cleaning of rims

The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?

On Wed, 9 Jun 2021 05:28:16 +0000 (UTC), Ralph Barone
wrote:

The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?

The braking area on the rims should be clean and dry

I would also consider cleaning the brake pads, to the extent of
perhaps refacing them (carefully) with sandpaper as the pads can
become coated with whatever until they provide little braking
friction.

Also see Sheldon Brown's site for all sort of information about
bicycles and bicycle problems.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/

For moving pictures see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfeizkf57bA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiBwia-ru3k
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 7:28:20 AM UTC+2, Ralph Barone wrote:
The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?


I always clean the brake surfaces of the rims with isopropanol after a bike wash or a rainy ride. After this the brake surfaces are as good as it gets.

Lou

On 09/06/2021 06:28, Ralph Barone wrote:
The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?


I mainly use hot soapy water, I only use white spirit if there is a
serious problem. For a serious problem, Maybe a toothbrush and white
spirt, followed by hot soapy water, followed by a rinse with the hose

However where I live the rain and normal braking keeps the rims
relatively clean.

Replacing the brake blocks can make a big difference. Brand of brake
blocks makes a big difference.

On 6/8/2021 10:28 PM, Ralph Barone wrote:
The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?

You could use some polishing paper, which is typically 3000 grit
sandpaper and is used to polish clear coat finishes. But personally I
think mineral spirits/isopropyl alcohol/kerosene, etc., is sufficient.

On 6/9/2021 12:28 AM, Ralph Barone wrote:
The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?


Try brake cleaner. Also, open the brake and look at your
pads, they're likely contaminated. Clean those and if
they're deeply gouged pass a file or emery across the surface.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

I agree with Andrew: a stronger solvent than mineral spirits or alcohol works much better. Mineral spirits leave a residue. I use either lacquer thinner or automotive pre-paint degreaser, which works the best, IMHO, because it is specially formulated for this. But don't get the lacquer thinner on the sidewalls of your tires; it might do something bad to them; not sure.

On 6/9/2021 7:52 AM, William Crowell wrote:
I agree with Andrew: a stronger solvent than mineral spirits or alcohol works much better. Mineral spirits leave a residue. I use either lacquer thinner or automotive pre-paint degreaser, which works the best, IMHO, because it is specially formulated for this. But don't get the lacquer thinner on the sidewalls of your tires; it might do something bad to them; not sure.


Yes, that's right. But brake cleaner is dirt cheap,
available anywhere and doesn't have any big issues with your
tire.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

AMuzi wrote:
On 6/9/2021 12:28 AM, Ralph Barone wrote:
The rear canti brakes on my touring bike were being less effective than
before (I was guessing that when I waxed my chain, some stray wax flakes
got onto the rear wheel brake track), so I spent a half hour cleaning my
rims.

1) Is there a best way to do this? I just spun the wheel while I wiped the
brake track with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits.

2) Do they ever actually come clean? I was at it for a half hour and the
paper towel was still turning black where I was wiping the rim (although
possibly a more silvery black). And does it really matter, or is it just
good enough to take off any chunky bits and grease stains?


Try brake cleaner. Also, open the brake and look at your
pads, they're likely contaminated. Clean those and if
they're deeply gouged pass a file or emery across the surface.


Perhaps I’ll move up to brake cleaner or acetone if last night’s scrub fest
hasn’t helped. Do you ever manage to get the rims to the state where
nothing more comes off, or do they just get asymptotically closer to
actually being clean?

On 6/9/2021 8:52 AM, William Crowell wrote:
I agree with Andrew: a stronger solvent than mineral spirits or alcohol works much better. Mineral spirits leave a residue. I use either lacquer thinner or automotive pre-paint degreaser, which works the best, IMHO, because it is specially formulated for this. But don't get the lacquer thinner on the sidewalls of your tires; it might do something bad to them; not sure.


I've never tried brake cleaner for cleaning braking surfaces. I should
have thought of that.

But I often use acetone when I want a solvent that cuts most anything.

--
- Frank Krygowski