More Shiny Stuff...

[crazy steve]

Here's what's possible to do to the stock wheels...

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

...if you have lots of time on your hands. I'll never admit how long this took but no machine tools were involved; all work was done with hand-held tools. These were terrible castings, and getting them smooth was a huge PITA. These still need a bit of final buffing (need to order some felt cones) and new paint at the hubs and inside the spokes, but are pretty much done. These are the reason I haven't made any progress on my FJ fork swap...

'78E original owner

[Guy_b_g]

Did you grind off the ridge around the inside of the wheels between the spokes?

Will that effect wheel strength?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Nice!

Nice polish job, are you goung to re paint the black?

[crazy steve]

I knew somebody would ask this...

Did you grind off the ridge around the inside of the wheels between the spokes?

Will that effect wheel strength?

Yes I did, and the short answer is no.

I looked at a lot of wheel designs, and came to the conclusion that a big part of this wheel design was to hide the fact that these are not precision castings. The 'register' between the two halves of the sand molds was not good, and this design allowed them to hide that fact without a lot of finish work. That center lip is also there to give you a place to attach wheel weights; as far as offering impact resistance, the outer lip will be toast long before you get to the center of the wheel. That's also the thickest part of the wheel (even after the rework) not including the hub.

These wheels still have seven stout H-beam spokes; compared to the MNS/XJ 'swirly' wheels with ten skinny spokes (curved no less for poor stress transfer), I don't see any problems...

As to the color, it's either going to be silver or body color... haven't made up my mind on that.

'78E original owner

[DGXSER]

I think I do not want to know how long that took to.

Looks like months of work!! Very nice.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Paint

I think they look great! The castings are as strong as any IMHO and can take some mods/grinding/polishing. There is a paint Co. that makes "chrome" paint used by BMW and many others on wheels. See below if you might go silver.

http://www.alsacorp.com/

[crazy steve]

There is a paint Co. that makes "chrome" paint used by BMW and many others on wheels. See below if you might go silver.


http://www.alsacorp.com/

Geez!!! $1500 for 'basic' setup??!! A little out of my price range I think

'78E original owner

[Rstyduck]

Geez!!! $1500 for 'basic' setup??!! A little out of my price range I think

'78E original owner

Stop being so cheap!

[Guy_b_g]

I knew somebody would ask this...

just thought I'd get it outta the way for ya...

I think you should sell those to me for a couple hundred $ and I'll send you another set...it should be much easier to do them now that you've got it down...

[fredintoon]

- - - These wheels still have seven stout H-beam spokes; compared to the MNS/XJ 'swirly' wheels with ten skinny spokes (curved no less for poor stress transfer), I don't see any problems...

Hi Steve,
FWIW, the Victorian foundrymen couldn't pour a cast iron wheels if they had straight spokes because they busted off as the product shrank during cooling. The swirly spokes would flex a bit to prevent this.
It wasn't "fashion" for those guys, it was necessity.

[skids]

Very impressive. I thought about doing that once, but it was hard enough just getting the paint off! (PS, the 78 was easier than the 81.)

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

paint

Geez!!! $1500 for 'basic' setup??!! A little out of my price range I think

'78E original owner

You can buy the paint in spray cans and clear coat for a few bucks, about$90.00 for both. The "Killer" clear is two part auto paint/hardener, IE (gas and chem. resistant) This is also the best way to paint a tank and not have to fear the dreaded "gas drip" on your paint. Come on, suck it up, you got $1,000.00 of grinding/polishing labor in those wheels already (LOL)

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Ok

OK, it is a bit over a $100.00, it is a buck fifteen I have 5 cans just sitting in a box just if I need some for something.

http://www.alsacorp.com/killercans.htm

[crazy steve]

Actually, I've got some 'chrome' powdercoat that I was originally going to use but decided against it for several reasons; one, the 'chrome' effect is lost on the rough-cast surfaces, as it pretty much ends up looking like really glossy silver paint when I did some test pieces. Two, to powdercoat the wheels I'd have to knock all the bearings out (ruining them) because the sealed-in grease in them would cook while curing the powder. Three, finish durability isn't that great; the 'chrome' finish shows defects/mars much more than standard powdercoating (yeah, it was a big disappointment) and wear from just normal cleaning/washing showed up faster that I liked. The stuff looks reasonably good on smaller items, not so great on larger stuff....

'78E original owner

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Cs

Well the stuff I am talking about needs no heat cure and if you have seen a BMW or Jaguar "chrome" colored wheel, you have seen it. As far as holding up, if you have seen a BMW or Jaguar "chrome" colored wheel, that is how it holds up. Got turned on to it because I have three BMW's and one Jaguar with this stuff on the wheels and It looks great IMHO. Nothing can = chrome but this stuff is nice, think it is what yamaha used on V Max scoops also.