Josh,

You have probably been dealing with the HD chromed wheels longer than anyone here. Have you found anything that removes very fine scratches?

 

nope. I've got some fine scratches on my rims also, it almost looks like swirls like in paint, but its not that bad and only in certain angles of light that you can see it, but i haven't found anything to reduce them unfortunately. I was using mothers mag and aluminum polish on my rims cuz my one rim was pitting from the factory, and the mothers shined it right up to par with the rest of the rims and they looked great, but other than getting rid of dullness, it doesn't do much for fine scratch marks in the chrome. I've been using zaino on my chrome though. I did notice a slight improvement in shine over just using the mothers. The z5 is supposed to reduce the swirling appearance on the paint, but not sure how it would work on the rims. I've been using the z2 on the rims cuz i have more left than the z5, but i may give the z5 a try on the chrome next time i polish the truck.
i've got a new problem now though. my nurf bars on the top part like under the door edge is starting to rust! Nothing big, but in direct sunlight you can see how its starting to pit and look dull and it has a slight brown/gray look to the dullness, which is probably rust starting. I'm gonna take it in this spring and see if they'll replace them before my 36/36 is up in july.
Its not like i neglect the chrome either, cuz i make sure i polish around the entire tube and not just the front. And its not a rub area where peoples legs rub on it getting in and out. must have gotten a cheap chrome job there


but here's a tip for you guys with newer HD's. Take very good care of the tips! especially the bottom right under the opening. Keep it nice and protected with wax or polish cuz i noticed on mine, right under the tip opening at the bottom, like where condensation would drip out and cling to the bottom of the tip, the chrome is like burnt off in like a 1/2" dia. section. i'll snap a pic of it tomorrow. its weird. i'll try and get them to replace those too
but you guys know how much i care for my truck and how much time i spend on it, and if my tips are like that after this long, you guys better keep an eye out and catch it before it starts

 

I'm not sure if this will cure the problem...

On my 01 XLT Screw with a chrome front bumper, I caught a wooden post while backing out. There was scuff mark that was only noticeable on very specific light angles. A friend suggested to use the "smoothest / lightest grade" of steel wool, and to buff the area with it.

It worked for me. Now before any of you try this, I strongly suggest to test it first in a inconspicuous area. I also have some minor swirls on the wheels because I applied Mother's Mag and Alum polish without completely cleaning the wheel first. Only one wheel has them, so I'm not really worried.

 

Hey Josh are you sure that you haven't polished through the chrome lol , as for the wheels I have some piting on mine put it down to the cr*p weather we get here

 

no, didn't polish through the chrome

anyway, yeah the steel wool trick may work, but if its really fine scratches/swirls, not sure how good it would work. Make sure it has at least 4 zero's on the grit #
good luck and let us know how it turns out