Who checks structural Integrity of Magnesium Wheels?

I have a pair of 15x8 Magnesium Halibrand Sprint wheels that I want to use on a project....I've been told by more than one person that I should have them checked for cracks and truness. Are there shops that specialize in this? I'd have no idea where to start. I live in the Lubbock Amarillo area. But could travel or ship if I had to for piece of mind later. Thanks for the help

 

Go have them x-rayed. Any cracks will show up.

 

Like at a doctors office?

 

to check them for true you could mount them on a spindle and use a dial indicator. you can't magnaflux them , but there is a die you can use to check for cracks

 

Would it stain the wheels? They have a rich dark patina that i'd hate to mess with. What's this dye called?

 

age, magnesium darkens with the elements then electrolissis sets in keep them clean and posibly coat them with gibbs oil there a lot of fun polish on sat , to show on sunday

 

Look for a local company that does Non Destructive crack testing and they can tell you if they do Magnesium wheels or not.

 

I as well have a set of Halibrands I'd like to run, but mine are pitted like a crumbling, old building. I will likely reconsider when the time comes. They look rad in the living room though!

 

Any place with an X-ray machine should be able to do a film, like a vet or doctors office. Before I took a set of wheels to a X-ray machine, though, I'd do a dye penetrant inspection. There are commercially available DIY kits to check for cracks in engine blocks and heads.... I'd go this way before forking out the cash for xray.

There is also an ultrasonic testing for NDI, but unless you're working on airworthy or nuclear components, it's overkill. Check with your local airport if you want a certified NDI tech to look at the wheels for you. If a NDI tech can call it good, then it's good.

 

Magnesium Wheels are great. But really, don't put them on anything you drive. They quit making them for a 'reason'. It was not cost. Use them for a display. I LOVE THEM!

Larry

 

These magnesium wheels can be inspected by the Eddy Current method. Liquid penetrant inspection could be performed, but all of the corrosion on the surface would have to be chemically removed first (eched). Liquid penetrant can only be applied to a absolutely clean surface. Find a company that can do Eddy Current, it'll be cheaper (no stripping required).
Ultrasonic inspection is good for internal problems, but magnesuim generally produces surface defects first.

BTW...I'm an NDI tech, and this is what I do for a living. I inspect magnesium wheels.

 

In case an x-ray isn't expensive enough, in some cases CAT scans are now being done instead of standard x-rays.

 

....but will his insurance cover it?

 

the reason was they went to a lightweight spun aluminum wheel ....cragar super trick replaced the halibrand on funny cars and dragsters. if you uncomfortable about them ...pm me. otherwise run those mofo's. i have a set on my daily.

 

I'm not afraid to run the wheels, just the thought of one coming apart at speed is terrifying. Thanks for the help guys....I feel like I've been pulled a ton of different ways with this thread...but it's all good info and somewhere to start.

 

Some magnesium parts age very well, others not. material alloy, included impurities, and environmental conditions have a big influence on corrosion. Based on what I have seen, the quality of older magnesium stuff appears to have varied a lot. So even if one part is ok, another that looks just like it might not be. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using old magnesium parts, when safety is a factor you need to be sure what you're dealing with. There is a good reason why racing sanctioning organizations don't allow racers to use old magnesium wheels. A positive "run those mofo's" at***ude contributes nothing to whether or not the wheels are safe to use.

 

Look up weld inspection in your area. A mag (magnetic) particle test will show any cracks, Should be relatively cheap. Uses magnetism with metal shavings. Any crack will localize the magnetic field causing the metal shavings to gather and stand up. You may be able to rig something up at home to do this is you do some homework. X-ray testing will not be cheap...

 

Magnesium is non-magnetic. Magnetic inspection doesn't work on magnesium. Dye/fluorescent penetrant inspection, as was suggested earlier in this discussion, will find surface cracks. However, that won't find the internal, not visible on the surface, corrosion and weakening that commonly happens with magnesium.

 

The old way to locate cracks. Spray the part with
kerosene wipe it off and take a file and a black
board chalk. file chalk over the part, Cracks
show up as wet lines in the chalk dust
pitting and pores show up as wet dots
But works best om clean not oxided surfaces

 

Magnumcharger has it correct. I did it for years on both aircraft and race cars. By all means find some one with experience with magnesium. You won't regret it.

 

http://www.magnaflux.com/Portals/0/operatingInstructions/Zyglo~reg_Bulk_Operating_Instructions.pdf

 

Really? I've got Magnesium five spokes on my coupe and have been driving her that way for about 5 years. Other than a bit of extra maintenance, I've not had one bit of trouble.

 

if one is concerned with wheel integrity , how would you feel about running a used set of cragar ss , early radir or something along those lines ? or even a old steel wheel....goes along with running skinny wheels and tires on the street.....can't do it , because you'll roll a tire off the wheel

 

Well, I talking to the local Chiropractor today and told him what I'm up to....he was kind of intrigued and said he wanted to check it out next week on his x-ray. He's worked on my back a few times so hopefully he won't charge too much.

 

If done correctly - that x-ray could make a cool wall hanging - let us know what you find.

 

You might inquire at Texas Tech University's mechanical engineering department. I once had 3 sets of Triumph TR4 rods checked at Florida State Univ. A professor friend had access to their ion-bombardment x-ray machine. It showed only 1 rod of the 12 was suitable for using in my race engine. Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies (800 688-6946 or pegasusautoracing.com sells the dye penetrant kits in both visible and UV light varieties. The kits are about $50. Good luck with the wheels.

 

that it would......

 

Good call Tudor....definately going to try and get the photos now!

 

""If done correctly - that x-ray could make a cool wall hanging - let us know what you find. ""

best X-Ray wall hanging I ever saw was in a vets office. 5 golfballs inside a big dogs belly. had the balls mounted in a little framed box right below.

don't know how that will help with your wheels, but I found it interesting.

 

If I recall correctly, a Zyglo test certificate was required by the lakes/salt flat inspectors many years ago for mag. wheels. Should be some non/destuct. testors around an airport area doing FAA required tests.