Repair 7

How to Repair Motorcycle Wheels

Impacts with road debris, pot holes and speed bumps can, over time, bend and warp a motorcycles wheel. This can affect the motorcycles performance, as well as cause the tire to wear unevenly. Motorcycle wheels made out of magnesium or an alloy need to be repaired by a mechanic with access to highly specialized equipment. Repairing minor damage to spoked wheels, however, is fairly straightforward.

Instructions

1

Use a motorcycle lift to raise the motorcycle. Once raised, use the chains and straps to tie the motorcycle down. If the motorcycle has an integrated center stand, you can use that instead of a lift.

2

Attach the magnetic dial indicator to a fixed segment of the wheel. Take the dials indicator arm and center it halfway between the center of the wheel and the outside edge of the wheel. Calibrate the dial indicator so it reads zero.

3

Turn the wheel and watch the dial. Whenever the number on the dial indicator is greater than 0.01, mark that spot on the wheel with a plus sign. Whenever the number on the dial indicator is less than -0.01, mark that on the wheel with a minus sign.

4

Use the spoke wrench to tighten all of the spokes near the minus signs, and loosen spokes near the plus signs.

5

Hit the rim of the wheel gently with the dead-blow hammer at any place where the rim is bent.

6

Repeat steps three to six until the dial indicators number does not become greater than 0.01 or less than -0.01.