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| | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | In '09 had had Stockton Wheel put new rims on my stock centers. While at the car wash I noticed one of them is cracked. These rims are welded on. Now I'm wondering if I sent them a bad center or if the welding embrittled the metal. Anyone else had welded wheels crack? Cracked wheel. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Haven't had the problem Charlie, but since I've been welding
since I was in short pants, made a living at it for many years
and am now in my 70's, it looks like your getting stress cracks
that start at the edge of the welds.
I can't say for sure but it might have been because the centers
were a tiny bit smaller than the rim ID and when they welded it
and the weld shrank it's putting to much load on the joint.
And again I don't know for sure, but I'd bet that factory welded
rims are stress relieved before they are put into service.
DG
Last edited by Denny Graham; 03/03/2013 4:58 AM.
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Wow, that is interesting. I have always wondered about the liability of being in that kind of business, reworking older rims. I am going to guess that you can't be the only one with that problem. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Some time back, right after I brought my '50, 3604 home, I
gathered up a whole bunch of 15" split rims and drilled out the
rivet to get the centers. The plan was to send them to one of
the wheel shops and have them installed in a single piece rim
for radial tires. The problem that Charlie has uncovered is the
exact reason that I've been hesitant to do it.
He's lucky he found it now rather than on the trip up to KC at
75mph.
That can't be the only case that they have run into.
Denny G
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Cletis: Maybe this is obvious and is just a reminder. I believe Denny would agree to not run any of them anymore. Cracks are not always visible with the naked eye. That's what dye penetrant and such is for. Was that whole process, sending them away and having them welded, cheaper than finding a set of used or new?
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | The weld is only as good as the welder.
"New" will probably be chinese made and I would rather trust a bad welder. I bought a pair for my modern truck after smacking one of my alloys on a curb one icy morning. Never ever got them to balance because the metal was so soft that they bent every time I went around a corner. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | question I'd have is why not find a good set of used 55-60 wheels? I could see Denny insisting on 6 hubcap clips instead of 3, but is there any other real difference?
Bill | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Cletis: Was that whole process, sending them away and having them welded, cheaper than finding a set of used or new? FriedGreen: In the words of a fellow Stovebolter "I hate quoting myself, but"... I did say used or new
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | I know, I was just warning on the evils of what you get for new these days.  | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 |
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | As you all should know, good used are hard to find. Plus I wanted a wider wheel. A couple of guys on the GMC board had used Stockton and I thought that would be the way to go. I wanted stock looking wheels and stock hubcaps. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Cletis, what does Stockton have to say?...... | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | Lets hope this guy didn't weld them ...link... Don't think thats proper weld prep I have a set and will be inspecting them thoroughly Thanks for posting | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I haven't talked to Stockton yet but I plan to.
Dads50, that may be the problem. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Give them a call first, here's a clip from their "about us" page ...doing it right. Anybody can weld a wheel, all it takes is a welder. You can even do it out of your house. The trick is to make sure it's round when you're through and that it stays together after you put it on your vehicle. It helps when you're committed to do the kind of job you would want for your own car. If they stand up for their work and name I expect they'll have a solution for you. They have a new owner between now and when you had those made right? Grigg | | | | | Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 166 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 166 | I had new outer rims welded to the centers of my MG TD by Stockton Wheel in 2003. I haven't had any problems. Thank you for posting this Cletis. I will check mine today to see if I have any cracks starting. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,263 | The company has had changes within the past few years.
Not sure if ownership family or management is the same.
They were closed for a short time and reopened under same name. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I finally got around to pulling the wheels. The other 3 appear to be OK. Here is a pic of the cracked one. Two welds completely cracked down the middle. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 863 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 863 | | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 | I bought AMERICAN made alloy(eagle) wheels made in Sacramento California. Lifetime WARRANTY. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 290 | After looking at your pictures that is a total weld failure. If it was a metal fatigue problem the crack would of been down either side of the weld not down the center of the weld. I should mention that the secondary cracks were caused by weld failure causing stress on the other part of the wheel.I would be calling them to get it repaired on their dime. Good luck.
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