I'm in the middle of painting my dirt bike...?

Question

and need some advice... if i do decide ot paint my chrome rims, which way would be a more practical way to go about it...

1. deflate the tire, take the tire off, the tube out, remove the spokes and hub and go from there OR

2. put tape over the spokes, and along the edge of the tire and just paint it like that....

keep in mind i have no press to remove the tire, and have never actually respoked a wheel... but i've repiared cars and worked with far more delicate 'systems'...

all i'm looking to paint is the rim itself... i still want the spokes chrome and the hub to remain the same color.

Answer 1

Are you using a 4 inch sash brush?  Or a roller?

You can make to tools to take the tires of the rim before you can make the tools to return the tire to round and tight in three dimensions. Do you have a Dial Indicator? Need it to True the wheel, to make it run straight, from side to side? Do you know how to lace the spokes to each side of the rim? If you don't, leave it to an expert with 25 years of experience.

It's an ART, not a science.

If you have tube type tires, use tire irons to brake it loose from the rim, then let the air completely out of the tube, and remove it. That's as much as you need , right?

You'll have to put the tube back in after, So put a little air ins o you don't pinch it, and put the valve stem through first. Then pulling the tire at various places you get the tube inside, air it up a bit more to see if you DID pinch it, if so patch it. Than get the beads back inside the rim and inflate it to pressure.  

Have you considered Powder coating it instead of painting it?  Lasts a lot longer, more resistant to rust, chipping, that sort of thing.

Answer 2

I hope you havent already started on them it wont stay on and will look like sh-t the first time you ride it