Flat spot in front wheel. What to do?

[nknudsen]

Well....what can I do about the new flat spot my Excel front wheel has from some trail trash? I'm going to guess it's about .050-.075 flat for about 2". The spokes are loose in that spot now. Can it be trued some how? What are my options? Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[swazi_matt]

You could tighten the loose spokes an then use a file to grind down the knobs on the rest of the tire to make it round!

Just taking the p!ss but since I also want to know the answer I thought I would post to keep it alive

 

[Jakobi]

I don't know how much of its flat. Take a photo? My back rim has 2 decent flat spots in it. I just tightened up the spokes again and keep on abusing it.

 

[arminhammer]

You hammered it in, hammer it back out. Rubber hammer this time!

 

[GMP]

I would just leave it if its only .075". The tire will still be round. I've seen and fixed a lot worse. Heat, a large adjustable wrench, and a small sledge with a block of wood used carefully work wonders. Rubber hammers just bounce off from my experience.

 

[nknudsen]

I would just leave it if its only .075". The tire will still be round. I've seen and fixed a lot worse. Heat, a large adjustable wrench, and a small sledge with a block of wood used carefully work wonders. Rubber hammers just bounce off from my experience.

Glenn, what is the large adj. wrench used for in your technique? When you say heat, do you mean mapp gas or torch?

 

[zeuszuki]

I would just leave it and ride. My Xtz660 front rim has a worse flat spot than yours, it's been like that for three years now. No problems have presented themselves .
Or do as GMP says.

 

[Krasi]

I'm always skeptical about heating aluminium rims as heat may make the metal too brittle.

I think, hammering on a piece of wood should be good enough in this case.

 

[GMP]

When you bend the alloy you work harden it, better and easier to heat it if you are going to bend it back. As far as the wrench, thats for straightening the side bead area of the rim if you peel it out. Clamp the wrench on and go to town. I have used a MAPP gas torch for heat. If your careful and take your time you can get them almost perfect, but in your case I think I'd just adjust the spokes and leave it alone.