Rim Refinishing

[blasirl]

Anyone have a written procedure or video detailing how to refinish stock steel ATV rims?   

[kyote]

Not too hard. Pressure wash, sand, paint. Easy peasy!

[blasirl]

That is almost what I ended up doing.  I washed, sand blasted, primed and painted.  For some reason I thought there was a special coating on the rims from the factory.

[Gwbarm]

Mine werent that easy, after i pressure washed big flakes of paint came off, from previous owners unprepped rattle can job, i could still paint over it but, im going to try to strip the rest of this poorly done paint off and start over.

[blasirl]

The first picture is what came off of my rims.

[Gwbarm]

That is some thick paint, rim looks good, nice job.

[Mech]

Ain't it !  I was wondering if it was spray on galv...

[blasirl]

Thanks

[Beef Candy]

Nice work! I would say sand blasting was definitely a good call

[jscarter32]

if you haven't already, a quick coat of clear coat will help protect them some and make cleaning them easier.

[blasirl]

Thanks for the tip err reminder actually!

[jscarter32]

No Problem, Actually did it on my VRod rims after I spent a week sanding, polishing and buffing them.  Makes a big difference.

[Gwbarm]

Im just starting on my rims and all these tips are very helpful. Thanks!

[trackpin]

just getting to the latest. 99/ big bear 350 the boy wanted a toy. Rims are on the list after the rear axle machining and repair.

[blasirl]

Better to start right away before you get into daily slogging on it, that is unless you live in the north and have a heated work space.

[trackpin]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I can only work at it as time and space will allow. A lot of customer equipment in right now.

[Mech]

Ha.. Track pin..  Something none of us want to be dealing with.. Track pins that is..  Tracks are right up there with the very worst sort of machinery to be playing around with. Got my fingers bit by too many of those things.

[trackpin]

Have been playing around for forty years with the big gear , still have all my fingers and toes. Don't hear so good all the time. My wife tells me I have selective hearing. That being said I am enjoying starting the over haul on the old big bear, with my youngest. I think he enjoys spinning wrenches with his dad. He won't admit to it though. There I go off topic. Really like the pic of the finished rim though. Super job. Did you end up clear coating?

[Mech]

Good that you can get him there at all..  Just let him beat you at a few things and he'll jump at the chance.. Don't let him know you let him beat you but..haha

Edited August 25, 2023 by Mech

[Gwbarm]

That a good thing, rebuilding the Big Bear with your son, memories he will take with him the rest of his life, i had daughters and my youngest was like my shadow, whatever i was working on she was right there with me, and now grown she reminds me of things we did that i had no idea she would remember or even think about again.  

[trackpin]

Thanks for the advice Mech, i will definitely take that under advisement.

[Mech]

Nice Gw. It's important to make those moments.

[trackpin]

Gwbarm, reading your post I realized how much of an impact you had without knowing it at the time.  Great you folks took the time to be able have the memories.

[Mech]

That's something I found home-schooling my sons Trackpin.  And applied in the workshop. Let them compete, or apply themselves, and win, and it encourages them no end... Especially competing against Dad..  haha.

 

You'll get a lot from working with the young fellah I'm sure.. It's all time put in, and it counts.

[blasirl]

On 8/23/2023 at 10:34 PM, trackpin said:

Have been playing around for forty years with the big gear , still have all my fingers and toes. Don't hear so good all the time. My wife tells me I have selective hearing. That being said I am enjoying starting the over haul on the old big bear, with my youngest. I think he enjoys spinning wrenches with his dad. He won't admit to it though. There I go off topic. Really like the pic of the finished rim though. Super job. Did you end up clear coating?

Not yet, been spending most of my time fixing my car.  The Rancher is just getting lonely sitting under a tarp.

[trackpin]

Believe me, I understand. The boy's bike is under a tarp as well. still not enough room inside to be able to do much. glad we pulled the swing arm and diff out before the rain hit.  Was able to pull it apart and found, I guess the usual.  Rear axle and diff splines both stripped. Some one ahead of our ownership had tried the old weld the carrier to the axle. In theory not a bad plan,  just makes it a little harder to repair later and I know that the parts are not really expensive, but I like to make old things work again. Good exercise for the boy to see. So over a few evenings, I bored and sweated a bushing into the carrier spun what was left of the splines off the axle and put in a set of keys. Worth a try. Will let you folks know how it works out. Sorry for getting off topic, and don't want to seem to be trying to hy-jack this thread or any other. Some times I have way to much to talk about. So If anyone is feeling that way. I am new and enjoying talking to all you folks. 

[Mech]

Good one track. It's good to chat about things other than machinery from time to time in the forums, and family relationships is as good a topic as any.

I lost my wife when my sons were two and four and bought them up(dragged them up some might say), in the workshop, and homeschooled them.. They both moved away for a time but then both came back to build on the land, with wives and kids.. Now I'm blessed by their presence and support. Time put in with your kids is just the very best thing you can do in life, and we need to get on and do it when we have the opportunity because, as I found to my sorrow, life is short.