I had the tires pried off the rims on the Satoh tractor I'm refurbishing.

There's plenty of steel there and they're definitely reusable, but the inside of the rim needs to be cleaned up and smoothed out enough to keep from chafing the tube.

I've got a handle on getting the rust and scale off, what I'm looking for is suggestions on a coating that will at least partially fill the inevitable pits and protect the tube. If it seals the surface against further rusting, even better.

I'm planning to put a rubber band around the deepest part of the rim dish like they used to on spoked motorcycle wheels.

Any suggestions as to process or supplies greatly appreciated.

I've heard great things about POR-15...

https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Rust-Preventive-Coating

You can use high build primer, lab metal, JB weld, or TIG on larger pits.

I'd media blast them then prime it with self etching primer before any final finish.
However, you could wire brush off as much as you could then hit it with Ospho followed by primer/topcoats.
POR15 works too with less work ~ just wire brush then paint with POR15 (it encapsulates it) then a topcoat.
On my Iron (actually steel) gate that was like that ~ I used a grinder down to metal (some rust) then Ospho, followed by Epoxy primer then sandable primer then single stage urethane auto paint.
The better the prep (more work) the better the results both in looks and lasting.
Check out Eastwood ~ they have everything under the sun for rust work.

Sandblast and powdercoat.

Sandblast it first and then see what you have, you probably can sandblast them enough to smooth out the rough parts.

I would agree on sand blast for sure.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Sandblasting is the obvious course, but mine isn't big enough to get the rims in and the nearest commercial place is 70-odd miles away and backed up for weeks.

I'll do the best I can with my tools and depending on the results spot fill with bondo if needed and hit them with several coats of paint.

It ain't like the tractor is ever gonna work for a living...

Try a wire brush wheel on a drill, wear safety goggles.

Put some Windex on it

quote:

Originally posted by bigwagon:
Sandblast and powdercoat.

This ^^^^^. Once and done!!!

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Sandblasting is the obvious course, but mine isn't big enough to get the rims in

Alas...
If only you knew someone filled with yankee ingenuity, handy with tools, well stocked with varied and sundry items of scrap metal, who could rig up a temporary sandblasting enclosure large enough to hold a rim.

Wish I could recommend someone to you...
I've heard of a guy in Downeast who's pretty clever. Cain't recall his name... (cough, cough)

I would sandblast them myself even without a cabinet.
Just wear goggles a mask and respirator in an open area. Media is cheap enough for a one time thing.
$10 per 50 lb bag at tractor supply

^^^^^^
Or that...

I sandblasted the radiators from my first house in the driveway, inside an old camping tent, wearing a GI M17 gas mask. Was able to recover/recycle about 90% of the blast media for the duration of that project.

quote:

Originally posted by motor59:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Sandblasting is the obvious course, but mine isn't big enough to get the rims in

Alas...
If only you knew someone filled with yankee ingenuity, handy with tools, well stocked with varied and sundry items of scrap metal, who could rig up a temporary sandblasting enclosure large enough to hold a rim.

Wish I could recommend someone to you...
I've heard of a guy in Downeast who's pretty clever. Cain't recall his name... (cough, cough)

Handsome sumbitch too...

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Might just have to do something like that.

Humble yet lovable as well.

On my Farmall M I used 36 grit sandpaper on a 7 inch sander/grinder. Being very careful to avoid the tire bead area I brushed on truck bed liner, whatever Harbor Frieght calls their version of it.

I wonder what just a thin coat of Flex-Seal would work like after some serious prep with a steel bush followed by a coat of POR-15 would be like? Don't know anyone who's tried such; just brain storming.

When working on Dads Ford 4000 rear wheel, I just filled in the pits with 2 part epoxy, sanded and painted.

I’m with the “sandblast and powdercoat” camp. It’s what I would do if it were mine.