rim join file down?

shirleywhite · Post by **shirleywhite** » 5 Apr 2007, 9:50am

Hi all. Got new bike - alloy rims. Noticed a "tick, tick, tick......" under breaking. It's the join on the rim (opposite the valve) where the "join line" on the braking surface is ever so slightly "proud" - can feel it if run fingernail across. (On back wheel can still see the join line -but that's smooth/lined up exactly!)

Would /should I just leave it? ( I guess the blocks will wear a bit quicker - but also they will eventually smooth out the "line"?!) Should I take a small flat file to it and smooth off myself? Or ......... is it possibly a sign of wheel integrity(!) not being what it should be ( and maybe should replace/rebuild?? Any wheel experts to advise please??!!

CJ · Post by CJ » 5 Apr 2007, 12:52pm

If it's just a noise, leave it for the brake blocks to remove. File it only if it judders when you brake.

Better than filing is to give it a tap with a hammer. With care and skill one can thus smooth a rim joint without removing any metal. This avoids the ultimate problem of an uneven joint, of the proud side wearing thinner sooner and failing prematurely.

shirleywhite · Post by **shirleywhite** » 5 Apr 2007, 1:13pm

Thanks Chris - appreciate the advice. Doesnt pull or judder or anything like that - just the noticeable "tick,tick"! As you say it should really sort itself out when the joins naturally smooth themselves after a few 100 miles of use perhaps!! Ta.

KEELIEDW · Post by **KEELIEDW** » 5 Apr 2007, 2:21pm

I bought a new Trek 1000 road bike last year, luckily I did a quick trip round the block before accepting delivery, & applied the brakes. The joint seam was like a doorstep!The shop quickly swapped the wheel with another in the showroom. It doesn't say much for the manufacturer's quality control. The rims were marked Rigida "Chrima" ( the script is so stylised that I'm guessing at the spelling), made in France.
However, the shop effected a nice quick solution, and I'm glad I didn't buy mail order !

andwags · Post by **andwags** » 5 Apr 2007, 3:43pm

Shirley

I wouldn't accept the bike as it is. If you can, return to where you purchased it and explain the problem asking them to replace the rim for you as it is improperly manufactured. Any decent store would come up with a solution like swapping the wheel for another. If the manufacturer is allowed to pin the joint improperly with no ramifications then this shoddy manufacturing will become more commonplace. I've seen this with every manufacturer except DT - only because they don't pin any of their rims.

Andrew

Ps. Unless you like sand and mud, braking will never remove that Tick