need help fixing empi 8 spokes

[nicolas]

hey

i am new the forum and have been building a cal-look type 3 for a couple of years now. knowledge and fuds seem to be the biggest issue in getting this project done in a timely manner (been working on it for 5 years... and counting)

so in the end of last year i bought some real 2 piece 8 spokes. you might know them if you are from belgium, because they are the silver and gold ones that BBT had for sale for a while. i still don't know if it is a good bargain or not, but i like them and the color even suits me, and they where allready in good shape. i don't have any knowledge about refurbushing wheels.

so when i bought them i took them to the local tyrestore to slap some tires on them and admire them some more.

this is where i ran into some trouble...

they are sealed together with silicone. no problem for the seal as i will run tubes (better safe than sorry and flattired)
but the main issue is that i can't get the halves seperated. they have been glued together with silicone (regular that comes easily lose on the sides but not the halves).

so please help me out here i really want to have them installed and on my car, i paid a fair bit of money for them and now i dont want to be too dissapointed in ruining them because i can't get them apart correctly.

thanks a lot for reading this and helping me out.

[Lids]

The first thing i would do is split the rims and remove all the silicone.  The wheels should be running an 'O' ring gasket which you can get made from most rubber gasket makers.  If you contact spennyp on here he might still have some.

Then get the wheels checked for cracks, and alloy welded.  Most wheel refurbishment places can do this.

When you get them put back together ask the tire guy to use some of that gunk they seal the tires with in between along with the gasket.

You should not use tubes, you will be more sorry than safe, as modern tires have a ridge on the inside of them that rubs on the tube causing it to go BANG.

Spence has had his 5 spokes done and even though the car has been sat around for a bout 6 months, they have not gone down any more than normal tires.

[spennyp]

i do have some 'o' rings for 8 spokes.......

[simon uk]

I had some 5 spokes that were sealed in this way, and I very carefully with a sharp screwdriver and a hammer gradually loosened them off. As soon as you can get between the rims they should easily come apart.

Good luck, Si.

[nicolas]

thanks i will work on it, when i am completely zen... it just feels weird to have togo to all this. as i have been told magnesium wheels are so fragile.

but is it true? are they that fragile? why did they make them? they don't seem to be a lot lighter as aluminium rims...

just asking this to have some more insight in this matter 

[speedwell]

i don't have no problem to put my tyres on my real 5 & 8 spokes 
and my 5 & 8 spokes were with a chambers inside no tubeless

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Hi Nicolas Empi 8 Spokes are not Magnesium they are Die Cast Aluminum they are Brittle and you can snap a spoke real easy on a tire machine so dont let some tire Jockey Mess them up for you I have always just used a O Ring on the Wheel but I give it a light coat of white grease grease makes the O ring expand a little an insures a tight seal when bolted together Plus its much easier to get them apart.. Hope this Helps Shubee...

[nicolas]

EUREKA!!!

yes i have had the curage to attack my rim with a hammer! and i have them nicely taken apart. i think i lost a couple of years ofmy life in the process     


enough with the drama

i also got the explanation of the goo-mistery. there are no rubber rings between the halves that is why there was silicone between them.

so if you can help me with those rings please mail me. and thanks for all the help.

i need a lot more to be done on the car before it will be ready, but this means a little step in the good direction.

nicolas