Bent Wheel.

[Devgus]

So I got my new magna, which is really Gregs old Magna and unfortunately, we bought it without realiazing that the front wheel is noticebly bent! We came across this while cleaning, you know how I am, but realized that it doesn't have any strange vibrations or tendencies while riding. I can truthfully say that the tire has been losing about 1 psi per day as it is. The question is for those of you with more wheel knowledge than I myself have, is this an issue or is it just a cosmeitc concern? Pictures can be seen here at



//www.devgus.50megs.com/bentwheel.html

[Charles S Otwell]

If leaking air is the only problem  you might try letting the air out of the tire and taking a small piece of wood and a small ball peen hammer and tapping back and forth across the bent area. A little at a time it should return to its shape pretty easy. Break the bead and clean and soap and reseal. if your careful with alittle polishing you'll never know you were there.

[Greg Cothern]

We are still watching the pressure, as we fill it up to 38 on Sunday evening and Tuesday evening it was 36.  So I we are going to watch it for a few days, and finish cleaning and going over it thoroughly.
If all turns out ok I plan to beat the heck out it with a hammer    LoL, nah gently tap it back into place as you suggested.

[kdf9511]

If the leeking air is the only problem.  You could put a tube in the tire.  When I got mine changed recently I found out that the previous 2 owners and myself have been riding on a tube.  I went ahead and had the tube put back in until I can get a new wheel.

Mine wasnt bent but someone had used fix-a-flat and pitted the wheel in the bead seal so it did not hold air correctly.

[Marc Albea]

Is the actual wheel bent/warped or is it the lip that has been pushed in by a curb or summat?

Assuming from the postings that it not warped but dented around the edge somewhere.

Marc.

[Greg Cothern]

Marc does not appear to be out of round at all just the bead lip.  But that is what concerns me on the safety side issue.  Could the bead possibly fail?

[Charles S Otwell]

Greg the aluminum alloy used in wheels is really strong and pretty forgiving, It would have to be bent bad enough to actually crack the aluminum to hurt the integrety of the metal .

[Greg Cothern]

Charles thanks for the information.  We checked pressure again today and it is holding at 36 which was 2 down from the 38 we put it at.
We dunked it in the bathtub to check for bubbles and never found any.
I am thinking now that it is more cosmetic.  I hope a piece of wood and a hammer will lessen the appearance????

[Shortround]

That appears to be from impacting something like a curb hard. There may be some cord damage to the tire as well.

[Greg Cothern]

The tire is less than a month old and appears as such, with no damage whatsoever.
I think it was incurred from the tire change, either a over zealous tire iron or the machine gripped to hard.  Tire iron is what I am thinking.
If the wheel had been bent by hitting a curb hard it would have damaged the othe side of the wheel as well or put the bike down I think.  
Since there is no other damage I am quite certain it was not a riding incident.

[Marc Albea]

I would think that it'll be ok.  If you are really concerned or it starts to leak more you might consider a bead of RTV around the circumference.  I've "heard" rumor that this works pretty good.  I'm actually thinking of trying it on the big Magna cause I lose about 2-4 pounds evrey 24 hours in the front tire.  Believing the cause to be that flaking of the chrome inside the wheel.  I'll wait until it's time to change out the tire though and do a good wire brush or wire wheel to remove the loose chrome.

Marc.

[kdf9511]

Greg,  I was doing some research on restiching the split seam on my seat and came across this place http://www.framestraightsystem.com/Alloywheel.htm.  According to thier site they will straighten a bent wheel for only $140.00.