Wanna TRADE? My 2009 red XB wheels for black XB wheels
- Thread starter lancruza
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user_deleted
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levan: since i'm assuming your red wheels are nice why don't you simply pop out the bearings and inner spacer and have them powder coated black to the gloss of your desire? probably priced close to the same as doing a swap and paying tons of freight to accomplish it. even via fedex ground they're expensive to ship
Hey John. Kinda scared about powder coating aluminum wheels locally. I realize they were powder coated when manufactured, but I've read about aluminum wheels becoming brittle after they had been heated again to powder coat in the aftermarket world. I've not experienced this but I've read enough about it to make me leery of the process.
Just tell your powder coater to outgas a bit lower than normal and you will be fine. PC Powder Coat sponsors my track bikes and both bikes have powder coated wheels and I beat the living balls off both machines and have zero problems. I wouldn't hang off those things and go balls out of I had fear my wheels were gonna snap. Go for it, you will be glad you did.
The powdercoating process isn't nearly hot enough to cause issues (typically 350*, when aluminum loses strength at 650*). I'm aware of the rumors but seriously if an aluminum wheel fails after that, theres other issues at play not related to powdercoating.
In TPEHAK's case, they should have been pre-heated (to 350* ironically) and then heliarced, but post heat treating is still not recommended for aluminum.
In TPEHAK's case, they should have been pre-heated (to 350* ironically) and then heliarced, but post heat treating is still not recommended for aluminum.
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user_deleted
Well-known member
great info wally!
levan: if you go the PC route just be absolutely certain that the rotor/pulley/rotor spring hardware holes are blocked off and NOT coated. real PITA to resolve if they're coated during the process. i've had probably 15 sets of assorted cast aluminum cycle wheels PC'ed in the last decade and always worked out beautifully....never a wheel problem or failure.
Can't believe I left that part out John about the holes being plugged, most powder coaters should do that anyway but it never hurts to tell them......little more pertinent info, make certain those same holes are plugged during sandblasting. ASK ME HOW I KNOW....LOL.
