There are several great products out there. Three in particular. All three are very different from each other, but used properly all three can be used to make your chrome sparkle. I keep all three around, as I use them to clean up car radios. True, small
parts, but the same applies to the big ones.
1. Wheel cleaner. I think what I have right now is Mothers, but there are a few brand names out there. Whatever the brand, look for the word "corrosive" on the label. This is the good stuff. Yes, it means there's a little acid in there, and you need to be careful of what you use it on, but for things like
wire wheels it's great. No brushing or scrubbing, just apply it and rinse. Now -- in my case I use it on car radio tuners, and it's wonderful because it cleans up pot metal, brass, and sometimes other badly-corroded metal
parts, but on certain other
parts it can indeed be corrosive and it will turn them black. But chrome wheels, go for it!
2. Nevr-Dull. This is an interesting product. It's a big can full of cotton-like wadding; you pull off a small amount and rub it on the
parts you want to clean. It's great for cleaning stains and pitting; the only downside is that you need to wipe off the residue, just like car wax. But it is a great cleaner.
3. Simichrome. Someone turned me onto this many years ago; for some reason the bikers love it but most car owners have never heard of it. You probably won't find it in an auto store but bike shops have plenty! It looks like a tube of toothpaste. A little dab'll do ya! Put a very small amount on a shop towel and go to town with it -- it cleans up great! I can remember the older liquid stuff that used to come in a can (maybe it's still around, I don't know) but this stuff is like the same thing in a concentrated paste. Again, just a little at a time, and that tube will last quite awhile! Now -- someone else once gave me a tube of something else -- don't remember the brand but it's also in a tube, and it's white instead of pink -- that appears to be much the same thing. But I guess Simichrome is the easiest to find.
Good luck, and have fun with your Bird!
