Dog urine on aluminum wheel - any way to fix this??
#1
Bar Ends Forever
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Dog urine on aluminum wheel - any way to fix this??
I left my fuji at my mom's house for about a year. Was in great condition when I dropped it off. Picked it up last night and its all out of whack. Rust all over, because apparently their dog was peeing on my bike regularly for the entire year. Now I was able to remove 95% of the rust, but the wheels are messed up big time.
In the pic you can see crystallized dog urine. I got most of that off with steel wool, but the finish under it is dark gray and rough (like on the right). Can I fix this at all?
In the pic you can see crystallized dog urine. I got most of that off with steel wool, but the finish under it is dark gray and rough (like on the right). Can I fix this at all?
#2
I'm the anecdote.
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The braking surface is etched beyond smooth braking, IMO. New wheel time, I'd say.
I had a cat that sprayed a steel tool box of mine several times decades ago. I still have the tool box, but the rust is there forever.
I had a cat that sprayed a steel tool box of mine several times decades ago. I still have the tool box, but the rust is there forever.
#3
Senior Member
Time for a new wheelset.
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nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
#4
Senior Member
Ride it. If the rims don't wear down to a reasonable braking surface, then start looking for a new wheel
#6
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First, go spend $12000 on a new Trek Emonda with SRAM Red and all the goodies.
2nd, get some WD40 and a brass brush and clean that corrosion off there.
then sell old bike to pay down new bike.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
2nd, get some WD40 and a brass brush and clean that corrosion off there.
then sell old bike to pay down new bike.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
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#7
working on my sandal tan
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#10
Passista
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I had a dog that had the annoying habit of peeing on my wheels, mostly the rear one. But I always rinsed them within 1hr, so no problems.
#11
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Urine contains ammonia, which is death on aluminum, steel, brass—most common metals—if left and not rinsed off promptly (~24-48 hours).
Feces is another matter. Slower but still corrosive.
I do NOT recommend riding it. Urine (regardless of species) is sufficiently corrosive over time to compromise the structural integrity of a wheel, especially if the tire loses enough pressure to allow it inside the rim. Compared to the cost of a new wheel, what is the cost of a hospital visit if the wheel fails catastrophically, especially in terms of riding time?
Yes, I'm pessimistic. I have a lot of experience as a materials scientist and a geologist. If the (your device/structure here) fails while you are on it, how much is it worth?
Feces is another matter. Slower but still corrosive.
I do NOT recommend riding it. Urine (regardless of species) is sufficiently corrosive over time to compromise the structural integrity of a wheel, especially if the tire loses enough pressure to allow it inside the rim. Compared to the cost of a new wheel, what is the cost of a hospital visit if the wheel fails catastrophically, especially in terms of riding time?
Yes, I'm pessimistic. I have a lot of experience as a materials scientist and a geologist. If the (your device/structure here) fails while you are on it, how much is it worth?
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#12
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oh come on, that's superficial. Clean it off with a scotchbrite pad, some WD40 and soapy water, will be fine.
I was on a ride once, down in the King's Canyon area, back country trail, like a 3 hour downhill run. Hot day.
Rider in front of me rode thru a pile of animal poop. Bear, horse, who knows what. Splattered all over his bike and all over me.
Was still a good ride. We splashed in the river at the end.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
I was on a ride once, down in the King's Canyon area, back country trail, like a 3 hour downhill run. Hot day.
Rider in front of me rode thru a pile of animal poop. Bear, horse, who knows what. Splattered all over his bike and all over me.
Was still a good ride. We splashed in the river at the end.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
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#15
Senior Member
Walter: "That wheel really tied the bike together, did it not?"
Donnie: "And this dog peed on it."
Donnie: "And this dog peed on it."
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Here's whatcha need ! Seen yesterday at a drug store. Just the thing. Order a 55 gal. drum from amazon
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
He
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
He
#17
Senior Member
I don't think carbon fiber wheels would have that problem, although aluminum nipples may still be susceptible.
#18
Bar Ends Forever
Thread Starter
Don't know why anyone would leave his bike outside for a year and then be upset about its condition.
But 800-1000 grit wet sanding will remove unwanted crap from the rim's brake surface. I do this most all the old bikes I purchase ... and some of my own new wheel builds if they've been slightly damaged in some way.
But 800-1000 grit wet sanding will remove unwanted crap from the rim's brake surface. I do this most all the old bikes I purchase ... and some of my own new wheel builds if they've been slightly damaged in some way.
#20
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Follow the circumference of the wheel along the brake track with some 320 grit sandpaper to get things even again. Do this again with 800 grit to smooth things out after things start to look normal again. Clean up the track after with isopropyl alcohol on a rag and ride on!
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#21
señor miembro
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#22
I'm not sure what black residue is but uric acid can be dissolved with things like caustic soda. But because rims are very thin, as Lightning Pilot said, pitting corrosion could occur and it might turn dangerous.
#23
aka Tom Reingold
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So the dog peed inside the house? That's some dog.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#24
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#25
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One of my dogs chewed off the wires of my bike computer once, and another ripped my new Italian bike shorts that were hung to dry (I had them mended later).