wheel Refurbishment (Valve Question)

---pete--- · Post by **---pete---** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 12:33 pm

Hi all

I'm in the process of choosing a company to do a full refurbishment of my Classic wheels (B3s) and I've had a comment back from one company about the valves.

Do the valves have to be removed from our wheels before we have a refurb? Can the thread be damaged as part of the restoration and has anyone else ever had a problem with this when getting their wheels done?

Many thanks
Pete

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 6:20 pm

I think most people just send their wheels in as they are off the car so still with tyres, valves & wheel weights - that's what I've always done with Platinum Alloy Wheel Solutions and they then remove the tyres, valves & weights, re-furb the wheel and put tyre and valve back and re-balance. If the people you're talking to don't know this I'd steer well clear and use someone with recommendations - such as PAWS in Swindon.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 6:42 pm

Pete, it's a fair question they've asked, as the valve supplies air to the mounted tyre via a hollow spoke. If you remove the valve then anything, eg. Blast media will find its way down the hollow spoke. I think the preferred method is to leave the valve in place and carefully mask around it for protection.

---pete--- · Post by **---pete---** » Sun Mar 13, 2016 7:27 pm

Yes, that's pretty much what I'm trying to work out - whether the refurb can actually be done without removing the valves or if it's not possible with the acid dip etc.

The company come highly recommended but have raised some concerns over a small chance of valve / thread damage.

Arvi · Post by **Arvi** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:31 pm

My wheels were refurbed and it looks like they kept the valves in and masked it off.

One of my wheels a year later had a slow air escape and it was down to the rubber O ring within the valve. I don't know if the refurb/heating process perishes the rubber in anyway but Â£5 odd later and a new valve and it was sorted.

---pete--- · Post by **---pete---** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 7:37 pm

Are the valves easy to remove?

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:06 pm

You need a thin walled slightly deeper than standard socket and I think one of mine from my small set just fitted - then very easily removed. I've just ordered a couple to replace the two I have on my front wheels just because they look a bit tired and also so there's no danger of the O ring leaking.

Hunter556 · Post by **Hunter556** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 10:23 am

Company that refurbed mine masked off instead of removing. When I went to collect the car 3/4 tyres were flat from the day before... Leaking from the valves which had been baked as part of the powder coating process.

Thread was then stripped on alloy as they tried to just nip up the valves.

Wheel was sent to be helicoiled FOC, and had a more competent garage check over one I got them back. Not had any problems since.

As has been mentioned, need a thin wall socket to get to the nut. Especially if powder coating as this adds a bit more thickness than paint. Believe the refurb garage stripped my threads because socket would have been very difficult to turn in such a tight fit and they've consequently over-torqued.

---pete--- · Post by **---pete---** » Wed Mar 16, 2016 11:19 am

Thanks for the info all.

I didn't really want to have to remove myself as I tend to be a bit ham fisted with things like that. It sounds like if they remain on during the process, the chances are the O-rings will be knackered so need to be removed.

I think I'll pick up some new valves as part of the refurb so at least I know there's brand new O-rings etc. I'm more concerned about the thread being stripped really.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:24 pm

Just got mine - Â£16.92

flyboyben · Post by **flyboyben** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 1:14 pm

Maybe a silly question but I'll ask it anyway.

I have a leaking valve on the front near side wheel. Is this an easy remove and replace job? Is it a case of removing the pressure from the tyre through the old valve, change out the valve, then repressure through the new valve?

If so, I'll get a new valve ordered up.

thanks
Ben

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:44 pm

flyboyben wrote: Is this an easy remove and replace job? Is it a case of removing the pressure from the tyre through the old valve, change out the valve, then repressure through the new valve?

Yes, this is the process.

You will however need a thin walled socket as the access to the valve is very tight.

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:05 pm

I spoke to a local wheel refurb place that was recommended by a well respected local bodyshop. The wheel refurb place told me that they normally hang the alloys up to dry after the powder coating by the valves (keeping them in) so as not to leave any marks on the newly applied powder coating on the alloy. Because the Alpina B10 V8 18" wheels have the value underneath the wheel cover, he suggested it wasn't possible to hang them up in this manner and that he'd need to hang them up somewhere along the inside of the wheel where the tyre would go. Does this sound right to you?

rc944 · Post by **rc944** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 11:42 am

call lepsons and send them a pic. tell your guys to do what lepsons would do. they are the best

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wheel Refurbishment (Valve Question)

wheel Refurbishment (Valve Question)

hanging wheels to dry