Clear coat hubs?

[68Cb77]

On my Cb77 resto, I never clear coated the hubs....I've started a Cb750K0 resto, and am considering clear coating the hubs on this one. The hubs on the Superhawk already look not as good as 2 years ago, and it is SO hard to polish inside the spokes. Who here has clear coated the hubs?, and are they happy doing that? Just kind of a poll.....Thanks, John

[Vince Lupo]

The only experience I've had with clear coat on alloy is with the Magura levers on my SuperHawk. What can happen is if you polish them enough, eventually the clear coat will start to turn yellow and flake, and then it really looks like crap. I'd suggest just polishing them as well as you can with a buffing wheel, and just keeping them waxed as best you can. Clear coat does not guarantee an everlasting shine (at least that's been my experience).

Invest in many tins of Wizards, perhaps???

[Spargett]

I've heard good things about a product called Zoopseal. It's almost $100, but keeps your polish looking new for 2-3 years if done right. Looking to try some myself.

[G-Man]

Generally I only lacquer (clear coat) the shiny parts of the hub. I bead blast the finned part between the spokes and leave that uncovered. I then 'polish' the shiny part of the hub and the brake plate with a 'satin finish' mop in my bench polisher. This wheel is made like a pan scrubber in that it is plastic impregnated with fine grit.

I clean thoroughly than lacquer onto that surface with 2-3 coats of lacquer intended for use with alloy car wheels. This gives a finish similar to the stock honda finish where the hubs were 'polished' quite coarsly. The satin finish gives something for the clear coat to adhere to and is quite durable.

G

[68Cb77]

Thanks guys, John.

[DCON]

i spent way too much time polishing my hubs to a mirror finish, aside from a few deep scratches here and there they looked beautiful.
i decided to clear them and was very unhappy with the loss of luster.
too lazy to start over so they will work.
you cant beat the shine of bare polished aluminum.

[e3steve]

...
you cant beat the shine of bare polished aluminum.

I must agree with that comment but (there's always a 'but') that mirror shine can be too much, IMHO. I like Graham's idea of the satin finish to 'key' the surface for the lacquer, and the finish should be pretty close to original with that lovely dull lustre, only longer lasting.

I've barged in here because, like John, I'm in line for wheel-building torture and I really want to get the hubs right first time.

Incidentally, it's been written here on the forum before that cleaning polished alu with acetone, prior to lacquering, provides a good substrate.