I was warned about powder coating hubs and now...

[ivaldes1]

After another thread for hanging, painting, and clear coating spokes:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18771 The big problem now is my powder coated hub top plate is stuck and won't go down to its proper depth. I read a warning about this phenomenon in the past with powder coating hubs. I've tried sanding off some powder coat but so far no go. I am open to suggestion on ways to deal with this?

[Allan]

The easiest way to fix it is to remove the powder coat back to the edge of the spokes. You may have to do the same on the bore of the plate. These areas will then have to be hand painted with primer and enamel once the wheel is assembled, to seal out moisture.
The thIckness of the powder coat may also make pressing the spokes onto the hub difficult too, and you may have to remove the coat from the hub also.
Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

[John kuehn]

To much paint or coatings causes this. Nothing new here. Use a file to remove the coating or enough to let the hub cover to slide down.
It doesn’t take much to make the cover stick.
Sometimes a coating of rust causes this to happen.
Clean off the hub surface and the inside of the cover. Use a light coating of lube to help it go down. It will go down eventually.
The fit is suppose to be pretty snug. It’s designed to be that way. To much paint and it won’t go.

[ivaldes1]

The tolerance is very small. I had to file all of the powder coat off to get it to go on.

[Original Smith]

Sometimes, a little common sense enters the picture!

[Steve Jelf]

I agree with Allan except I would use a primerless paint and eliminate the layer of primer.

[Dan Hatch]

it is very easy to apply too much paint with powder coating. I have seen 5/8" round bar measure 3/4" because the painter got wild with the gun.
if you ever do any more you may want to look into a black E-Coat. This usually a primer which would let you assembly the hub and apply a top coat.
E-Coat will only apply about .5 mil or less to a surface. Thanks, Dan

[John kuehn]

I used Johnson’s wood wheels in Oklahoma and he mentioned that when I send the hubs and metal fellows in don’t apply heavy coats of paint to the metal parts and especially the hubs. Also just a coat of primer would do.
If the parts were painted it would make assembling the wheels a little harder to do. He makes the spokes to have a good tight fit and balances the wheels. He did a good job for me.

[TRDxB2]

If filing, sanding or grinding the excess coating doesn't work - these will .... and any place it gets on

[Tim Rogers]

Powder coating is overkill for a Model T and many applicators do not know what they're doing. Have to keep in mind when and how these cars were engineered and built...

overkill.jpg (8.96 KiB) Viewed 3711 times

[Mike Thomas]

Contact Powder Buy The Pound. They have a stripper that will take the powder off in a matter of minutes. Put some on a rag and just rub the part you want to remove. Very safe to use. Can be flushed down the drain when you are finished. Will remove powder coat and paint. I really like it.

[George Mills]

Ignacio,

I’ve never seen drawings, but experience has shown that it can be size to size between the hub and plate on a good day....so anything just causes interference.

Last time I did a set, not powdered, just polished, on a 15, it just would not go together so I had to make a plate jack out of long carriage bolts and washers ground to fit...then crank them together with the spokes in place, and when fully seated then remove and replace with the correct carriage bolts, nuts, and peen.

[ivaldes1]

And...the powder coat came off with multiple applications of Citristrip and a cup wire wheel. Citristrip turns it into a tarry substance that isn't easy to get off by hand. I didn't want to do my PPG Shopline for just 2 pieces so I did Krylon Appliance Epoxy. I think the powder coat looks really good because as advised it is thick. The Appliance epoxy not so much but the difference in appearance is slight. Hub bolts absolutely do not fit especially on the rears because you have: outside cover plate thickness, inside cover plate thickness, hub inside thickness, hub outside thickness, drum outside thickness, drum inside thickness. That's 6 thicknesses on all the surfaces so if the powder coat is on thick, hub bolts literally do not reach.

[Allan]

My rule of thumb with wheels is to apply minimal paint/varnish until the wheel is assembled. The metal bits are sandblasted, and sprayed/brushed with a black etch primer. This is a thin coat mainly to prevent rust until the finish oats are applied. The wood bits get a coat of Penetrol clear sealant. The wheels go together with just these two prep coats. Finish coats of black enamel are applied after the wheels are built, as are two or three coats of clear marine spar varnish to the spokes. It takes time and care, but I have never had difficulties with assembly.

Allan from down under.

[speedytinc]

taking the good advise offered on powder coating would have saved a lot of grief. At this point, I would leave ALL the parts in a 5 gal bucket of carburator cleaner a few days & strip em bare. Then apply a coat of rattle can flat black as a primer. Finish paint after assembly. If the bolts fit, they would have eventually loosened as the soft powder paint wears in.

[kmatt2]

Ignacio, If you are using a stock small drum rear end and your axle tapers are good, you could get a set of the longer hub bolts that are made for use with the double brake drum Rocky Mt brakes to make up for the extra thickness.

[kmatt2]

Ignacio, The longer hub bolts should work on the front also if needed.

[Dropacent]

I’m a big fan of powder coated wheel parts, but you do have to make common sense allowances for the thickness, the same as painting. I use tinfoil and fine wire to keep the threads clean, and the bores clean, and my powder coater has a huge supply of silicone plugs to keep it out of holes.
The last set of parts I sent to Stutzman came back perfect. Even the hub bolts heads! I’ll never paint another normal T wheel, JMHO
Also, I’ve never had someone tell me my rims don’t look like plating. Maybe they are just being kind.

[dmdeaton]

Tim
What was the powder coat color that looks like zinc plating? You have sparked my interest

[Dropacent]

It’s a big industrial company and I just ask for silver. I’ll be in there this week, so I’ll ask.