Stainless Steel clad wheel brought to me for repair....suggestions???

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Hi all,a fella brought to me a 24" Gianelle wheel.  The problem is that the bead area (where the tire seals against the rim) unlike a standard rim, consists of a pressed on stainless steel cladding over an aluminum wheel base.  Apparently when the tire removing tool was used to take a tire off the rim, it broke the stainless steel cladding where the bead seals.  Normally if this was a normal rim and it was cracked around the lip , I would simply drill out the ends, gouge out a v groove and fill it in.  Then I would smooth it out if it was near the tire needed a smooth surface to sealHowever this one cannot be welded as it is two different base metals pressed against each other.  Aren't there dedicated rim shops that can take this type of repair on?  My only other thought was to suggest the client obtain some industrial repair compound (Belzona) and apply it to the damaged area, smooth it out like bomdo and feather it in.Anyone come across this type of situation before?  Is this rim repairable?  Initial research on the Internet says that this type of rim is almost impossible to repair.  I have ruled out trying to attempt a repair, I wouldn't even know how to go about it to start with.  I would like to run a few suggestions by him though.Any thoughts?Thanks,TonyLast edited by therrera; 03-18-2015 at 09:55 PM.Reason: to add more detail.
Reply:walk away. some times the client just needs to cut their losses and replace the rim.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:I agree! I won't strick an arc on a rim. Not worth the risk.-DoogieMiller 350PMiller Trailblazer 325 EFI w/ Excel PowerLincoln LN25 suitcase welderXMT 304/22a feederMiller Syncrowave 350LXMiller EconotigHobart Handler 140(2) Uni-Hydro 42-14Hypertherm 65 plasmaWEBB Gap bed lathe
Reply:Noooooo way!
Reply:Hi Fellas,thanks for the advice.  However I wasn't contemplating trying to repair it, only finding out if anyone knows of a way to repair it.  Belzona makes industrial grade epoxies and compounds that are designed to repair equipment using non welding methods.  I referred a client to this product when he needed a cast iron transmission case repaired on a tractor.  It had a chunk broken out and he couldn't remove it.  I could not weld it in position, not to mention that it would be a tricky repair even under the best of circumstances. He used one of the Belzona compounds and was able to form the missing piece and when the stuff cured it was a strong as the original case, no leaks, mechanically functional.  I was thinking of an approach like that, using some type of repair material that was on the market.I will call the Belzona rep to see if they would recommend one of their products for this type of repair.Thanks though,Tony
Reply:No way.  Belzona makes some really good products.  Perhaps the best on the market, but it is still epoxy.  The best tensile strength you can get from epoxy (not filled with fibers) is still only one SIXTH of cheap grey cast iron.  Filled with carbon fibers, you can exceed the tensile strength of cast iron in the middle of the material, but the adhesive strength still doesn't compare (so no butt joints).Regardless of whether or not your repair to a transmission case sealed it well enough to hold oil, it is in no way structurally capable of making a lasting repair in the same case if say it split around the output shaft bearing.  That's just asking too much, just as you are asking too much in this case.  Epoxy cannot repair a broken rim.  Period.Now we come to wheels.  Yes, lots of wheel shops will weld on an aluminum rim, and then turn it back to shape on a lathe.  I was not familiar with Gianelle before this, but I looked it up, and those rims do not have much meat to work with.  They really leave no room for mistakes.  And now that you're adding a piece of pressed on stainless to the mix, I just do not see how welding this will be possible.  Perhaps some pictures detailing what is broken, and what the stainless does, could help clarify.
Reply:We need a picture
Reply:Hi all,I sent they client to a machine shop I work with to see if he could come up with a fix. Thanks for the replies.Tony