Powder coating wheels?

I'm about to have the 600 Bandit wheels I have to go on my KZ650 project powdercoated (kawi green!), had the tyres taken off today.

Only thing, should I mask off the inside of the rims (where the tyres mount), or will the tyres seal on the powdercoating just fine?

If I can leave it so they do the lot it'll be easier, has anyone done this?

If prepped correctly you should have no issue. Make sure these are taken down to bare metal prior to powder.

Powder coating requires baking in ovens right? usually 350 F or so. Will the baking melt the grease from the bearings or otherwise affect the wheel bearings?

This will be a good time to replace them, I'd think.

I would
A. remove the bearings and mask or
B. remove the bearings and mask
your call really

thompsonmx100 wrote:

I would
A. remove the bearings and mask or
B. remove the bearings and mask
your call really

Or just go ahead & remove the bearings & mask. :laugh:

Z1Enterprises.com sells All-Balls Racing bearing sets. Very nice.

Bearings already out and ready to go!

After you are done, be sure the area where the bead seats isn't powder coated. Tire may not seat correctly. I have powder-caoted wheels and the tires have a slow leak where the tire bead seats. Will have to remove tire and re-do the bead area to remove any coating and prepare area for proper seating.

Got me wheels back! Really pleased with them...

I'd carefully remove any powder coating where the new bearings will fit as the openings may be too tight.

If you put the bearings in the freezer, and carefully heat up the wheels, the bearings should almost drop in.

Any force should be applied to the outside or race of the bearings(never the inside). A large deep socket with a shot filled hammer will work well for this if the bearings won't "seat".

Thanks for that, it will need a little lead in I think, I was going to wind them in with some big sockets a spacer and a nut and bolt, should pull them down square.

If they coated the threads then you will need to chase with a tap. Clean out that new material so you don't mung them up.

You can carefully scrape powder off the bearing race with a razor blade. Should have been covered in the first place. FYI there is tape that can handle the heat and the coater should either be able to install or give you a few inches this job would have needed. Helps keep the mated surfaces clear on motor covers and cases as well if you go that far. Only powdered my covers on the motor and should have probably painted them.

Sorry i didn't see this earlier...

Sounds like your going to use compression to pull the bearings back into place?

Take it easy cause I'd hate to see you get one wedged in there and crack a wheel.

MFolks wrote:

I'd carefully remove any powder coating where the new bearings will fit as the openings may be too tight.

If you put the bearings in the freezer, and carefully heat up the wheels, the bearings should almost drop in.

Any force should be applied to the outside or race of the bearings(never the inside). A large deep socket with a shot filled hammer will work well for this if the bearings won't "seat".

Brilliant idea!! I will be trying that..Never thought of freezing them.