Powdercoating wheels

[PTParks]

I'm considering getting the wheels on my silver FJR powdercoated a contrasting color (no decisions on color yet). A silver bike with silver wheels is a little to washed out for my taste. I was wondering if anyone had already done this and if it affected wheel balance or cause any other issues? Did the powdercoat survive the tire changer without much damage? Any pics of you colored wheels would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ignacio]

The only thing that really stopped me was the expense and hassle of pressing out and in new bearings. I don't believe the plastic parts of the bearings are going to survive the oven temperatures of powder-coating....but not totally sure. I wouldn't worry about balance or tire changers as they're powder-coated anyway.

 

[ToyQuest]

Both cast and forged wheels can be affected by the powder coat cure cycle without fully understanding the wheel metallurgical (alloy and heat treatment).

A powder coat cure could possible affect the wheel. Who knows if it would but do you really want to take that chance?

I wouldn't do it.

 

[wfooshee]

First thing that came to my mind when I saw the thread title was bearings, but not for the reason of damage to them if you left them in that Iggy pointed out.

If you remove them and do the powder coat, now the bearings don't fit any more until you clean the surfaces off where they go. How easy is that? I don't know . . . .

 

[ionbeam]

...If you remove them and do the powder coat, now the bearings don't fit any more until you clean the surfaces off...

Or remove the masking you put over all the openings in the wheel and rim.

Cast wheels are usually made from 356-T6 aluminum alloy and forged wheels made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. What is important is the T6 specification. T6 implies the cast/forged wheels are aged at 305 to 315 °F for 2 to 5 hours. Power coating is cured in the 350 to 400°F range but only for 15 minutes or so. If you heat the wheels for more than an hour at 305°F or more you are slightly 'over aging' the wheel. According to the ASM Handbook on Nonferrous Alloys you should be able to bake the wheels at 400°F for 15 minutes without significantly altering the T6 aging condition.

 

[SacramentoMike]

...If you remove them and do the powder coat, now the bearings don't fit any more until you clean the surfaces off...

Or remove the masking you put over all the openings in the wheel and rim.

Or get a different color motorcycle. The '05s are a very attractive blue.

 

[johnny80s]

I had the wheels on my 07 powder coated black. If you are going to do this you need the correct bearing puller and bearing install tool. You don't need to heat the rim to get the bearing out or freeze the bearing to get it back in. Anyone that tells you to do that is wrong and probably not using the correct tools to do the job. If you pull the bearings correctly you can put them back in and reuse them just make sure they move smoothly. There are no issues with having to remove powder coating since they do mask off the wheels. Be specific when you have them mask the wheels so they do it correctly. Be careful with the three small screws that hold on the black ring on the rear wheel's differential side.

You should use heat when removing the rotors though. Heat up each bolt really well with a torch (propane is fine) before trying to remove the allen head screws. Mine all came out very easily without any issues and I reused them all. It cost me $150 for the powder coating and I had them a few extra pieces like the abs housings and the black ring mentioned above powder coated too match the wheels.

 

[garauld]

I did mine also. Ditto everything Johnny80 said. I lightly wet sanded with 360 grit paper and then I preheated mine before powdering them - what they call hot-flocking. I covered all the bearing bores with heat-tape and hung them from the air valve stem holes. You are going to remove them aren't you? I did these for a local guy:

 

[SkooterG]

Cast wheels are usually made from 356-T6 aluminum alloy and forged wheels made of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. What is important is the T6 specification. T6 implies the cast/forged wheels are aged at 305 to 315 °F for 2 to 5 hours. Power coating is cured in the 350 to 400°F range but only for 15 minutes or so. If you heat the wheels for more than an hour at 305°F or more you are slightly 'over aging' the wheel. According to the ASM Handbook on Nonferrous Alloys you should be able to bake the wheels at 400°F for 15 minutes without significantly altering the T6 aging condition.

Damn fart smellers. You learn the derndest things around here.

Damn Garauld. Those sure look puuuurty. Stope posting photos like that. I can't afford to be sending you stuff.

 

[garauld]

Yo skooter - wait till you see the tailcones later this week...

 

[mferriter]

I did mine also. Ditto everything Johnny80 said. I lightly wet sanded with 360 grit paper and then I preheated mine before powdering them - what they call hot-flocking. I covered all the bearing bores with heat-tape and hung them from the air valve stem holes. You are going to remove them aren't you? I did these for a local guy:

How much for Yamaha Blue (I have some colorrite spray paint somewhere around here and can send you the number to match)? I've got a spare set of rims now, but need to get one of them "unbent" first. A minor ding - looks like someone dropped it on the floor w/o the tire on.

 

[Crash Cash]

If you don't want to go to the expense of powdercoating, you could do it this way:

Jest sayin'

 

[zenwhipper]

Have indeed done my 08's wheels. Did 'em black, just like an 2009.

Have held up beautifully.

Scott

 

[mferriter]

Have indeed done my 08's wheels. Did 'em black, just like an 2009.

Have held up beautifully.

Scott

Those look sweet - you did them yourself? How do you know if the place you take them to knows what the hell they're doing?

Has anyone tried good-old paint on the rims?

 

[zenwhipper]

Have indeed done my 08's wheels. Did 'em black, just like an 2009.

Have held up beautifully.

Scott

Those look sweet - you did them yourself? How do you know if the place you take them to knows what the hell they're doing?

Has anyone tried good-old paint on the rims?

I did not do them myself. I did a lot of research on the web and on this board. Then I Googled some local powder coaters. Found one that from their website - they seemed to know what they were doing. I think the powder coating was just under $100 bucks. I removed the wheel myself and had a local m/c shop remove the bearings and I had them put them back in. This board knows alot about PCing. Keep searching - you'll find a lot of info.