Polishing wheels

speed bump

speed bump

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Jan 29, 2012
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I watched a video where someone was polishing wheels on a lathe. Looked like they where using a pin gauge maybe to go into the wheel bore?

If so will it scratch the bores?

What size pin gauge is it? If that is what it is.

If not what is he using?

I have a lathe at work to play with but don't have a lot of knowledge about it. Can make bushing and spacers stuff like that is all . I think some good polishing on the inside edge and the inside cone might help me out.
 
As I understand, the wheel is pressed on to a pin when using a lathe to turn a wheel. The pin is sized so friction holds/spins the wheel during the turning process. Unless you are confident in your abilities, I would not do this to polish the wheel. It's too easy to ruin the bore. There are other ways to polish the edges and hubs that are safer.
 
That's kinda what I figured. Looking for a way to polish those areas better. I will keep looking.
 
Having just entered into this world of little cars a few months ago with my twin Lion scouts be forewarned my ideas are that of a total newb. I have found that a dremel felt polishing tip (#422) mounted on a #401 shaft really polishes up the hubs extremely well (I hand hold the wheel, avoiding the need of anything in the bore, and use a hand drill, being nervous of the dremel rpms). For the inner wheel edge I glued two polishing discs together with a hole in the middle of the outer one to accommodate the inner hub. The polish is applied to the felt. I have pretty much done it with the multiple steps John instructs with his wheel bore polishing products. Seems to work well, but I have little experience for comparison. Others might see issues with this or have better ideas.
 
I tried the drill with q tip this weekend. Put it on number one setting for speed and worked great. Slow and steady seamed to work the best. Now if I can get the Cajun hot sauce to make my car run faster.
 
speed bump said:
I watched a video where someone was polishing wheels on a lathe. Looked like they where using a pin gauge maybe to go into the wheel bore?

If so will it scratch the bores?

What size pin gauge is it? If that is what it is.

If not what is he using?

I have a lathe at work to play with but don't have a lot of knowledge about it. Can make bushing and spacers stuff like that is all . I think some good polishing on the inside edge and the inside cone might help me out.
Click to expand...
 
A pin gage in a 3 jaw chuck on most lathes will have a runout of about .003" - not good enough. You should turn a bore mounting pin, like aluminum, to the size of the wheel bore and mount the wheel on the pin, then turn the wheel OD to clean it up and that will make the OD concentric with the bore. The pin should be a close slip fit to the bore and polished so it does not scratch the bore. I mount and turn and face a piece of plastic rod stock about the OD of the wheel in the 3 jaw chuck then drill that to press fit an aluminum rod which I then turn the pin and polish it to fit the wheel bore. You now have a mounting system that will hold the face of the wheel square to the bore. I use double stick tape on the face of this mounting surface to hold the wheel in place while I turn the OD of the wheel using light cuts to clean up the OD. You can also cut and polish the wheel to width (like 7.5 mm) with the wheel mounted this way. To remove the wheel from the double stick tape you can apply a little alcohol to loosen it. I also use the lathe tailstock center lightly against the inner wheel hub to help keep the wheel in place and against the sticky tape.
 
Cycrunner that is some great information. I copied this and put it in my notes. I have lots of aluminum rods since I work on airplanes. I will try this method and might have to ask u questions later. Thanks speed bump.
 
Mojo Racing said:
and like a good roux, make sure not to scorch it !
Click to expand...
Mojo my wife family all spoke French when I met her. She knows how to make a dark roux without burning it. If that is all it took to go fast I would have it made. I am pleased with my improvement in speed. At least I can say I did it by myself and it feels good too
 
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haha... My wife is from Alexandria... We lived in West Monroe before we moved to Ohio in 2011.... HUGE change up here... no spice in the foods up here.... My wife just made homemade chicken and sausage gumbo for me Thursday... It didn't come in time for the prep on the cars, but it was GOOOOOD during the race !

:)
 
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Mojo Racing said:
haha... My wife is from Alexandria... We lived in West Monroe before we moved to Ohio in 2011.... HUGE change up here... no spice in the foods up here.... My wife just made homemade chicken and sausage gumbo for me Thursday... It didn't come in time for the prep on the cars, but it was GOOOOOD during the race !

:)
Click to expand...

A Cajun at heart! I knew I liked you for a reason. Haha
 
Mojo Racing said:
haha... My wife is from Alexandria... We lived in West Monroe before we moved to Ohio in 2011.... HUGE change up here... no spice in the foods up here.... My wife just made homemade chicken and sausage gumbo for me Thursday... It didn't come in time for the prep on the cars, but it was GOOOOOD during the race !

:)
Click to expand...
I live 45 miles east of Monroe ( Tallulah). I was cutting and putting up okra last night and told my wife that was going to b good in chicken and sausage gumbo this winter. Mojo PM me your address I will send a Cajun package to you.
 
HAHAHA ! ! ! My mom lives just north of you Speed Bump ! She lives up near Oak Grove !

One of the guys I used to work with lived up there also... and he used to go fishing on Poverty Point Reservoir... He and his brother were out one day, and a bunch of ducks were still on the lake, so they got a net out, hit the gas on the boat, and went duck fishin'.... I was laughing too hard when they were telling us that story. haha

So, here is an idea... as slimy as okra is when it is boiled... we might look at this as a lubricant... LOL :rolleyes:
 
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Its a small world for sure. The game wardens love it when people go duck/ fishing. hahah
Okra is very slick for sure.
 
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