Wheel revamp
08-07-19, 03:39 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Wheel revamp
In my bike restoration project, I want to share the wheel revamp. The wheels looked like this:
And after loads of elbow grease, it looks like.
Amazing what metal polish can do. Not fully satisfied though, I should have fine sanded some parts of the rim (still has some marks/dents in it).
I guess it would be a better revamp, if I where to replace the spokes and then be able to clean the entire rim and hub even better. However, I never build a tire, and that looks quite complicated.
Meanwhile, while I'm at it, should I replace the (1 cm wide) rim tape? Any suggestions?
And after loads of elbow grease, it looks like.
Amazing what metal polish can do. Not fully satisfied though, I should have fine sanded some parts of the rim (still has some marks/dents in it).
I guess it would be a better revamp, if I where to replace the spokes and then be able to clean the entire rim and hub even better. However, I never build a tire, and that looks quite complicated.
Meanwhile, while I'm at it, should I replace the (1 cm wide) rim tape? Any suggestions?
08-07-19, 04:31 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 528
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 237 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 83 Times
in
64 Posts
I have a big roll of gorilla tape, so gorilla tape is what most rims get. Unlike rim tape, gorilla tape is also useful for other things.
08-07-19, 07:07 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 2,701
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1136 Post(s)
Liked 650 Times
in
336 Posts
Nice job. Did you open up the hub and get new grease in the bearings? Simple job and it's much more important than polishing the rims.
08-07-19, 08:53 AM
#5
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
Amazing what metal polish can do. Not fully satisfied though, I should have fine sanded some parts of the rim (still has some marks/dents in it).
I guess it would be a better revamp, if I where to replace the spokes and then be able to clean the entire rim and hub even better. However, I never build a tire, and that looks quite complicated.
Meanwhile, while I'm at it, should I replace the (1 cm wide) rim tape? Any suggestions?
08-07-19, 09:10 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,749 Times
in
937 Posts
New rim tape? Yes, absolutely! This rim tape, used and old, was still pliable when I assembled the wheels. Two years later, the tape had hardened to become brittle and started cracking up inside, eventually puncturing an inner tube. This is what that old rim tape came out looking like...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
08-07-19, 09:14 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,424
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 977 Post(s)
Liked 626 Times
in
400 Posts
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
08-07-19, 11:20 AM
#8
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,602
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 6,461 Times
in
3,194 Posts
Looks like the rear and the front.
Yes, leave that to the pros.
But a wheel, on the other hand, is pretty simple to rebuild with the aid of Sheldon's wheel building page.
Yes, leave that to the pros.
But a wheel, on the other hand, is pretty simple to rebuild with the aid of Sheldon's wheel building page.
08-07-19, 06:51 PM
#9
Senior Member
I use oil-soaked steel wool (0000 grit) to clean and polish the spokes.
Surround the spoke with a small ball and rub along the length of the spoke. Then, move to the next one.
Surround the spoke with a small ball and rub along the length of the spoke. Then, move to the next one.
08-07-19, 07:13 PM
#10
Member
Thread Starter
No rubber harvest for me ;-)
Good idea! I changed my method for polishing the rear rim. First wet (WD-40) sanding with 400 then 600, 800 and stopped at 1000 grit. Then using metal polish to get the shine. Works faster then before, but perhaps sanding further with finer grit would be even better.
08-08-19, 12:19 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Port Angeles, WA
Posts: 7,922
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Mentioned: 194 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 630 Times
in
356 Posts
@SurferRosa I'm always ready to hear some expert advice on tire building. It's an area where I admit I have very little experience. 
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
Likes For Lascauxcaveman:
08-08-19, 01:58 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,749 Times
in
937 Posts
I use aluminum foil to clean spokes. If the wheel is disassembled, the foil also works to clean spoke hole eyelets. And, no fear of leaving any steel wool fibers to oxidize. Just crumple the foil, shiny side out, then rub the spoke. This works on steel, plated steel and chrome plating.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
