A bit concerned about my rear wheel

O.K. so after getting a flat on the rear, I had already decided to buy a new tire, even though it only had a couple of thousand miles on the old one. I purchased a new tire and inner tube, I also decided to try to change it out myself and purchased some tire irons. Everything was going smooth until I saw the inside of my rim. I was able to take off chips of rust from where the rubber strip normally covers the spokes. Then I spent about 3 hours with my drill and wire wheel on it. Just wondering what people's opinion and experience has been with rims in this condition. Structurally it seems strong. So I just about to go ahead and slap everything back on. But before going through the trouble of mounting and balancing, I wanted to get a second opinion from others. I do have a trusted source that I can get a replacement wheel (but would need to replace bearings of course). But the goal is to eventually replace it with a brand new rim and stainless steel spokes. This more of a stop gap measure since its been a very expensive summer . Any thoughts?

Joe
As a stop gap , If it were mine I would probably seal the rust with a light coat of rustoleum spray primer. Use new band to protect spokes and call it good to go.
Things to check first would be spoke tightness and rim alignment to make sure wheel performance is not compromised.
Then save up some coin and do it right with a new wider rim and spokes

Just My 2 cents
Dave

Street Fighter LTD wrote: Joe
As a stop gap , If it were mine I would probably seal the rust with a light coat of rustoleum spray primer. Use new band to protect spokes and call it good to go.
Things to check first would be spoke tightness and rim alignment to make sure wheel performance is not compromised.
Then save up some coin and do it right with a new wider rim and spokes

Just My 2 cents
Dave

I agree with Dave.

Some of those Nipples are about rusted away. Don't think spokes and nipples are real expensive, maybe someone has some good used ones for you? A quick cut with a cut off wheel and a good spoke and nipple tightened in its place, one at a time will keep the wheel pretty true.

Normal looking wheel to me after all these years. Water will always work it's way in and cause this. As long as you have the rubber rim strip, you'll be fine. I never really cared, because if one good thing came from it, was generally the spokes are rusted to the nipples and rarely need to be tightened.

In stead of a primer, I would use a liquid product that you brush on to the rusted area and it stops the rust in its tracks. It chemically converts rust from iron oxide to magnetite, a black and inert substance.

Choose a water based rust converter like Eastwoods or Corroseal that contain two active ingredients; tannic acid and an organic polymer. The tannic acid reacts with iron oxide (rust) and chemically converts it to iron tannate, a dark-colored stable material. The organic polymer (2-Butoxyethanol) provides a protective primer layer. The overall chemical reaction converts rust into a stable, black protective polymeric coating.

Good Luck

Thanks guys! All good advice I think. I'm sure its O.K. to run as is but would be nice to replace the bad ones as Motorhead suggested. Just might not want to wait up since its been down a month already. And don't think I could source only 2 to 3 spokes. Great idea Dave about the Rustoleum. May even do that to the new one once I go that route. Anyhow, the front rim is good because I'm not about to check it, LOL. I think, I'll open a couple of beers paint the inside and put it out of my mind. Thanks all!