Dany6

I have a bike that i haven't used for a longer time,and now i see that the rim braking surface has rusted.
Are these for trash and time to get new wheel,or it's nothing "serious" and is there's a way to clean it?
CLICK HERE

shelbyfv

That doesn't look promising. You could try sanding a section. See how much work it is and how much rim thickness is left. Would be a judgement.

dedhed

I'd replace the wheel just because the rim is steel, rusty or not.

Andrew R Stewart 

Agreed that sanding down the rust will improve things. How much and whether it's enough to make the OP happy is yet to be discovered. But as dedhed mentioned the rims being steel are reason enough for me to replace them with Al alloy. Remember that the rest of those steel wheels are equally old, weathered and worn: besides the rims are lacking the tire bead hook (which high pressure tires are designed around). Andy

CargoDane

It looks like mere surface rust to me. That said, I'd get a new rim made from modern materials unless I wanted to keep it as stock and old as possible. I very much doubt it is anything more than surface rust, though (from the picture).

Andrew R Stewart 

The lighter brown areas are likely surface rust only. But the darker brown and the nearly black spots are indications of deep rust. Andy

HillRider

As a side note to the above recommendations to replace those wheels (with which I certainly agree), consider replacing the tires also. They don't look a lot better than the rims and have to be equally weathered.

Thomas15

Rust never sleeps. Remove, fine, it but it will be back.

HillRider

That's true but with proper care you can keep it comatose for a long time.

sch

OTOH the rough surface, even after sanding and passivation with a phosphate anti-rust prep will obviate the main other
problem with steel rims: zero braking when wet. But brake pads won't last long.
However the point about the rims not being hook bead is significant,
finding tires for such is not easy, unless OP is in 2-3d world country. A look at the photo almost looks like it is of the
tire after removal from the rim, with rust on the part that is inside the rim (?).

Iride01 

If this is a bike you are just going to use a few times then put away for storage again, just knock the rust off.

Even if you think you are going to start riding regularly, just knock the rust off. Wire brush, steel wool, sandpaper or what ever it takes.

Then in a few months if you find you are still riding the bike, evaluate if this is the bike you still want to continue to ride. If not, get another bike. Trash, or give away this bike. If you do want to keep and ride it, then consider new wheels.

1saxman

Ride it. The brakes will be really grabby at first so be careful with them.

sweeks

A rust remover such as "Naval Jelly" (phosphoric acid gel) would be easier than sanding. Once clean, a few (or a few dozen) stops would bring the rim into reasonable shape.
However, you will get better braking performance with an aluminum rim.

I have an old 10-speed which originally had steel rims. Years ago, I replaced the front with an aluminum rim, so the bike has acceptable stopping power. The rear brake is not very good, but with a good front brake it's OK; the rear wheel will skid under *very* hard braking, but this is not needed the way I use this bike.

pdlamb

Wow. I remember stopping with wet steel rims. Or rather, trying to stop with wet steel rims.

Although I agree with the recommendation to replace the wheel, I have to wonder: would the rust make braking acceptable when wet?

sweeks

Hahaha... probably until the rust wore away. Think of the mess on the tires!