Ask Woody About Your Wheels

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by erappaport

I know, the answer to this, like all questions is "it depends", but here goes:

I bought an 04 950A last summer, previous owner had bent the front rim and had it straightened. (I think by you, though not sure..) at this point, it runs true, and there's no vibration, if you look carefully you can still see the old wound near the valve stem opening.

I'm curious about how careful with this wheel I need to be. Is a repaired rim generally reliable if the job was done right? Right now the bike sees mostly road use, though some of the roads in Maine could use work.

These are the stock rims, I suspect you'll see them at some point anyway for an upgrade to something stronger before I take on any big adventures.

Thanks,

ER

FYI,,,i have a simple rule of thumb,,,,based on an intense desire to see another day,,hence if after i repaired something ,,,if it doesn't pass the litmus test of me being willing to go riding and racing on my handiwork.. i do not charge and state it is junk/unserviceable....

so if i repaiered it and brought it back to manufacturers specs,,and i sent it out then i wouldn't worry about it...hope it was me who repaired it

as far as ''how carefull you should be",,well ER,,,,you are riding on the notorious 'pretzel' rim,,,i've heard claims that it wilts when people stare too hard,,,,Nah,,,just teasing ,,,,keep it out of chuckholes,,,off of rocks and sharp obstructions you'll be fine,,there are hundreds of riders out there still running on em

woody

[Yellow Pig]

Originally Posted by Yellow Pig
F%&k......... Just blew apart my rear XR650R wheel and am leaving for the Swell Thurs PM.

I'll be by in the morning hoping for a quick fix & turn around.

Later Dan

Originally Posted by Woody's wheel works

ten four,,gotcha back side covered,,over and out
perhaps have an even better one laying around

woody

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

What great service. Dropped the wheel off at 10AM and told Woody I did not need it till Thursday morning.........well at 3:30PM I get a call from Zack saying my wheel was ready to go: trued, Super Laced and all. They even noticed my disk brake was warped, which I had not noticed and straightened it for me.

Now that's what I call service, and the advantage of being local.

Thanks guys!

[NCD]

Woody and crew-

I am sending in my F650 Dakar wheels in the near future for you to relace with new rims. Do you need all of the axle spacers and cush drive left on to be able to center things, or do I keep them all to prevent them from being lost? What about rotors? You are reusing spokes.

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by NorthCoastDakar

Woody and crew-

I am sending in my F650 Dakar wheels in the near future for you to relace with new rims.

Do you need all of the axle spacers and cush drive left on to be able to center things,????
we need none of this for routine work,,,we only need all this when we design a new wheel for you...

or do I keep them all to prevent them from being lost?
exactly!!!!!

What about rotors?
don't need them either unless you have us mount and balance tires too,,,you'll get abetter balance when all rotating masses are present

You are reusing spokes
is that a question or a command???,,if you say so....if you you say please use my old spokes n nipples,,, we will do that if they are seviceable,,we charge $20 to unlace and prep them and $80 to relace n true your wheel...=$100 total

here's where some extra thought may go along way...essentiallly right now you would have the same labor payment as if you had a superlace...the difference being you'd need to pay circa$100 for a custom ss spoke set...our handiwork superlacing your wheel is well known....just something to consider

OBTW...just thought of another factor that i won't know til i see your wheel has to dowith how much rust is present in your nipples..when they are filled with rust,,then i can not do an adequate job of truing because the rust will often jam the nipple,,,then it will eithe rbe anew used nipple set oem circa $40-50..at which point all the math leans in the direction of getting it superlaced...or forgoing unlacing and then just snipping the old stuff out
and installing the aftermarket ss spokes that we offer.,, custom lace n true is just $80....when i see your stuff i'll call ya if there any anomalies..

later
woody

[NCD]

Originally Posted by woody's wheel works

OBTW...just thought of another factor that i won't know til i see your wheel has to dowith how much rust is present in your nipples..when they are filled with rust,,then i can not do an adequate job of truing because the rust will often jam the nipple,,,then it will eithe rbe anew used nipple set oem circa $40-50..at which point all the math leans in the direction of getting it superlaced...or forgoing unlacing and then just snipping the old stuff out
and installing the aftermarket ss spokes that we offer.,, custom lace n true is just $80....when i see your stuff i'll call ya if there any anomalies..

later
woody

The 'reuse spokes' wasn't a command. I had spoken to Chris and he suggested possibly reusing my spokes (in good shape) with new, larger nipples. In the end, we will do what is right for a good end result!

Talk to you soon-

[azgsa]

Woody, noticed you straighten rotors on your web site. I just picked up a 2002 Dakar from an inmate in NorCal and rode it home to PHX and the front brake is pulsating like a MOFO. Putting the bike up on the centerstand the rotor seems to be dragging more in one area so I'm guessing it's bent or warped. Can't see any damage. Don't have the means to measure runout. What's the turnaround on straightening?

Thanks

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by azgsa

Woody, noticed you straighten rotors on your web site. I just picked up a 2002 Dakar from an inmate in NorCal and rode it home to PHX and the front brake is pulsating like a MOFO. Putting the bike up on the centerstand the rotor seems to be dragging more in one area so I'm guessing it's bent or warped. Can't see any damage. Don't have the means to measure runout. What's the turnaround on straightening?

Thanks

hi,,we can check for all the above,,,bent/warped rotors when left unattended/fixed tend to wear the high spots off... hence getting thinner in those areas....straightening won't cure the pulsing.... only replacing or blanchard-grinding will correct this problem.. on many current thin rotors there is not enough metal to grind off before you have reached the minimum thickness specs of the manufacturer..

there are a few good articles and threads about the other causes of pulsing caused by build-ups on the disc surface,,,,bead or media blasting will often remove them along with de-glazing your brake pads....then a proper break in procedure should get you up and running again...

woody

[Kyler]

Woody - can you lace a rim from a 15" wired auto wheel to a MC hub such as a heavy duty hub like those used for flat track racing? I am building a rally racing sidecar similar to Hog Wild's Dakar sidecar. I want to run 15" rally racing tires but don't want to make custom hubs and use custom auto wheels.

[LaPorte]

Woody

You did work on a f 800 GS and found the disc side bore to tight and found the spacer to long.

(and the distance from bearing seat of disc side to sprocket bearing race at 133.69mm ie .63mm/.025'' clearance ..ie spacer was that much longer..eliminating too short spacer as culprit)

I agree with the bore size being to tight. But isn't the spacer being to long also a problem. Wouldn't that cause outward pressure on the bearing centers after they have be installed and seated?

LaPorte

[BMacW650]

Woody,
I'm planning on sending both my hubs in to have you superlace them with some new black excel rims.
Here are a few questions, forgive me if they were asked before. I tried to search the thread but it's just too long.

1. Cost-wise, what would be the difference if I take the old wheel and spokes off myself and send in just the hubs?

2. I know I want 21" front and 18" rear. What are your thoughts in turns of the different rim width? (1.6'' vs 1.85'', 3.0 vs 2.5'', etc.) (stock Dakar wheel sizes are 21"x1.6" and 17"x3.0"). I really want the wheels setup more for off road, however I also do a lot of travelling on highways.

3. My current rear wheel has individual sealed spokes and runs tubeless tire. Because I had success doing this myself, I would like to make the same mods once I get the wheels back from you. Would the new setup take tubeless tires? (I only want to make the rear tubeless)

4. Based on what I described above, what is the rough estimate on cost and turn around time? (I want to send mine in when winter sets in around end of November)

Thanks in advance.

[tactical-T]

Wow! Not sure how I missed this thread.
Woody, I'm thinking about getting an F800 GS. Because I'm verry lazy I've not read all of the posts. So, if there is already something on here about 17" wheels for the F800 GS please point me in the right direction. From what I have been reading, however, It would seem you'd be able to answer my question. Because I like to have my cake and eat it too, I was wondering if you know of or build a good 17" motard type wheel set for the GS. I would love to have two sets for when I want to DS or scratch in the twisties. What kind of complications might I encounter. What would the approximate cost be.
Thanks for any help.
-T

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by LaPorte

Woody

You did work on a f 800 GS and found the disc side bore to tight and found the spacer to long.

(and the distance from bearing seat of disc side to sprocket bearing race at 133.69mm ie .63mm/.025'' clearance ..ie spacer was that much longer..eliminating too short spacer as culprit)

I agree with the bore size being to tight. But isn't the spacer being to long also a problem. Wouldn't that cause outward pressure on the bearing centers after they have be installed and seated?

LaPorte

la porte et al,,,

the spacer bing a bit longer is not a problem because you'll never be able to 'crush the bearings inner race against the outer race laterally...the 800 hub was designed to have the right/disc bearing do all the alignment chores..
hence DON"T WORRY!!!!

woody

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by tactical-T

Wow! Not sure how I missed this thread.
Woody, I'm thinking about getting an F800 GS. Because I'm verry lazy I've not read all of the posts. So, if there is already something on here about 17" wheels for the F800 GS please point me in the right direction. From what I have been reading, however, It would seem you'd be able to answer my question. Because I like to have my cake and eat it too, I was wondering if you know of or build a good 17" motard type wheel set for the GS. I would love to have two sets for when I want to DS or scratch in the twisties. What kind of complications might I encounter. What would the approximate cost be.
Thanks for any help.
-T

no worryies ,,,we have a spare front hub to build ya a nice 3.5 x17 black rim for SM work,,,,

psssst....FYI,,,i'm more inclined to use a 2,50x19 on the front if you want an even more well rounded ride that's not as twitchie,,ie i think it's an all around better investment

woody

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by FWIW

Woody - can you lace a rim from a 15" wired auto wheel to a MC hub such as a heavy duty hub like those used for flat track racing? I am building a rally racing sidecar similar to Hog Wild's Dakar sidecar. I want to run 15" rally racing tires but don't want to make custom hubs and use custom auto wheels.

if the car wheel has 40 spokes like some very early MG's that would work with a 40 hole hub..

remember ya have to mathch the holes,,,,also later rims used 60 and td finally 72 spoke wheels,,,i have few 60 spoke hubs floatin garound,,,

basically if we can match the holes we can come up with a workable solution

woody

[Kyler]

Originally Posted by woody's wheel works

la porte et al,,,

the spacer bing a bit longer is not a problem because you'll never be able to 'crush the bearings inner race against the outer race laterally...the 800 hub was designed to have the right/disc bearing do all the alignment chores..
hence DON"T WORRY!!!!

woody

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