1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

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bob1123
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1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#1

Post by bob1123 »

Recently took the wheels off my 1989 FLHS to replace tires. Noticed there was a lot of rust on the rim under the rim strip. I was suprised. The rim is pretty clean on the outside. Cleaned it off with a wire wheel and there was a lot of pitting. Is this rim still serviceable or should I replace it?

Also, been reading on how I might re-lace this rim. Did a set of panhead rims many years ago. Read through the whole section of my manual on wheels, hubs, and tires. Nowhere does it state what the hub to rim dimension/offset should be. How far should the hub protrude from the rim?
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Last edited by bob1123 on Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
RooDog
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Re: 1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#2

Post by RooDog »

This is exactly why I run cast aluminum, mag, wheels: No tubes, rim strips, rust, and in an emergency I can plug a hole in the tire to get to the next pit stop.
Otherwise, I have no advice for you other than to ditch that Clymer manual, and get an official Harley-Davidson Manual, and parts book, specific to your year & model
....RooDog....
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Re: 1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#3

Post by RUBONE »

Common on all steel rims, especially on bikes washed with a car wash wand or pressure washer. If the rims look like that the wheel bearings are probably not far behind as pressure kills them with water pushed past the seals. Same with swingarm and steering head bearings.
As to the rusty rims, it won't hurt things to continue to run them unless the rust is so bad as to compromise the nipple holes. those look like many others.
The offset is laid out in factory books.
bob1123
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Re: 1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#4

Post by bob1123 »

Bought a factors manual. Doesn't say anything about lacing, offset, or really anything about a 16 inch laced wheel. There's a section for a 19 and 21 inch wheel, but nothing for a 16 inch wheel.
Mongrel505558
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Re: 1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#5

Post by Mongrel505558 »

bob1123 wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:03 am Bought a factors manual. Doesn't say anything about lacing, offset, or really anything about a 16 inch laced wheel. There's a section for a 19 and 21 inch wheel, but nothing for a 16 inch wheel.
The bottom line is the 16" rim should be centered in line with the frame backbone. Lace it up on the bench and true it up on the bike before mounting the tire. Use a wire wheel on a drill for the rust. That doesn't look that bad. I've seen worse. I've gotten the rust off and painted the inside of the rim under where the band goes with plain old black Rust-oleum. Brush - not rattle can. Lacing is easy for 16" wheels. If you don't screw up right from the start then they practically build themselves. Take pictures of what you have before you take the bolt cutters to the spokes, paying attention to which way the inside and outside spokes point (clockwise or counterclockwise) depending on if brake or sprocket side. Just get the nipples started and go around tightening evenly until rim is rigid - then start truing. You shouldn't have too much truing to do. Oh, also give the spoke heads a ding with a drift to make sure they're seated in the spools.
RooDog
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Re: 1989 FLHS Rusty Laced Rim Advice

#6

Post by RooDog »

I laced my own wheels many years go, 21s on a Big Twin, and a K-Model, and a coupla 16" rears. Any idiot can do it, I know I did....
....RooDog...

PS: But now I only do "mag" wheels & tubeless tars....
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