Whats can i do to remove rust from inside the rim on a 28-9 wheel?
Can i drill holes on the inside of the rim edge to blast with air , i hear rust as i spin the wheel.
Or any other way?
Thank you.........Larry

Larry,
I know some folks do drill small holes near the "seam' (where the rolled edge meets the rim) and put POR15, or a similar rust inhibiting product in and slosh the wheel around. This is a typical problem with 26-29 Ford "wire" wheels, rusting out from the inside out. I figure it won't get better (the rusting problem) as time goes on!
T'ake care,
David D.

Many times I have done 26-27 wire wheels. I drill a little hole on each bead 180 degrees apart (inside where the tire bead will cover it--4 holes helps clean it out). Send them to the stripper and when they come back tack weld one end (both sides). Now go to your local veterinarian buddy and ask for the biggest syringe he has and load it with primer and flood the wheel and roll it around to make a big mess where it all leaks out of the bead. Wait a few days and do the same thing with rustoleum paint then quick plug weld the last 2 holes and roll it around for another big mess.

You could skip the stripper and primer and paint and just drill 2 holes and use POR if they aren't really rusty. Still is going to be a big mess and you will have to put lots into the bead and then quick tack it with a wire welder then slosh it around. You will have to hit the little welds with a grinder but if in the proper place the tire will cover the hole and weld (a glob of brass will work just as well).

Just the way I have done it and I am happy for me. Don't ask the veterinarian for a syringe with a needle on it or he might call the police. You might use a $2 turkey baster if you can make a little tip out of something like the cut off end of a caulk tube (non silicone). It is a messy job but your wheels won't sound like they are full of sand.

Tim Moore

You can get syringes at a good feed store, I've used them for filling wood, etc. Never had any problem purchasing them--needles are way to big for human use, I guess!
S'
David D.

Some of us have no problem getting needles and syringes.

Noel

Just did mine, pretty much as suggested above, but I drilled and tapped 1/4-28 and plugged the holes with set screws and locktite. The chips came out with the rust, and if I ever need to get back into one because I did an um, less than perfect job...

Can i drill a 3/8 hole or 1/4 to the inside rim and blast, then mount the wheel .will the tire cover the holes [it has a wide edge on it ]so i can just leave the holes open for future cleaning?
Thanks...... Larry

Larry,

I don't know why you couldn't leave them open if you want as long as the holes are far enough in so the tire seals them up--you don't want water getting inside the rolled edge. If they aren't too bad you might just blow the rust out with compressed air then "inject" your sealer of choice--just want it dry inside first.

As a follow up--after all that I mount the wheel in an engine stand that I have a cut off front axle and welded spindle on with a front hub. I spin the wheel around and paint the inside of the rim with a brush and let it dry (after painting the inside of the hub a day or two earlier). After this dries you can paint the wheel with little spins and can touch the inside of the rim to spin it since this is already painted and dry.

Wire wheels take lots of work to finish--if they are nice wheels a consult with a powder-coater might be easier and less expense considering your time in work, materials and clean up.

Tim Moore

One more Qwestion ..What color is best for a 26 coupe?
THank you all for the input...Larry

From the encyclopedia: "Wire wheels, introduced in January 1926 in black only at first, then in several colors, became optional."

Mine are now black. When I got them, they had several coats of various rattle-can colors from previous owners. Les Schwab Tires (west coast) shipped them to their main shop in Prineville, Oregon, stripped, powder coated them gloss black, and shipped them back to their outlet a few blocks from my house for $25 per wheel. One week turnaround. That's a third of what I was quoted elsewhere, and they turned out beautiful. They have other colors too, but I was only interested in black, so I didn't get the list. I have no affiliation with the company, but when I heard of this deal, I thought it was worth a try, and I'm happy with the results.

Noel; Tsk, Tsk

Jim Weir