Keskin KT1 Question - Bear with me here...

[Puma]

I know a lot of SW members are "wheel elitists" and **** fake splits, but it's what I got at the moment so let's not bash me for it, k?

Now then, I'm wondering if it's possible to remove the bolts on the new style KT1s without damaging them? I want to paint the centers white, but the bolts have stopped anyone from taking on the project. Anyone know how to remove them? Are they held on by glue? Pressed into a hole? Some other way?

Thanks in advance...

[riffman12]

hmm good question

no way to mask the bolts off?

I would say just get a wrench on it and loosen to see what happens, but wouldn't want you to break anything

edit: don't feel bad about keskins, I've yet to see one fail

[JohnnyVillan]

Im pretty sure they are just glued in

If you have older ones you can push them out from the back without damaging them, but the newer ones have to be pried out from the front which will most likely destro em. Maybe you could heat em up first to soften the glue?

The bolts arent in the way of the centers though are they?

[Puma]

I've got the newer ones. The clearance between the "bolts" and the "centers" is way too close for the places I've taken them to want to try and paint them. I'd do it myself, but I don't have the paint stuff I'd need to do it properly...

[hinrichs]

ive heard to use vaseline before on stuff like that to protect it from paint, then wipe it off/clean it off after you paint, just an alternative to masking them

im not sure about those bolts tho, i think last time i asked about them they were a pita to get out, did you try calling tunershop or another company that sells the wheels? they should be able to tell you how they are made

[Puma]

Vaseline? How's that work? I'm intrigued... I'll ring TunerShop today. I might just yank the bolts out, drill through the wheel where the bolts go, and replace them with real bolts. That wouldn't compromise or negatively affect the structural stability of the wheel, right? It's a one piece so I wouldn't think so...

[LuckyBoyOne3]

If you add real hardware to those wheels you will be adding alot of weight, besides that is alot of hole drilling... But as for the fake bolts I am pretty sure they are glue/epoxied in.

[Puma]

I'll try heating one up and see if it comes out easily. I'm not in a rush to do this anymore (just checked the bank account... not good), but I do want it done eventually.

[hinrichs]

for the vaseline trick someone was going to try that with a set of "pepperpots" (dodge omni wheels) they have alot of holes and susposidly its just like a real old trick

if you have some random piece of metal laying around make a design out of vaseline, spray the rest, let dry and wipe off and see what happens

[.Mad Hatter.]

i would not drill 30+ holes in a wheel which was not designed to have 30+ holes drilled in it.

[weaksauce]

I've done the Vaseline trick when I painted my xbox, the paint gets on top of the vaseline but the oils in it or something stop it from getting on things you dont want paint on then you just wipe it off.

[minimyke]

A guy on the vortex took a set apart and painted the faces burgandy and used gold bolts. Im searching for the thread right now.

[NELSON09]

i would not drill 30+ holes in a wheel which was not designed to have 30+ holes drilled in it.

Not a good idea.

[Puma]

Yeah, that's what I figured. Just thought I might as well check...