HOW TO: Drill mag wheels

[charlesincharge09]

Ok I got bored and figured I'd make a write up on how to drill mag rims since ther isn't one.

The hardest part I found was making the templates because of the spacing measurements because I like when the holes go from small to big.

The jig fits in nice and tight

I start by lightly applying pressure to give it a small concave marking

As you can see they all have a small dimple to mark location

All holes drilled with a small bit to start with

Pilot holes all drilled

Decided for smallest hole to be 5/16 but drilled all holes that size for easier drilling

For the next hole I went to a bigger bit
Get the idea? Just continue the process until you get the desires affect.

From my experience and research the wheels hold up just fine. And as for balancing, they all balanced out just fine.

 

[SCARE]

Excuse my ignorance, but the reason for drilling? Weight loss?
(If so - you didn't happen to weigh before and after did you?)

 

[charlesincharge09]

Excuse my ignorance, but the reason for drilling? Weight loss?
(If so - you didn't happen to weigh before and after did you?)

as over played as speed holes are, they just look cool! lol

 

[SCARE]

as over played as speed holes are, they just look cool! lol

That was actually my first guess! Looks good!

(my mate loves speed holes - check out his build here: Skull Bike Club Dirt Tracker)

 

[cobrasneverdie]

speed holes...

this was my first thought

 

[Hog_Slayer]

Is that powdercoat or paint on the finished one?

 

[charlesincharge09]

just paint

 

[Hog_Slayer]

Outstanding, thanks.
Your bike is one of my inspirations for my build

 

[charlesincharge09]

Outstanding, thanks.
Your bike is one of my inspirations for my build

thanks man! i will try to remember to make a printable cutout for the jigs to whoever wants to tackle the project

 

[taggat]

I like it. Good job thanks for sharin!

 

[Hog_Slayer]

thanks man! i will try to remember to make a printable cutout for the jigs to whoever wants to tackle the project

I'll take a set of those off your hands.

 

[Leslie]

as over played as speed holes are, they just look cool! lol

Charlie,
Go on you tube and watch what happened when Robert Dunlops rear wheel was drilled, cannot remember which year

Leslie

 

[taggat]

94? Wasn't that a single sided swingarm and they found cracks in the rim?

 

[Leslie]

Taggart,

Yes It must of been the RC51 (SP2),

I don't know about the rim cracking as I would imagine that factory race wheels are x-rayed. I would imagine that maybe some one thought it weas a good idea to lighten the bike in any way possible

Even more so on a bike built for an event like the TT I am not sure but I think he was the Honda factory rider on that occasion and may of been contesting the British Superbike Championship

I am not saying that the RD style mags will crack but it will not make them any more structurally safe

Leslie

 

[flthead]

can send me oneof the cutouts to if you can

 

[jd750ace]

The RC51 didn't show up until 2000, and was a full twin beam swingarm. You are thinking of an RC45 in '94, made from '94 to '99.

 

[timbeck]

Great job---I would also like a printable cutout of the jig---tim

 

[Leslie]

The RC51 didn't show up until 2000, and was a full twin beam swingarm. You are thinking of an RC45 in '94, made from '94 to '99.

Ace,
yes sorry mate, the RC45 so brilliantly rode by your fellow Texan Colin Edwards in the WSB.

Met him at Jack Machins Honda shop in Lincoln UK, Not far from Louth Lincolnshire where Honda Racing were based

him and Aaron Slight turned up on a open day.

Very good day if I remember.

Leslie

 

[Lester]

Hey Guys,

Ever since I read Charlesincharge build thread http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19804 I knew I had to have speed holes in my front mag. I wanted to be sure my speedholes looked just as good as his did. I am a machinist gone design engineer so I made a 3D modle of the mag and played around with the spaceing and size, of the holes and so on. I have also made a 1:1 scale printer friendly drawing with dimensions. I have not done this to my mag yet BUT I have cut it out and checked and it fits real well on the web of the spoke. The holes shown are maximum size used for its location. Balance size... as long as you do the same thing to each spoke you will theoretically be where you started. Strength wize I spoke with a stress analisis guy at work and he said it was wize to keep a safe distance from the area where the spoke meets the rim bit.

This is free to use at your own risk.
Makes sure to do two prints, one to cut out and one for dimensions in the shop while drilling.
If you found this information helpful and want to give me a heads up... I need some Shop related stickers for my tool cabinet... PM me for my address.
The print format is A3 if you don't have a printer that handles this PM me and we can sort it out.

Charlesincharge, thanks for your permission to highjack your thread.

Personally I will be making templates out of Plywood or cutting board.

 

[charlesincharge09]

Lester, great work! Makes my jigs look like caveman technology lol, can't wait to see your rims when they are done