Re-drilling Atv/quad rims

[billlaws]

I'm going to be building a kart over the summer and am currently sourcing all the parts. I've found an axle and hubs and am now on the hunt for rear wheels.

I want to use a set of wide knobbly quad wheels however the problem is my hubs are 4" Pcd and nearly all wheels are 4" 1/2 or 110mm pcd etc...

The sort of rims i'm looking at are basic steel ones and i'm thinking I could just drill another 4 holes in the rim at the correct PCD.

Can anyone suggest a reason why not to do this. I'm fully aware that drilling new holes will weaken the rim, however I do not believe it will do so by much given how strong the wheels are to begin with.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

cheers

will

 

[Cam]

I see your dilemma, i suggest rotating the wheel around then re drilling new holes in fresh steel.

Do they have a hub/backing plate or anything? any pics..?

 

[billlaws]

I'd be using the hubs below.
Current plan is to put the new holes between the old ones, basically rotate the wheel 45degrees then drill. The other problem is to drill the holes accurately enough as I dont have an indexing table.

http://www.geminikarts.co.uk/shop/Product.asp?PID=1028&GID=8&SID=1446878&SPIN=1591

 

[brendonv]

If ur gonna re drill holes dont do it with a drill. U wont get it accurate enough. Even a drill press isnt good enough. It will walk. U need to get it onto a mill. Do it properly and it will run straight. Otherwise ur just going to have constant problems with incorrect wheel balance. Trust me, ive tried. Its probably cheaper to buy the right stuff. Otherwise u have to make a jig or mount to hold the rims in place as there being drilled. A vice wont do the trick. Dont do the "she'll be right" approach. When ur talking rims its gotta be right or dont worry about attempting it. Just trying to save u from problems in the future. Sometimes the cheaper way is more expensive.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

You could most likely do it in a drill press, if you center drilled first. But mill would be best.

Its really hit or miss here, it will have to be incredibly accurate or your going to be wobbling down the road.

 

[Cam]

Thats what i meant , rotate 45 then redrill with drillpress or mill.

 

[billlaws]

I'm contemplating the possibility of making a guide to drill with;
using a lathe make an insert that will fit into the centre hole and bolt that in place by drilling the plate and bolting through using the original bolt holes then using the pillar drill, drill out the new holes using pre drilled holes in the plate as a guide.

I'm not too worried about the drill 'walking' as i'm confident I can overcome that with pilot drilling etc. What i'm more concerned with is getting the hole in the righ place without the use of an indexing table.

any less complicated solutions would be appreciated!

thanks for all the replies as well!

 

[theo]

Is the center of the rim flat or uneven? I have done it on flat rims. Drew the pattern in cad full size, taped it in the rim and center punched the new holes. I drilled the holes with a 1/8 bit and then used a step drill. Worked great.

 

[billlaws]

Flat, which should make things easier.
cheers for the advice.

 

[brendonv]

As long as u take ur time marking out and making sure that pilot is spot on then u SHOULD be fine. Just dont rush it. Flat is much easier to deal with.