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Wheels
Jul 2, 2012 20:01:22 GMT -5
Post by toystoretom on Jul 2, 2012 20:01:22 GMT -5
I put new tires and tubes on the RE-5 over the weekend and my wheels are not in the best shape. Someone has replaced tires on it at least once and left a few marks, and I added a few more. These are minor compared to the finish that is pockmarked and degraded. There must have been some sort of plastic coating that is now coming off. The front wheel isn't too bad but the back wheel is horrible.
The wheel says "Takasago", I'm wondering if it would just be best to find new rims and lace it up with new spokes if I were to go after it.
What have you guys done?
Thanks!
Tomo
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Wheels
Jul 3, 2012 0:22:13 GMT -5
Post by snowrench on Jul 3, 2012 0:22:13 GMT -5
Well.....any refinishing you hoped to do to the aluminum rims was going to be easier before you put the tires on...... that said, I put mine on the axle, and the axle in a vise, rigged it to spin while holding an angle head die grinder fitted with a scotchbrite buffer. Very quickly I had a consistant attractive finish. Eventually I painted them black however, as I was dealing we so much hideous corrosion everywhere else it that I was going with the blacked out theme....
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Wheels
Jul 3, 2012 5:38:01 GMT -5
Post by wayne on Jul 3, 2012 5:38:01 GMT -5
How fussy are you Tom ? The wheels are unique to the RE5 in that they are a magnesium alloy. A quick glance doesn't show it but you find out when you put tyre levers on them.
Do as snowrench advises or send them away to be professionally polished.
Otherwise chrome plated steel rims fitted to GT750's will fit and I think that they are Takasago as well but don't hold me to it.
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Wheels
Jul 3, 2012 12:54:48 GMT -5
Post by bdalameda on Jul 3, 2012 12:54:48 GMT -5
Yes they are Tagasako rims. I believe that Excell or Sun rims make an identical rim. I would contact Buchanon Spoke and wheel and ask them. I purchased a really nice set of stainless steel spokes for my RE5 from them.
Dan
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Wheels
Jul 3, 2012 21:18:33 GMT -5
Post by toystoretom on Jul 3, 2012 21:18:33 GMT -5
It almost seems like there is a plastic coat over them, or a kind of clear coat.
I wonder why they went with a magnesium alloy, they do look different.
Maybe the best thing to do is buy a used wheel off of EBay and polish and rebuild that. My rear wheel has some bad pits and corrosion and by the time you polish that out you are going to have to take a lot off.
I wonder if some sort of media blasting would take off the plastic coating? I have some pretty heavy duty aircraft paint stripper that might do the trick too, but that's messy.
I'm just thinking out loud.....
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2012 3:37:07 GMT -5
Post by wayne on Jul 4, 2012 3:37:07 GMT -5
Ordinary household paint stripper is all I've ever used to take off the plastic coating. Works like a charm, just don't leave it on too long. Your polisher will love you for it.
For interest, I believe the original wheels were nearly 100% magnesium but there were some issues in the factory with polishing them (fire hazard I believe). They then went with a mag alloy. Perhaps for weight as the RE was surely getting up there or perhaps in line with their idea of a different and "premium" machine.
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ap951
2nd Gear
Posts: 280
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2012 7:24:48 GMT -5
Post by ap951 on Jul 4, 2012 7:24:48 GMT -5
you know it never occurred to me until you said something now Wayne. I should have removed that plastic coating before I sent my engine cases off to my polisher
I've used him on several other projects but none before had that coating on them. I bet that's why he's taking so long this time....
Bill
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2012 8:10:12 GMT -5
Post by toystoretom on Jul 4, 2012 8:10:12 GMT -5
I did a GT 550 that had a coating on the cases but this RE-5 doesn't appear to have that. Maybe someone already stripped that off, which might explain why they look so weathered.
Polishing is a thankless job and I can understand why it takes forever. Even with professional industrial strength equipment it bites. Which probably explains why chrome plating takes forever. Gaaahhhhh
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Wheels
Jul 4, 2012 18:16:13 GMT -5
Post by wayne on Jul 4, 2012 18:16:13 GMT -5
Bill, that polisher of yours might be scrabbling for an excuse as why it's taken him 8 months but the plastic coating isn't going to supply it for him !
You are too forgiving !
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