FXDL - Phase 1
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,141
Likes: 1,924
From: Unreconstructed
Sent the wheels off for powder coating and after 3 weeks got them back. Was happy with how they came out, its not chrome but for a bunch of reasons inclusive of cost, lead time and logistics - powder coating was the path of least resistance.
Challenges with reassembly all centered around the lack of masking. I had a shop reinstall the bearings and they did not tell me they had any issues but when it came to the brake discs and pulley - nothing wanted to go back on. The powdercoater did not mask either the outside of the hub or the flanges where brake discs and pulley seat. So, getting the parts to index and sit flush meant a lot of filing/grinding of the powder coat on the lip of the hub.
Got everything on and I swear both my front and rear brakes are far more spongy than they were before (I did not open either brake circuit, so no reason they should need to be bled). Granted, it's been a month since I've ridden it and in the meantime I've been riding my FXLRST which has a rock hard front brake and a firm but minimally useful rear, so maybe its just the one bike to another but I don't remember the difference being so stark. I have eyeballed the discs and from what I can see, they look centered between the pads.. I am concerned though that the very slight offset of the discs from the thickness of the powder coating and/or the discs not being perfectly flush to the hubs is contributing to this feeling. Just pushing the bike around it does not feel like there is any dragging, nor can I hear a disc dragging. I only got to take the bike out for a 5 min ride, the weather here has been garbage but I am wanting to do any other checks you guys suggest before my next 45 mile commute to work.
Challenges with reassembly all centered around the lack of masking. I had a shop reinstall the bearings and they did not tell me they had any issues but when it came to the brake discs and pulley - nothing wanted to go back on. The powdercoater did not mask either the outside of the hub or the flanges where brake discs and pulley seat. So, getting the parts to index and sit flush meant a lot of filing/grinding of the powder coat on the lip of the hub.
Got everything on and I swear both my front and rear brakes are far more spongy than they were before (I did not open either brake circuit, so no reason they should need to be bled). Granted, it's been a month since I've ridden it and in the meantime I've been riding my FXLRST which has a rock hard front brake and a firm but minimally useful rear, so maybe its just the one bike to another but I don't remember the difference being so stark. I have eyeballed the discs and from what I can see, they look centered between the pads.. I am concerned though that the very slight offset of the discs from the thickness of the powder coating and/or the discs not being perfectly flush to the hubs is contributing to this feeling. Just pushing the bike around it does not feel like there is any dragging, nor can I hear a disc dragging. I only got to take the bike out for a 5 min ride, the weather here has been garbage but I am wanting to do any other checks you guys suggest before my next 45 mile commute to work.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,957
Likes: 8,048
From: poway
Yeah, If you have PC between the pulley and the hub, you can destroy the wheel hub.. PC acts like a lubricant and allows the pulley and discs to shift. Pulley bolts come loose and the loose pulley bolts destroy the hub, pulley and possibly catch on the swingarm. I'd pull the wheels, dismount the tires and take to a machine shop and have that stuff machined off. You might get away with aviation stripper, wire brush, scraper and good mill file but you'll have to be real meticulous on the process.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Unreconstructed
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,028
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From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Looks like a fun ride. Get ready to replace the **** rear wheel bearings, soon.
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Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 80
Likes: 67
From: Mass
It's not surprising, but still I think, pretty shitty of your powder guy. Finding out what NOT to coat should be part of the intake process, not to mention that whoever shot it saw the uncoated areas and shot them anyway. I just can't fathom the thoughts (or lack of) that go through someone's head when they do something like that. I guess that's why I don't work in a trade like that, I'd ask too many questions and slow down the process. Shrug...
In his defense, hes a good guy and Ive used him a bunch of times but I agree, masking a machines surface should be standard and I must admit, Im embarrassed I didnt understand the scope of the issue when I picked them up or assembled. I called him and will be dropping them back off this week. Hes going to try to chemically strip just the machined areas so the tires and bearings can stay on. If that doesnt work, completely strip and re-do . Which will suck and probably what will end up happening in the end of the day.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,549
Likes: 34,795
From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
In his defense, hes a good guy and Ive used him a bunch of times but I agree, masking a machines surface should be standard and I must admit, Im embarrassed I didnt understand the scope of the issue when I picked them up or assembled. I called him and will be dropping them back off this week. Hes going to try to chemically strip just the machined areas so the tires and bearings can stay on. If that doesnt work, completely strip and re-do
. Which will suck and probably what will end up happening in the end of the day.
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Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 80
Likes: 67
From: Mass
Thanks, I asked them to get as close to chrome as they could. In the bright sun, its pretty good but any other light the shine just isnt there. Still a lot better than stock though IMO.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3,081
Likes: 1,240
From: New Hampsha
Snake eyes is being polite. The bolts will break, the pulley will fly off, and anything that gets in its way will break.
Search for threads on "pulley bolts broken".
Search for threads on "pulley bolts broken".
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,141
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From: Unreconstructed
"pulley bolts broken", "pulley bolts backed-out". Words that chill my spine.