aluminium motorcycle wheels - pc'ing cause failure?

[mtnbiker]

Originally Posted by KZjim

I am interested in the low-cure powders.... does caswell stock them? if not who?

I wouldnt mind a little info on them either.

[boink]

Not sure about what all manufacturers use, but the Honda wheels that I recently have done are powdercoated from the factory. Whether or not they use a lot temp curing powder is unknown.

I tested a broken wheel in a spot at over 400 degress and it did not affect the factory coating at all.

[mtnbiker]

Originally Posted by boink

Not sure about what all manufacturers use, but the Honda wheels that I recently have done are powdercoated from the factory. Whether or not they use a lot temp curing powder is unknown.

Factory wheels I am not worried about. People coat them all day long and dont have issues. Its the high end wheels with the differant alloys that need to be checked out.

Originally Posted by boink

I tested a broken wheel in a spot at over 400 degress and it did not affect the factory coating at all.

Not sure what you are getting at here? The factory coating isnt under question... its the metal that I am concerned with.

[boink]

Originally Posted by mtnbiker

Not sure what you are getting at here? The factory coating isnt under question... its the metal that I am concerned with.

again, about the factory wheels, I was thinking that if the current coating was a low temp type powder, there might have been some discoloration after heating it to that point, Thats all

[mtnbiker]

Originally Posted by boink

again, about the factory wheels, I was thinking that if the current coating was a low temp type powder, there might have been some discoloration after heating it to that point, Thats all

Ok, I see what you are saying. But, I doubt that the facotry wheels had low temp powder... I dont think there is a reason for it. Facotry aluminium is fine at powder coating temps. Its the alloys... all about the alloys.

And, I think that the low temp powders can be cured at high temps.... but they dont need to be. From what I understand. I could be wrong on that part though.

[KZjim]

Originally Posted by mtnbiker

Facotry aluminium is fine at powder coating temps. Its the alloys... all about the alloys.

I think at this point there needs to be a distinction between the 2 type of wheels we are talking about here... I bet that 99% of "factory" MC and Auto wheels are "cast aluminum" and the one off West Coast Chopper type wheel that are milled from solid billit, have the possibility of adverse effects after heating.
The "factory" wheel is designed for maximum life, the 'Billit' wheels arnt, i'm sure they are designed for maximum stregnth. and most of the one-off wheels arnt DOT approved anyway.

[mtnbiker]

Originally Posted by KZjim

I think at this point there needs to be a distinction between the 2 type of wheels we are talking about here... I bet that 99% of "factory" MC and Auto wheels are "cast aluminum" and the one off West Coast Chopper type wheel that are milled from solid billit, have the possibility of adverse effects after heating.
The "factory" wheel is designed for maximum life, the 'Billit' wheels arnt, i'm sure they are designed for maximum stregnth. and most of the one-off wheels arnt DOT approved anyway.

I am talking about light weight high performance wheels. The factory ones are fine... and I would think the I Wanna Be a Bad Ass West Coast Chopper 2 ton wheels would be fine also. Since most are just good ol' aluminium anyways. Chopper wheels are usually not a light weight alloy, since choppers could care less about weight. Thats why some of them way more than a fully dressed Gold Wing!

The blended alloys are where my concern is.

[KZjim]

I'd say go to the manufacture and see if you can get any info from them, altho you might be hard pressed to get anything from them.. trade secrets and all.
I have been searching the DOT site for any info about the manufacturing standards for auto wheels, but i have come up empty.

[kchotboat]

Has anyone heard this. Not sure it is true or not. I believe I heard this awhile back but from what I remember NHRA will not allow chrome molly tubing to to be powder coating because of the effect the heat has on it.

[KZjim]

Originally Posted by kchotboat

...NHRA will not allow chrome molly tubing to to be powder coating because of the effect the heat has on it.

Anyone here an NHRA member... check your rule book.