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Author Topic: Powder coating wheels questions  (Read 644 times)
Tx Bohemian
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Posts: 2283

Victoria, Tx


« on: February 21, 2019, 08:44:37 AM »

Do any here have powdercoated wheels or had car wheels powdercoated?

If so, were there any issues as far as scraping curbs, or different wheel balance weight positions scraping the coating off?
Lugnut tightening?

Or any other issues I'm not mentioning or unaware of?
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Remember, if you are on a bike and wreck with a car no matter how "in the right" you are you are going to lose. RIDE LIKE EVERBODY IS OUT TO GET YOU!!
Al
Hook#3287
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Posts: 6658


Brimfield, Ma


« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2019, 08:57:57 AM »

I have powdercoated wheels on my bike.  Done by a PO.  No issues at all, look good and clean easy.

Never done a car wheel.
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Jess from VA
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Posts: 30840


No VA


« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2019, 10:12:16 AM »

I've always wanted to powdercoat my wheels, but never got to it.

Ask the coaters.

I think one thing is to be sure the valve stem hole isn't filled up to the point a new stem is trouble to install.  I think I would ask them to just coat over my good metal stems if they could (just not the stem cap threads).  

I always thought I would ask if they could two-tone the wheel slots (if not much more money).  I'd pick a battleship medium grey/silver satin for the wheels, and a satin black for the slots (black bikes).  I'm not a fan of gloss wheels (on otherwise chromed out bikes, it's too much).  

There are more chrome-like powdercoat finishes, but back when I was reading about it, they were not as permanently durable as straight colors.  If I go through this, I want it to last forever.  Wash and wear grey/silver would be OK for me.  

My plan was to find decent used front and rear wheels (if not prohibitively expensive) and then get them coated.  Then, put them on one at a time when needing new tires.  Coat the next pair when they are off,  and end up with coated wheels on two bikes.  And two spare wheels, which I could keep or sell.  With car tires in back, it could take awhile.

In the meantime, I am done busting ass to polish up my wheels.  I give them a half hour hand job with corrosive wheel cleaner and steel wool once a year to get most of the black goop off, and the hell with the rest of it (the fronts are still pretty nice, but the interstate/bag rears suck).  They used to be gleaming perfection when my knees and back could take it.  Now, I'm just happy they're round and hold air.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 10:21:07 AM by Jess from VA » Logged
Bronxboy
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Posts: 2669


Tampa Bay FL


« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2019, 11:15:03 AM »

Lot's of the FL Group have done Powder Coating on wheels and Chrome parts as well. Cleaning is a breeze and No issues with marking up wheels during tire changes.
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KUGO
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Posts: 113

Charleston, IL


« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2019, 12:13:46 PM »

I had the passenger grab-rails powder-coated matte black on my '14 black Valk.  Came out beautifully and really glad I did it.  Even my wife's rings are not scratching it, to speak of.  I'm looking at having the same place do my car, which has one badly corroded alloy wheel.  They will do all four in a variety of colors for $40/@.  I had an '80 HD FLT that I had had customized by the local HD dealer.  He painted, crinkle-painted and powder-coated black virtually everything on that bike and it came out a stunner.  I had the bike for ten years and the powder-coating held up better than paint does.  Easy cleaning, too, which is very important to old knees, as stated above!  I just bought one of those dealie-wheelies from HF last week.  You roll your bike's wheel onto it, put your kickstand down, and you can rotate the wheel on the aluminum rollers.  Slick!  Great for cleaning and PSI checking.  Cost me under $20 with their coupon.
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shortleg
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Posts: 1816


maryland


« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2019, 05:59:26 PM »

    I did mine on my F6B and they came out great.
Much easier to clean. Did them three years ago and they are still
like new.
   Cost about 250 to do them and use beads for balance with
have metal valve stems..
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MarkT
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VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"

Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km


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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2019, 10:02:42 PM »

Had them done on Jade - 3 colors.  No issues you mentioned.  The outfit that did it - I'm sure they are the first bike wheels they've done though powder coating is prominently displayed on their sign.  I cautioned them not to get the powder in the bearing races, in the disc screw holes, or inside where the drive cushions go.  I said "I know you surely know that, but I just want to be sure we are clear on that". It's no big deal to keep the powder out of the innards.  Install some screws in the disc holes, insert some matched size metal plugs in the bearing races (it's a mechanic shop too; they could use large wrench sockets); tape off the drive cushion area while spraying the powder.  He ignored me and didn't block the powder in any of those places.  He also f'd up the color, got the main green color so it was in 2 tones - on opposite sides of the same side of the wheels - meaning you see the color change when it turns.  I made him redo that.  He also took 3 times longer than he promised and did not call me once with status, as he promised.  I had started him with plenty of extra time before Inzane - 2 months - I almost had to put dingy wheels on for the trip.  I think it was $250 I paid for his incompetence.  I refused to pay until he fixed it - in fact I put a stop on his check.  He said going forward he would have to charge more due to the effort involved.  I said he should be paid less.  I had said, do a great job and I'll send all my friends over here.  Accordingly I told them to NOT go there unless they want all these problems.

I had to run taps in the thread holes, and use a dremel with abrasive wheels carefully to remove it from the bearing surfaces and inside the drive cushion area.  Now the bearings fall out when handling the wheels for tire changes unless I tape over them.  Also when he roughened the aluminum for good adhesion, he didn't do it evenly where the clear powder was going - around the perimeter.  I wanted that so no chance of chipping off the color when mounting tires.  Now that color reflects unevenly.  The green dosen't exactly match the Honda green but it's close enough.  Per my reading, even companies that sell both paint and powder can't get them to match exactly.  They age differently.

Other than that, they look good and clean up easily, look new and of course no more oxidization problems.  Of course I balance the tires with internal media - specifically Ride-On.

Jess, just remove the valve stems.  If you leave them on then replacing them will crack the powder where the wheel meets the stem and look bad.  Their internals and rubber gaskets/O-rings won't survive the 400° oven so they would have to be replaced immediately anyway.  I had no issue installing new metal stems.

Also when mounting the tires, be sure they are fully seated.  If there's powder on the bead surface, it can cause the tire to not seat fully.  I didn't notice that, then rode to Roanoke and the resulting vibration (which wasn't obvious at highway speed) busted the JB Weld holding 4 of the Rostra cruise control magnets on the spokes of the disc, threw them off and defeated the cruise control.  I found the problem at Roanoke at town street speeds and the local Honda dealer just shot pressure into the tire and it seated.  For free.  Replaced the magnets when I got home.

BTW I could have done it myself, if my curing oven was big enough.  I have powder coated small pieces for years; use our repurposed old kitchen oven which is in the shop.



« Last Edit: February 23, 2019, 08:22:57 AM by MarkT » Logged


Vietnam-474 TFW Takhli 9-12/72 Linebckr II;307 SBW U-Tapao 05/73-4
ValkStrom
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Posts: 60


Westerville, OH


« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2019, 07:03:21 AM »

Good buddy of mine has a powder coating business, he arguably does more car and motorcycle wheels than anything else, I'll be having him coat mine in ink black when I replace my bearings. Coated properly done is some tough stuff and extremely durable, I am having him coat my valve covers soon.....slowly getting rid of this horrid chrome.  Evil
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97 yellow/black custom, 15 V-Strom 650XT
Cracker Jack
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Posts: 558



« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2019, 12:26:01 PM »

Good buddy of mine has a powder coating business, he arguably does more car and motorcycle wheels than anything else, I'll be having him coat mine in ink black when I replace my bearings. Coated properly done is some tough stuff and extremely durable, I am having him coat my valve covers soon.....slowly getting rid of this horrid chromeEvil


Horrid Chrome? Shocked Shocked
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ValkStrom
Member
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Posts: 60


Westerville, OH


« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2019, 02:01:17 PM »

Good buddy of mine has a powder coating business, he arguably does more car and motorcycle wheels than anything else, I'll be having him coat mine in ink black when I replace my bearings. Coated properly done is some tough stuff and extremely durable, I am having him coat my valve covers soon.....slowly getting rid of this horrid chromeEvil


Horrid Chrome? Shocked Shocked

LMAO yeah I'm not fan of it, a little goes a very long way with me.  Cool
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97 yellow/black custom, 15 V-Strom 650XT
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