
on/wipe off about like you would with WD-40 and only takes seconds to apply
or reapply. Ordinary mineral spirits (turpentine) is its solvent.
The bottom line is chrome plate over an aluminum alloy, solid disc Fat Boy
wheel, does indeed have a tough time staying on long-term without eventually
peeling. "Eventually" varies with the plater. On the other hand, you do have
to mess with bare aluminum to some degree, even if using a sealer. Ping me
and I'll fire back my outfit's URL if you want to see some examples of Fat
Boy and V-Rod wheels we've polish to a mirror luster. The choice is
"whatever floats your boat," but this might help you decide. Of course,
remove "no spam" to reply.
Greybeard
popspolishing(nospam)@attbi.com
Roach
"Greybeard" <popspo...@nospamattbi.com> asked:
> > > I am going to replace my tires on my 2001 fatboy and thought about
> having my
> > > wheels polished or chromed. Which does everyone prefer?
Hey Greybeard, I'm not sure which everyone prefers. Maybe you should
ask somebody who knows what they're talking about. I like chrome
wheels myself.
Jinks
The Fatboy rear I had chrome plated in '92 still looks good
today, & I haven't had to re-polish it............
Jinks ('86fxrs, '93fxrs-c)
#64
Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"
wallster
"Jinks" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:a9k8fvkgpq2emskbk...@4ax.com...
I like when someone takes the stock ones and machines out a pattern. It's
like using them as slugs, my two cents
walt
'91 FXR
Greybeard
You're responding to the wrong dude. The quote you included above is
Daren's, not mine. I prefer chrome myself, but it still has to be polished
before plating. That's what we do. If you live in or frequent a coastal
area, chrome plate is short-lived unless you keep it sealed. Among others,
that's the reason commercial tractors and trailers use sealed, bare
aluminum. Here are the chromed Fat Boy wheels H-D now offers:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448764312&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302289703&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302289703&bmUID=1056249214910&bmLocale=en_US
Greybeard
popspolishing(nospam)@attbi.com
Roach
"Greybeard" <popspo...@nospamattbi.com> wrote in message
news:AH8Ja.1014484$OV.1113854@rwcrnsc54...
>
> "Roach" <Ro...@hoodlums.org> wrote in message
> news:kLUIa.57991$Io.54...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> >
> > "Greybeard" <popspo...@nospamattbi.com> asked:
> >
> > > > > I am going to replace my tires on my 2001 fatboy and thought about
> > > having my
> > > > > wheels polished or chromed. Which does everyone prefer?
> >
> > Hey Greybeard, I'm not sure which everyone prefers. Maybe you should
> > ask somebody who knows what they're talking about. I like chrome
> > wheels myself.
> >
>
> You're responding to the wrong dude.
So are you. I have a Super Glide.
Roach
Greybeard
"wallster" <sev...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:KqYIa.4398$Hw.35...@news2.news.adelphia.net...
>
>
> I like when someone takes the stock ones and machines out a pattern. It's
> like using them as slugs, my two cents
> walt
> '91 FXR
>
deceiving. This might raise an eyebrow and have a bunch of folks out in
their garages measuring wheels, but Fat Boy wheels aren't but about
.125-inches thick in the flat area between the hub and cast-in holes at the
periphery. Machining out much of a pattern could leave a pretty flimsy wheel
that'd scare the crap out of me. I initially ran into this when setting up
jigs for pre-polish spin-sanding to remove the sand-cast texture in order to
get to a polishable surface. Someone not knowing this could get carried away
and spin-sand off as much as .010-inch from each side and wind up with a
wheel that's only about .105-inches thick in that area.
Greybeard
popspolishing(nospam)@attbi.com
Greybeard
>
> > > Hey Greybeard, I'm not sure which everyone prefers. Maybe you should
> > > ask somebody who knows what they're talking about. I like chrome
> > > wheels myself.
> > >
> >
> > You're responding to the wrong dude.
>
> So are you. I have a Super Glide.
>
> Roach
>
Nupe...I was responding to your mis-directed post.
Greybeard
Roach
So was I.
roach
>
>
>
Greybeard
>
> "Greybeard" <popspo...@nospamattbi.com> wrote in message
> news:k6kJa.750881$Si4.8...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
> >
forged, chrome spokes on that dude.
Greybeard
Tom Dunne
(Debrantley) wrote:
I just did this to mine (also an '01 FB) and I had the outer edges and the
center hub on the front polished up. I had thought about getting the chrome ones
but that looked like too much chrome in one spot, plus the extra cash. Got the
pair of mine done for $300 exchange. Polished isn't hard to take care of -
reminds me of my old sporty wheels, and they look good (to me). I can put a pic
up in a.b.p.m.h if you wanted to see.
Tom
kking
tire kit is required to fit a 150 on previous years. these kits are $489.95
at you HD dealer
( http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845
524442031911&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302289707&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2
534374302289707&bmUID=1056403746297&bmLocale=en_US )). I can perform
modifications and supply you with a spacer that will allow a 150 to fit
under your fender (same as harley includes in their kit). I only charge $250
plus shipping for the machine work and spacer. all you have to do is send
your rear brake caliper. another option you may consider, custom machined
wheels I have in stock, ready to ship. I attached a couple pics. these
wheels are awesome! they only cost $695 plus shipping for a set of brand new
pull-offs (no miles!). let me know if your interested.
thanks!
Kevin King, Tooling Technologies
"Greybeard" <popspo...@nospamattbi.com> wrote in message
news:EQjJa.103524$YZ2.269651@rwcrnsc53...
Greybeard
"Tom Dunne" <tdu...@notlisted.com> wrote in message
news:uu1efvo5lhg96f3fe...@4ax.com...
You're right...that's an acre of chrome-look in one spot. Seems to look
more appropriate on a V-Rod that's been polished from tip to stern
everywhere else, anyway. I was in the Allen, TX H-D dealership some time ago
and saw a new Fat Boy on the floor having wheels that had the rough, as-cast
finish polished, but it had not been sanded smooth, first...just polished
as-is. Though "bumpy" and shiny, it seems like brake dust would tend to come
off in a swipe rather than get embedded in the stock, rough texture. As to
too much "chrome" in one spot, here are some examples:
http://www.supremesite.com/polishingaluminum/
Greybeard
jefpost...@gmail.com
Jinks
wrote:
>I have stock black wheels I would like to trade for chrome wheels and also I would like to buy or trade my stock black tires for white wall tires
a local shop send it off to be chrome plated. I caught a lot of shit
about spendin' too much, & "the chrome won't last", "it'll crack off a
wheel", etc. etc. 'Bout two weeks later I got a call from the shop to
"get here quick!" "you wheel is here & several guys want us to sell
it to them & order you another one!" They thought I was crazy till
they saw it! I put it on an FXR & it was still on there when I sold
the bike last year. Still looked great!
Butt, it won't look as good with a white wall..............
Jinks ('07 FLTR)