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Joe!
I have found that most bent rims are actually the center flange being pushed
in and can be straightened fairly easily at home. What happens is that they
use mechanical (pneumatic) tire changers made for 14" rims and when the bead
breaker comes up instead of pushing the tire loose it catches the 15" rim
instead and pushes it up against the center cone. Usually you can tell by
looking at the rim from the back or laying a straight edge across the flange.
The outer ring is usually straight but if the center stands higher (from the
back side) it will keep you from bolting it down flush. So something sturdy
and about 3-4" in diameter on the center of the wheel can be driven down with
a 12-20# hammer until it is NOT higher than the outer ring will return the
rim to where it will run true, at least most of the time, in my experience.
Once in Panama the PX "service" station bent two of my wheels that way in
less than an hour, and AFTER I complained about the first one they bent the
second one. (GRRRrrrr!!!) But I was able to straighten them out to where
they ran reasonably true. BTW What I used to hammer on was the end of a B16
crank that cracked just in front of the rear main journal, apparently from not
being properly torqued down. It was cracked 3/4 of the way through and I just
happened to see the crack just before putting the pan back on. I think I was
being watched by the ONE who doesn't miss anything! One sharp smack with the
big hammer was enough to break the crank the rest of the way in two (after I
replaced it).
Congrats on the PCV success. A 98% reduction is substantial!
--
George Downs Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!
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