With the old motorcycle movement taking root, many pre-70s spoke wheel models can now be seen on the streets on weekends. At the same time, the number of beautiful old motorcycles with shiny, shining spokes that have been reupholstered is increasing. On the other hand, cast wheel models popularized after the late 70’s are often painted round when they are in poor condition. You must be thinking about it! Here, we will focus on cast wheel reproduction techniques and hub bearing replacement.
- The power of the “3D Barrel Finishing Machine!!
- Replace key components of rolling resistance
- Aim for a smooth press fit!
- Maintenance unique to drum brakes
The power of the “3D Barrel Finishing Machine!!
The ultimate weapon for cast wheel reproduction, attracting the attention of numerous motorcycle stores and constructors! High-performance 3D barrel finishing machine developed and sold by Carvek. In addition to selling equipment systems, Carvek also undertakes wheel finishing, aluminum rim finishing, and engine cover finishing. Its even finish is amazing! One machine can handle not only the wheel itself, but also brake hubs and sprocket coupling polishing. The wheels, which were battered by corrosion, are now better than new! After polishing, gun coat paint was used to give it a genuine tone.
Replace key components of rolling resistance
NSK bearings made in Japan were incorporated. The bearings were purchased directly from NSK, not from genuine parts. The axle shafts are thin, as if to illustrate the era. The front wheel is Φ12mm, the same as a moped, but dimensionally the same as the first-generation 900 Ninja!! This is another surprise.
Aim for a smooth press fit!
When installing wheel-related parts after barrel polishing, do not proceed with the work just because it is clean. Keep in mind that the incorporated parts should be assembled smoothly. When pressing in bearings, apply a thin layer of grease to improve the sliding between the press-fitted part of the wheel or coupling and the outer ring of the bearing. Wheel bearings are press-fitted. Be careful not to insert at an angle when working. If the side of the displacement collar is worn out, the bearing will rattle immediately after it is replaced with a new one. When installing the bearing, inspect the distancer collar carefully for wear.
Maintenance unique to drum brakes
When restoring the brake panel, polish the sliding parts of the brake cam thoroughly to remove dirt, then apply an appropriate amount of high performance grease to restore it. Super Zoil grease was used.
Although many manufacturers use oil felt for sealing effect and oil supply measures at the same time, this model was sealed with an O-ring. If the counterpart is a rubber or plastic part, it is correct to apply rubber grease. The brake cam end face had a mark that looked like a minus groove, so the brake cam lever was restored using this engraved line as a reference.
The brake shoes were reduced, but this time only cleaning was done and restored. Be sure to apply a thin layer of pad grease or Teflon grease to the pivot side and cam surface. Generally, the brake shoes are restored by hand. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy. Set the spring, and while pressing down on one side of the shoe, spread out the other side of the shoe.
Incidentally, the meter gear is a non-disassembled part and there were no short parts available. This time, it was soaked in washing oil for a while, then cleaned by brushing, and washed off with parts cleaner. After that, air was blown, grease was applied, and oil was sprayed to improve lubrication.
- Point 1 – Cast wheels can be requested for refreshment at a pro store equipped with a “3D barrel finishing machine”.
- Point 2 – Apply grease to the sliding parts before pressing the bearing into place.
- Point 3 – Check the end face wear of the distance collar when disassembling the bearing (be careful when there is rattling in the bearing!!)
When I first purchased the Suzuki RG250E, which I had snapped up at an Internet auction, I thought I would run it only after cleaning the oil stains and polishing the exterior parts. However, when I went to pick up the bike, there was a big gap in the interpretation of the term “good condition for its age”. It would be natural for each person to have a different “look=appraisal” of the motorcycle. I was aware of the scratches and dents on the exterior parts, but the rust and rust on the inner tube were completely out!
The sliding parts were also rusty. Even though we were told, “It’s OK, you can drive it” we had to pick up the motorcycle in such a rusty condition that we could not take their word for it. So we couldn’t start the car right away, and time passed without us being able to do anything about it. When the timing was right, I thought, “I’ll do something about it,” and by the time I realized it, three years had passed.
One of the most well-known ways to make a motorcycle look beautiful (and attractive) is to polish and refresh the undercarriage parts. From moped models to out-of-print vehicles, the shine of spokes on spoked-wheel vehicles can make a big difference in the impression of the bike, and replacing the spokes can make them shine in a different way.
For cast-wheel vehicles, is there a specific shine on the aluminum surface or not? Has the paint peeled off after being outdoors for a long period of time, and have corroded areas turned pure white and appeared on the surface? There are many cases in which even a round painted wheel looks very dirty due to dirt and mold. If this happens, the only way to recover is to remove the old paint and repaint.
The star-shaped cast wheels were not in terrible condition, but the aluminum surface lacked shine and needed to be polished. Since they were in such good condition, we decided to request polishing with a high-function wet barrel polisher handled by Carbecue of Aichi Prefecture, aiming to achieve a finish like a genuine new wheel. We immediately disassembled the bearings and other parts from the wheel to make the wheel as a single unit, packed it up, and shipped it by courier to Carvek.
The beauty of the finished wheels is something to fall in love with! This time, we used the same paint scheme as the normal finish to create a gun coat black (satin black) finish, and it looks exactly like a genuine part. Many stores and workshops have 3D barrel polishing equipment that Carvek handles, so there should be cases where you can request work locally. If you want to have your cast wheels polished and painted, we recommend you to consult with them.
Interviewed in cooperation with Carvek Phone 0562-31-0833