hi folks.maybe wrong thing to do but i took the spokes on my old 1981 yamaha sr250 down to the metal with a wire wheel.then i wash them.2 hours later they were all rusted again.i could clean them up again with wire wool and spray them with acf50 but will that last?or will i have to paint/coat them with something?

wrong thing to do!

the plating is a sacrificial coating designed to stop the integrity of the spokes being compromised.

I'd say paint is your short term option. get stainless spokes or have them replated for a permenant solution