53 K Spokes Recommendations

[Mayday53]

OK thanks, I will have to check that too...the guy who bought them for me said he knew what he was doing...now I am wondering....

[EKHKHK56]

Yes definite different part numbers, etc. The angle on half the holes is quite different on front rim until about 1964. Dave said the K. H. Vintage wheels are available, that's what you want. Quality foremost. Buchanan is the best. Erik K

[hennesse]

Mayday,

What size wheels and tires came with your bike? 1953's could have been 19" or 18". Are you sure your rims are unsafe? Photos? If the originals are still usable, it would be best to have them rechromed and use them.

[EKHKHK56]

They would have been 19" stock. I agree Dave. I had my 56KHK 18" wheels that where rough but solid re-chromed and they look great. Not perfect when lightly prepped, and just simple one plate not triple show. Look just right. If you are going for freeway riding the taller 19" is preferable. Erik

[Mayday53]

It had 18" rims, but they had pin holes in them from the corrosion, not safe in our estimation. That said, if there is a safe way to repair them...that would be nice to know. I will get pics tonight after work and share to see if you evaluate the same way. It is not unlikely the guy helping me just wanted to make some extra money by selling me parts...not that that would ever happen...HA!

[EKHKHK56]

Well if they are rusted to the point of holes no they are not safe. I had a rim blow up on me. It had corrosion but looked OK. Split open like a banana when I put air to it. See earlier post Safety Warning old wheels...Erik

[hennesse]

They would have been 19" stock.

The 1953 Season Order Blank shows under "K Tire Options"
3.25x19 Firestone Sportsman Tires, Front and Rear (N/C)
3.50x18 Tires, Front and Rear (N/C)
3.25x19 Front and 4.00x18 Rear ($2.00)
3.50x18 Front and 4.00x18 Rear ($2.00)

So the 18's are correct. Good used 18" rims are much easier to find. The rears are the same 1953-1969. Fronts are the same 1953-1963. As mentioned before, Fronts 1964-1969 have different spoke holes for the full-width front brake drum. Front and Rear 1970's-up have that funky squared-off drop center. Of course, you'll have to find a good used set, and then have them rechromed, which will take a few months. Unless you luck (and $) into a pair that are ready to go.

Modern tires are more available in the 18", particularly for the rear. Same for finding a usable pair of vintage tires. Given the choice, I'd go with 18"s.

On the other hand, my 54 KH came with 19" so I decided to keep it that way. The front was kinda rusty inside, so I painted it black and drove the bike for a year. No explosions, so I sent the rims to the chrome platers.

I'm really surprised that your wheels have pinholes - in the photos, your wheels look decent. But of course we can't see the insides.

[Mayday53]

Well, I publicly admit I may have suffered from the old adage "a fool and his money will soon part" as I started this rebuild; my first ever. 18 months ago, I took my old rims, which the guy simply cut the spokes to remove for some unknown reason, and hung them above my shop table, without really inspecting them myself, and I had the "expert" order me new wheels. So after reading the responses on this thread, I pulled them down and inspected them. Despite being told they had pinholes in them, I could NOT find any...only corrosion and surface rust. Thus, I am going to get them media blasted and see if they are safe to use; which is my STRONG preference, to keep it original.

Here are pics of the worst areas of corrosion: please share your thoughts...

Front Rim

53 K wheel (1).jpg (92 KiB) Viewed 13258 times

53 K wheel (2).jpg (102.92 KiB) Viewed 13258 times

Rear rim

53 K wheel (3).jpg (127.94 KiB) Viewed 13258 times

[EKHKHK56]

Those don't look that bad. They won't be show quality but they never were when original. Mine had similar rust and had very minor pits which when chromed over look OK. You have to really look closely to see. Are the insides decent? Erik

[Mayday53]

Grabbed the original rims down from the "wall art" hangers. I found out a few things; first, they are 19" rims versus 18" as my "expert helper" stated. Second, when I removed the corrosion with a wire brudh the wheels looked pretty darn solid. Third, there is NO evidence of pin holes anywhere. In case you were wondering, he cut the spokes because "it made it easier to remove the wheels" when disassembling...

Here are some pics:

Before Clean up Rear Rim

Picture3.jpg (132 KiB) Viewed 13246 times

Rear wheel cleaned up

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Rear Wheel

Picture2.jpg (87.62 KiB) Viewed 13246 times