Front Wheel

Mart UK

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I'm not looking for trouble, but I seem to be good at finding it!

I think I know the answer, but is this the end of my front wheel rim?
 

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You did well to spot that !! Is it a stainless rim? If so I guess you could probably get it repaired.
 
:oops: Very good spot.

Are you showing two separate areas of damage? If so, what’s the relationship to each other?

What sort of rim is it, aftermarket, stainless, etc?

Whatever it is, I would not repair it. That damage can only be due to either extreme stress (accident damage, incorrect assembly, etc) or faulty manufacture. In either case, it is not to be trusted IMHO.
 
Looks like a bit of rust showing in the bottom photo so it must be chrome plated steel?
Some rebuilders/restorers will rechrome old original steel rims, just to keep that original part.
I've heard that this often results in very thin areas around the nipple recesses as the polishing process before plating tends to remove a lot of metal. This is really common if there was rust, which is generally the case with the re-chroming of rims.

Glen
 
:oops: Very good spot.

Are you showing two separate areas of damage? If so, what’s the relationship to each other?

What sort of rim is it, aftermarket, stainless, etc?

Whatever it is, I would not repair it. That damage can only be due to either extreme stress (accident damage, incorrect assembly, etc) or faulty manufacture. In either case, it is not to be trusted IMHO.
The 2 areas are 90degrees apart. It had a new S/S rim and spokes in 2013, 6,500 miles ago. There are lots of receipts, but not for everything. So, I don't have a record of where from, just the itemisation of the parts. It was laced by the restorers, with reference to the correct offset. It looked to be true and has the correct offset (runs central in the forks).

So, I think I've just been unlucky. But, in 2 different places!? Maybe incorrect spoke tension plus a pothole. It wasn't noticeable on my ride, so I'd recommend giving yours a good look, just in case!

Other comments: yes it does look like rust on one of the areas, the one by the valve. Perhaps coming from the valve? Might be dirt. Can't explain it otherwise.

Thanks for your replies. So, what next... I'd like to replace the rim, re-use the hub, bearings etc. and see if I can re-use the S/S spokes, with new nipples. The tyre's still good, too. New tube, rim tape and valve. I'd welcome suggestions on anyone to do this, otherwise I'll call round from ads in the classic bike mags. I don't know of anyone local. I'm happy to take the wheel off, tyre and tube too if necessary, but I couldn't tackle the rim & spokes.
 
I have always found Hagon to be good, they rebuilt my T140 wheels with stainless rims and spokes a number of years ago, and they look as good now as when they were newly built.
 
Yes, they were the website I had poised at their phone number for this morning! Thanks for the recommendations, I'll look at each of them.
 
I don't know of anyone local.
Two not too far away.
FD Motorcycles?
Fram

I'm happy to take the wheel off, tyre and tube too if necessary, but I couldn't tackle the rim & spokes.

Personally, although the Commando front rim has a fair amount of offset I'd still do it myself but that's just me.:)
 
May we ask why not?
Several people (myself included) have had rather disappointing experiences with Central Wheels. I bought 2 alloy rims from then + spokes, both rims have noticeable "bumps" at the weld points, causing a bit of runout. CW's response was more or less "so what?".
Not what I had expected. Unfortunately the cost & time involved in returning the bloody things far outweighed the benefits at the time, but I do rather wish I had done it now.
 
May we ask why not?
Because they make shortcuts only to suit themselves, 2 types of spokes instead of 4, creating spokes that do not fit the hubs cleanly, change the spoke patterns away from OEM. FE will add to the list.
 
Only other option is to try Devon rims all the others Hagon / Wyldes etc are reliant on Central wheel for supply of rims
 
Hagon it is. About 50 miles away, happy for me to pop in and talk through what I want, about £300 :( I'll check the spokes point. They are happy to re-use mine, or source from AN.

LAB, I often ride out to Andy Tiernen, interesting re-purposed rail yard. Lots and lots of rusty old classics, but when I last chatted to him, the workshop is for their own repairs. I've not used the others, don't know anyone who has. They are as near as Illford.
 
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May we ask why not?
My last experience of CWC rims was very much like Fast Eddie's - the stainless (Commando disc front) rim was difficult to true as the join was all over the place, and it was a lot more yellow than any other stainless item I've seen recently. I'd warned the customer beforehand that he may be disappointed... and he was.
Ironically I've found Wassells rims to be much better - the stainless could pass for chrome and they trued up nicely. Pity they're not always available.
Amusingly they state 'WASSELL ENGLAND'.
On the subject of joins, I've yet to find a rim which had an totally invisible join; even the highly rated Takasago Excel rims are no better than most in this respect.
 
CWC also sold (or used to?) a 3x1 dimple pattern Commando front disc rim instead of the normal 1x1 pattern.

The comment on the wheel rim needs explaining, we used to sell the MK3 rear rim as a MK3 front, when I joined and queried it, only to be told that is what CWC fit, and yes they are also wrong. It was considered in the 70's and I have the CWC discussion notes with Norton from that period suggesting it, but it never made it to production for a front fitment, only the rear where the MK3 uses the 3:1 pattern rim. I have also asked them for the MK3 rear rim to be made in 3:1 in a wider width, but alas they didn't seem interested. They suggested the 18''rim in 1:1 pattern, considering all current 19'' tyre fitments suggest using rim width other than WM2, why the WM2 is still being made in this size astounds me, and yes they also fit tyres.
 
I'm getting confused. Is it possible to spell out for me what I need to be sure to ask for? I see AN do 4xsets of spokes. Ii think they are 2 profiles x 2 diameters, 8mm and 9mm, the bigger for the offset side stresses. Do I need these? What must I be sure of for the rim? I want 19" and stainless for salt protection.

Thanks
 
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