what tools and advice to repair steel rim

[34flathead]

hey everone, i picked up a couple '35 spoke wheels and the outer edge of one has a couple flat spots, not bad,
can be seen better when rolling the wheel, i will get a pic tomorrow.
questions: what tools are needed to straighten out, and can i get some helpfull advice from someone that has repaired the outer edge of a steel rim.
thanks rich

[sabre62]

I just straightened one with edge rim bend, used a piece of 3/8 steel 1 1/2 in wide X 6to 8 long for a drift punch shaped the end on a grinding wheel for curvature to match rim curve and shape laid wheel down on floor and positioned it next to my torch which was clamped in a drillpress vice adjusted to the right angle, as it got red I hammered the punch to rebevel the shape of the rim slowly turning the wheel until it matched the unbent areas. after that I stood the wheel up and slowly heated the edge and used a flat body hammer to make the edge nice and even (no wave) polished it all smooth with a small body grinder with a solid 1/4 in wheel. IF you get rough with your punch it may leave dings (tool marks) so try to be carefull Worked for me. Good Luck Sabre62

[NealinCA]

If it is just the lip of the rim that is flattened, a large Crescent wrench works well. Just slip the jaws over the edge and work the lip back into place. Work it gradually across the flat spot as to not make tool marks.

I would put the wheel on a hub and spin it before you spend too much time on it though.

Neal

[34flathead]

the rims spin fine on the hub, its just the outer lip.
i dont have a torch to heat the rim with.
rich

[34flathead]

ok, here's the update.

i bought these tires and wheels at the Petaluma swap a few months back and one rim was a Kelsey.
i traded the Kelsey for these (2) '35 wire wheels, and i just washed them in a cement mixing bucket with dish washing soap.
blew them off and sprayed them with some paint, i bought a tool from ebay thanks 54FISH, and couldnt wait, anyway anybody sand the rim line where it is welded together or just put more paint on them.
here's pic's of the washed rims and the kelsey and then the two rims painted.

[34flathead]

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here's the pic of the Kelsey.
rich

[NealinCA]

Where's the flat spots?

[hotcoupe]

hey, if your`e not doing anything this afternoon, i`ll drop my wheels off for you to paint. nice looking job!

[34flathead]

Originally Posted by NealinCA

Where's the flat spots?

its only the one rim that has some flat spots and there very minimal, you can see them when you roll the wheel.
i bought a tool from ebay to fix the flat spots. i just got way ahead of my self and painted them.

Originally Posted by hotcoupe

hey, if your`e not doing anything this afternoon, i`ll drop my wheels off for you to paint. nice looking job!

once i washed the rim with dish soap using the brown pad used to sand metal every thing that was going to come off basically did, but i still got way ahead of my self, i sprayed them with out a home made spray booth which i will have built when i do two more.
first time with a spray can in years, and looking at the spokes was not sure how to get it done with out heavy over spray and runs.
yea they came out pretty good, stop on by, you'll have to leave them over night to cure

but what about the seam?????
rich

[BoxCar Tom]

I wouldn't do anything to the seam, when it shows like that it's an indication of just how clean and oxidation free the surface is. I look for clean wheels without damage, then I look for the seam. When I see the seam I know the quality of the wheel.

[34flathead]

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

I wouldn't do anything to the seam, when it shows like that it's an indication of just how clean and oxidation free the surface is. I look for clean wheels without damage, then I look for the seam. When I see the seam I know the quality of the wheel.

BoxCar Tom, thanks for the info, i didnt think of it that way.
rich

[NealinCA]

Originally Posted by 34flathead

i bought a tool from ebay to fix the flat spots.

rich

I'm curious what this tool is...do you have a picture, or link to the auction?

Thanks,

Neal

[34flathead]

hey Neal here is the pic, got the info from 54FISH, its on ebay item number 290143504741, that is not the item number of mine but its just a better pic.
when you look at similar items in ebay you will find another one thats about $2. better in price but same tool.
rich