I am attempting to clean up a Univega Gran Turismo's aluminum Araya wheel set. The rims are fine but the spokes are all rusted up. What would be the best method of removing the rust without damaging any kind of galvanized finish on them? I tried steel wool and a little WD-40 on one spoke and the rust came off…leaving a spoke far from shiny but rust free. Is that a good method that might not damage anything? Also, is there a method to make the spokes shiny again? All help is much appreciated on the matter.

If they're rusty, I wouldn't worry about damaging the galvanized finish. It's already compromised. Remove the rust as best you can, then maybe wipe them down with an automotive wax or polish to slow down its reappearance.

replace the spokes with stainless.

thanks, good to know i don't need to worry about that. any tips regarding bringing back some resemblance of silver to them?

I would replace the spokes for Stainless steel, rust will come back to galvanized spokes. A box of spokes will only cost you 25 dollars and 5 for a tool. If you are handy you can replace them your self or take them to a shop. Price for labor can be around 15-20 dollars per wheel.
There are plenty of youtube videos that are very detailed that will show you how to relace wheels.

In the end hope you get your spokes figured out.

Just my .02 cents

+1 . . . remove the rust with a wire cutter. Sad to say that will be best because the spokes are near the end of life.

Though I don't think it's a good idea, alternatively you could use naval jelly sparingly and carefully then neutralize and coat with a preventative.

You live in a MUCH lower cost area. Around here, home mechs advertise on CL to build wheels for $35- plus materials. LBSs are twice the price, or more.

Spoke replacement does seem inevitable; that will be another project. But in the mean time will the original spokes be somewhat safe to commute on? They don't have to look nice at this point I am more concerned with safety. If the wheels are true am i ok? Thanks to all for the advice.

The spokes may not be pretty, but they're probably serviceable. You'll find out they're at the end of their useful life when you start breaking spokes. Keep on riding them, maybe while keeping an eye open for a cheap used replacement wheelset (which might come with the rest of a bike attached).

Keep riding them, don't try and remove the rust as you'll only be wasting your time. When they start breaking you'll know they're gone. Maybe put some rust-preventative stuff on in the meantime.

I've rebuilt plenty of wheels with good hubs/rims but broken or rusted spokes. If you can do it yourself and the rims/hubs are worth rebuilding it can be a great solution. Because then you have a "new" handbuilt wheelset with stainless steel double butted spokes (at least that's what I use.) Rather than another questionable used set.

I agree that replacing your spokes (and perhaps the whole wheel as well?) is the right way to go.

That said, if you really want to remove the rust on your spokes (or anything) then Evaporust or a similar product is the way to go. You have to submerge the rusted metal for a half hour or more, but it will get rid of any rust. I have used it for many years with excellent results.

Agreed that spokes are a safety function and should be replaced. But the topic got me thinking along a different line. How about converting the rust instead of removing it. There are many products out there that you just paint over rust and it converts into something like black paint afterwards. So you would have black spokes. I've not actually tried this, but curious if it would be better than removing the rust.

These galvanized spokes are at least 40 years old. I go over them with auto wax once in a while to keep them from rusting. The wheels came from a Peugeot PX10. Stainless spokes weren't popular at the time because they were weak and unreliable.

Yeah, nuke from orbit. A total noob can replace spokes - you just replace one at a time - tension it until the pitch sounds about right when you pluck it, spin the wheel in the bike to make sure, next...

Just make sure not to get that stuff on the aluminum alloy rims or hubs, or the brass (nickel plated probably) spoke nipples.......

I disagree that spokes and safety belong in the same sentence. I advocated replacing them almost purely for the sake of aesthetics (seized nipples are only a problem if you need to true the wheel).

Like when people talk about tyre damage like it's a potential catastrophe... no. Not really. NBD.

Unless you regularly find yourself doing speeds more typical of motorised vehicles... but most folks don't ever go over 35km/h, least of all the sort who figure spoke rust might be a safety issue.