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Painting Wheels
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:02 am
by ferret76
G'day all,
I want to paint my wheels but was wondering if there is a special tool for removing the weights? Can they be put back on easily or should I just take the painted wheels to a tyre fitter for a balance? I am also considering just painting over them but this could obviously pose a problem in the future.
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:18 am
by PSL184
Remove the weight, paint the wheels, then get re balanced. The weights will go back in a different place anyway. Even after a few hundred miles the balance of the tyre will have shifted.....
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:08 pm
by bmcecosse
Usually just pop the weights off with a large screwdriver - but garage tends to use 'water pump' pliers. You can re-balance wheels very satisfactorily on the front hubs - and it's free!
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:50 pm
by Kevin
Dont forget Willie's tip that a smear of washing up liquid around the edge of the tyre will stop any stray paint from sticking to the rubber.
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:47 am
by ferret76
Yes, thanks for reminding me Kevin. I actually wrote that little gem down in the back of my workshop manual when I saw that post.
Cheers for the tips, guys.
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:49 am
by Dean
bmcecosse wrote:Usually just pop the weights off with a large screwdriver - but garage tends to use 'water pump' pliers. You can re-balance wheels very satisfactorily on the front hubs - and it's free!
Oh for the days of rebalancing grinding wheels!!! I assume it's the same process bmc? Spin wheel slowly, you know it's balanced when the wheel stops but doesn't start to spin back the other way.
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:29 pm
by Kevin
Oh for the days of rebalancing grinding wheels!!!
I had long forgotton that, I assume you mean the type with a slot around the mounting flange with moveable weights.
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:44 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes Dean - let it rotate freely (ay need to slacken brakes) and when it stops - mark the lowest part with chalk. Repeat a few times to make sure. then turn the marked part 90 degrees - and add weights on the opposite side until there is no tendency for the mark to rise or fall when you let the wheel go. This is a 'static' balance - it's always been fine for my Minors up to any sane mph! Note that ii includes the brake drum (which balance off car does not!) - and so a stud and the wheel should be marked so they always go back on the same way.