Recomended Paint for Rims

there are several threads floating on how to polish the rims...

steps are 1. buy paint stripper 2. strip the paint 3. buy a aluminum polish 4. go to town on those rims!

usually helps to do it when you need new tires anyway...

 

May have been discussed elsewhere but for $150 in the Sacramento area, I'd love to get my rims powder coated white. But question is, do I take my wheels to the dealer to remove the tires, then powder coat, then mount balance at the dealer again? And what about the bearings? do they come out prior to the coating?

I guess, if all that has to be factored in, what's the end cost - approx?

 

You do have to replace the front wheel bearings if you powdercoat reek but my guess is if your rims are old enough to need refinishing you are due for new bearings and seals anyways as preventive maitienence if nothing else.

total cost for me:
$260 new tires
$50 mounting and balencing
$40 bearings and seals
$80 powdercoating

 

I have heard from people that say the black rustoleum turns a kind of blackish-brown if you plan on painting black.

 

... and the silver frame. Go back and take a look at the dark red VFR model from the same year. Now imagine the bodywork swapped. That dark red would look f-ing great with the black frame and black wheels. And the R/W/B would look great with the silver frame and wheels (to be powder coated white at a later date, if the owner so chooses. Which I probably would, but it wouldn't feel so pressing to get it done.)

I always thought, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! Who green-lighted which bike got which wheels and frame?"

Mike.

 

And now for something actually on topic:

I always spray my own wheels. I use PJ-1 spray paint. It comes in a variety of factory colors (very nice metallics too) and clear. It lays down very nice. After the results I get, I just never have felt the need to powder coat. Don't have to replace bearings (unless needed), not dealing with powder where it shouldn't, etc.

Here's my little trick though. I paint the wheels after I've put on the new tire. Clean, clean, clean, before and after the tire installation of course. Then deflate the tire and slide the masking tape down into the bead area. Mask everything off (where the disks go, bearing, tire stem, rest of tire, etc.) A couple advantages; you get the life of the tire for the paint to cure and harden before it has to go on a tire machine again. The paint feathers off down the bead (completely hidden by the tire after re-inflating). This keeps the paint from getting peeled or cracked off the next time some monkey changes your tire. I can also usually lay the rim down flat on some plywood because of the tire. You get a great view of the whole rim and the easiest access to spray.

I've done numerous wheels with this method and many tire changes, and the results are always excellent. Of course it relies on your paint and masking skills, but it is so much cheaper with considerably less down time.

My $.02.
Mike.

 

Well day 2 and still haven't broke out any paint. It's all been cleaning I got them to the point where I can steam clean them tomorrow so Saturday the paint should go on. I did a tooth brush scub making sure I didnt miss any spots but what I didn't get the steam will them I''ll use Captain 80's method and let the air out before I spay em. Here are the 1st before cleaning and after cleaning pics. I'll post final clean and paint prep pictures tomorrow.

 

Very good. Can't wait to see some 'after' pics!

I usually don't clear my white wheels. The metallics and blacks I do, but I usually shy away from spray can clears on white. They can yellow a little bit. The PJ-1 paint I have been using gives me a nice glossy finish that is very cleanable and takes touch up paint on the occasional rock chip very nicely.

You might experiment on a couple pieces of whatever with what you plan to spray, with and without clear, and see how you like it.

Good luck!
Mike.

 

Assuming for the sake of argument you were going to replace bearings, why wouldn't a person acid bath their wheels before priming and painting. Or if you were not going to replace the bearings, why not blast them with either glass or walnut shell media?

 

The non-solvent strippers are alkaline. Acids on alumimum alloy is not a good idea. Media blasting in some cases is great but not on anodized wheels. IMO the suggestion to replace the wheel bearings was premised on the age of one particular bike that was asked about. All of the bearings should be checked no matter the age of the bike. Some may need replacing and some not. In the same vein it might be a great time for replacing and checking brake pucks too.

Aluminum has a propensity for outgassing. ie if taken down to bare metal, a primer for aluminum should be used. One is zinc chromate. What will happen if this is not done is that the gas will develop enough positive pressure to cause delamination of a finish paint or coating.

 

Hey guys paint is done, I ran out of day light so no pics until tomorrow but the appliance epoxy laid on really smooth. Filled in the dings left in the previous paint very nicely. It hasnt hardened yet so I cant judge the finish but it is very nice no runs and no thin spots. I was at that motorcycle sale today and it ended up being like a depot for anything motorcycle. This place had it all I even found a set of CBR600F2 rims the guy had 3 sets of em but I couldnt remeber if this site said they was bolt on or not so I didn't get them. Plus I can't afford new tires right now with brakes and rotors the next inline for purchase. I'll post the finished pics tomorrow.

 

Well major set back Some beat me on my roors on ebay by 50 cents. Got me in the last minute. Well that hurt bad I'll be down unil may now.

 

Why is it that huge of a wait? I may have some lying around. I'll check if you want.

 

Supertex if you have some thats not in bad shape I would be forever in your dept. I'll even send you the cash for shipping. The ones on ebay where super cheap and in good shape. The ones on my bike now have groves in them so deep I think they are the original ones. No one would ride on brakes like that without changing them. The reason it would be a set back is the last of my cash is going to a guy in Visalia thats going to do my front forks and adjust my suspension for my weight. After those funds I got my cash for my insurance and my wife don't know about fund will be tapped out until the 1st. We was hoping to have her put together by weekes end but without those rotors we will be stuck. Shit forgot about getting the carbs sync also. Tex if you got a set laying around it would help out alot.

 

This is a small bump trying to catch Supertex attention.

 

Bump not needed chief. I went and looked in my stash last night. I do have a set I can spare, so pm me your address and we'll see about shipping.

 

Info sent, thanks for the reply bro you have saved the day.

 

That's just what we do.

As many of you have seen, if you read the thread on my build, without the help of many friends that were made because of this sight I would not be riding my bike now. The expertise and skills these men show have been an invaluable tool. I have learned from their example and I hope you have had similar experiences and I vow to help anyone that needs my help ever.

 

I feel like 1 of the family bro that's how well this site has helped me. It's part of the routine now to come home and check in with the guys before I do anything else. My wife is even refering to you all my buddies on the site. I was planing on riding up to SAC as my 1st rode trip to meet you guys up there, that and the closets Joe's Crab Shack is in Sac. and man do I miss that place havent had it since I left Va. 2 years ago to be stationed here. I'm new to this bike and in a learning stage but as my knowledge base grows I hope to help out anyone that needs it also.

I'm already planning on a 2nd bike once this 1 is road ready. This project has been that great and you guys have made it easy. It's not always what you know it's who you know and I know some great people.

 

Well guys here is the finished product. I got the best picture angles I could to show the paint. They came out really well I already got 2 more request for paint jobs. But they will have to wait. This weekend is Build up weekend so I'll post pictures of that. Here are the rim pictures I'm really proud of them best looking thing for the bike so far thats complete.