The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: davidpdx on November 09, 2019, 01:27:54 PM

Title: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: davidpdx on November 09, 2019, 01:27:54 PM
Has anyone had any experience with straightening snowflake wheels or having them straightened by someone else. My front wheel has experienced a bad hit at sometime in it's life and has quit a bulge on both sides. It does not cause much of a handling problem as long as I keep my tire inflated to 38 or so but if I back the pressure off to 32 or so it gets noticeable.   Thanks, David   
Title: Re: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: Bob_Roller on November 09, 2019, 01:58:26 PM
I have not had any wheels straightened, but about  a yesr ago I was at the local BMW car delership getting parts for my Z3 .
There was a large trailer that had wheel straightening on the side, the two people were straightening auto wheels .

I asked if they worked on motorcycle wheels, specificly older BMW wheels .

One of them said they had, the older snowflake wheels are quite soft and easily reworked as long as they were not cracked .

Might want to try contacting a local BMW car dealership and see if they this work done by a similar type business .
Title: Re: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: wilcom on November 09, 2019, 02:07:41 PM
Woody's wheel works does straightening.

https://woodyswheelworks.com/
Title: Re: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: davidpdx on November 09, 2019, 04:26:57 PM
Thanks for the ideas. Now I just got to get my ass in gear and take the wheel off.
Title: Re: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: Tony Smith on November 11, 2019, 05:12:58 AM

Yes it can be done.

the wheels on my wife's bike were straightened after she found a massive pothole and the rear is still on that bike.

The front got damaged in the accident I had on it and it now has the front from the 1984 edition I bought to supply the parts needed to repair her bike.

Recently I delivered a very bent (and cracked) LS rear wheel to a local engineering firm and it is now welded up and straight - they are going to heat the entire wheel and then let it cool to ensure it remains straight. This was an expensive job, but I also asked them to look at the original front wheel from my wife's bike - the quote is $85 to straighten it.

I believe that they mount the wheel in a big lathe and use wooden "bucks" to press it straight, but I am not certain on this and it is a black art closely guarded secret.

All I can suggest is to ask to see before and after photos of their past work.
Title: Re: Straightening snowflake wheels
Post by: georgesgiralt on November 11, 2019, 12:36:02 PM
Hello,
My local BMW Guru straitened one front wheel on my R65. I had two, one was "not salvageable" by it's words.
So yes, it is possible and was done....