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Posted by: larryg Jul 30 2014, 11:00 AM

Am having 4 spoke fuchs polished and discovered a crack. Am sending it out to see if it can be safely repaired. Thoughts?

Posted by: SirAndy Jul 30 2014, 11:16 AM

No idea on the crack, but the singular of Fuchs is still Fuchs since it is the name of the company.

Posted by: JRust Jul 30 2014, 11:19 AM

I have a spare but am not sure where the fuchs it is

Posted by: rjames Jul 30 2014, 11:32 AM

Probably, but given they can be had for ~ $100, I'd look for another.

Posted by: Krieger Jul 30 2014, 11:39 AM

Posted by: carr914 Jul 30 2014, 11:53 AM

Can it be fixed - yes

Would I drive on it - no

Posted by: mepstein Jul 30 2014, 12:42 PM

Cheaper to buy a new one

Posted by: JawjaPorsche Jul 30 2014, 02:30 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-914-original-fuchs-alloy-wheel-with-factory-original-Continental-tire-/261460866680?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Wheels&hash=item3ce0483678&vxp=mtr

Posted by: larryg Jul 30 2014, 03:37 PM

Noted, but I will take credit for getting it correct in the text....well except for a slight capitalization infraction.

Posted by: larryg Jul 30 2014, 03:41 PM

Interesting, the wheel on eBay appears to have the same crack!

Posted by: stugray Jul 30 2014, 03:41 PM

I have one bolted to my garage wall that I use as an extension cord reel.

I would suggest you use that one for the same purpose and get a new one.

Posted by: gms Jul 30 2014, 04:07 PM

I own a wheel repair shop and I would not repair that wheel.
It would cost the same amount to buy a replacement.

Posted by: mepstein Jul 30 2014, 04:10 PM

Tighten the bolts by hand, not an impact wrench

Posted by: Chris H. Jul 30 2014, 04:42 PM

Check with Garold Shaffer...he had some Fuchs singles a while back. Otherwise Brad Mayeur...

Posted by: Porschef Jul 30 2014, 05:01 PM

That one's pretty much Fuched. Or Fuchsed as it were...

Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 30 2014, 05:03 PM

it would make an attractive hose/cord reel.

Posted by: bdstone914 Jul 30 2014, 05:07 PM

No wonder George is only asking $150 for it.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 30 2014, 05:21 PM

all in @$182. kinda spendy for a hose reel.

Posted by: rgalla9146 Jul 30 2014, 05:25 PM

It's probably been bent and straightened already.
Which caused the crack.
You can fix the crack.
But there's stress.....it'll be back.

Posted by: Rand Jul 30 2014, 05:43 PM

Some of the replies are entertaining. But just buy another one. It's not a question at all, it's a no brainer. Don't Fuchs with it.

Hose reel is perfect for that one. Air, water, electric, who knew this Fuchs was so versatile.

Posted by: Katmanken Jul 30 2014, 08:41 PM

Buy a new one. Forged wheels have a specific grain structure from the high impact forging process. Welding it will melt the metal and, at a minimum, change the forged grain structure into something weaker.

Not sure if the Fuchs are preciptation hardened to get the strength up (T4, T6) but if they are, applying heat will knock them down to T0 - which is dead soft and easily bent.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 30 2014, 09:18 PM

I have two that have cracked.

I think it is a function of them being 40 years old, and in our case, extra stress from lots of AX events.

Here is what we did with the nicely polished one that cracked:




It now resides in our 914 themed den.





The light is made with an early 911 air filter for a shade. The beer glass is from the PCA Parade in 2004 in Fort Worth, and the coasters are miniature brake rotors in a caliper for a holder.

Posted by: Larmo63 Jul 30 2014, 09:54 PM

In German, "fuchs" means "fox"......

Posted by: steuspeed Jul 31 2014, 02:39 AM

Hose reel or end table. Your choice.

Posted by: carr914 Jul 31 2014, 05:25 AM

This just points out for people to check your wheels regularly. A Forge Wheel should be the strongest wheel out there - much stronger than Cast Wheels and much Stronger than the aftermarket (for the most part) wheels.

As much as I think they are the best looking wheel for a 914-6, I would never put a set of the Mahle Gas-Burners on a car. They were the Lightest Wheel ever put on a Porsche due to their Magnesium construction. However Mag gets brittle as it gets older (one of the "new" problems of older 911 Engines), developes cracks & break

Posted by: naro914 Jul 31 2014, 06:09 AM

Good thing you found it now or this could have happened... Found while at speed...on a racetrack....a friend was driving Huey and thought a tire was going down!

YES, check your wheels!!

Posted by: carr914 Jul 31 2014, 06:29 AM

DANG!

Posted by: naro914 Jul 31 2014, 07:33 AM

Yep...cracked all the way through, but the center area won't come out.

Clay, that table and all the other items you have there are awesome!

larryg - don't mess with it. Buy a new one, not worth the consequences.

Posted by: mepstein Jul 31 2014, 07:38 AM

Does it get brittle with age or use(work harden, heat, ect) I didn't realize age would change a metal's structure.

Posted by: carr914 Jul 31 2014, 08:24 AM

It may get Brittle from One or Both. My Engine Builder will no longer build Motors on Mag cases after pieces of cases have cracked during Torque Down or while running. Racers don't want to hear that their $50k Fresh Motor is Toast because The Case Cracked or Broke. In Wheels, why take the chance with your life!

Posted by: 396 Jul 31 2014, 08:42 AM

Wow, lucky you. Is this a factory wheel?

Posted by: naro914 Jul 31 2014, 09:18 AM

Actually very good point. No it was not...so another word of warning, DO NOT use wheels made in China for track use.

If you think about it, the stress that gets put on the wheels is enourmous, so age, weather, 'spirited' driving/autocross/track, temperature changes, etc. all contribute to wear down our wheels, just like any other metal or item on our 40+ year old cars.

Posted by: Phoenix914 Jul 31 2014, 09:36 AM

Clay, your table rocks. Could you give some details of how you made it? If one of my wheels should happen to have a crack in it...

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 31 2014, 09:43 AM

Buy a wooden top stool from IKEA. Shorten the legs about 4 inches so that the top of the wheel is a little lower than the arm of the couch. Throw the wooden blocks for the stool top away. Go to the hardware store and buy nuts and washers to fit the stock steel lug bolts. Center the wheel on the stool and drill the 4 holes for the lug bolts. Deburr the holes, then paint the top of the stool with a very thick coat of silver paint. Wait for it to partially dry, then take a paint brush and wipe the top of the stool in a circular motion. This will make the metal top of the stool look like a used brake rotor. Paint the tire mounting surface black and bolt the rim on the stool. Then get a 17 inch circular piece of glass and some silicone rubber disks to stick to the rim to insulate the glass. The center cap hole is filled by a 356 emblem that was no longer usable, but you can put whatever you want in there.

Posted by: Phoenix914 Jul 31 2014, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the great writeup. It almost makes me hope I find a bad one. Almost.

Posted by: scotty b Jul 31 2014, 11:45 AM

the word " Reel " implies the wheel is a self winding or hand crank system. You are all 914 owners. We all know none of you made the damned thing an actual working unit . Please revise all postings to read " wall mounted hose holder "


TIA and as always...... have nice day

Posted by: larryg Jul 31 2014, 11:48 AM

Thanks for advise everyone, much appreciated. Larry

Posted by: green914 Jul 31 2014, 01:00 PM

Posted by: DblDog Jul 31 2014, 01:13 PM

Wall mount it, use it to wind up the air hose in your man cave...impress your friends!

Posted by: naro914 Jul 31 2014, 01:16 PM

and put a hand crank on it just to piss off scotty b

Posted by: scotty b Jul 31 2014, 01:39 PM

DO IT !! I dare you !!!! If you really want to prove me wrong make it solar powered and motorized. Or better yet, do all that, and tie it into your smart phone so you can wind and unwind it from across the globe. Yeah that'll show me

Posted by: naro914 Jul 31 2014, 01:43 PM

Thanks! I was having a crap day, now I can't stop laughing...

Posted by: mskala Jul 31 2014, 01:47 PM

Sell it to AA so they have a pair of cracked ones. Whoever found that AA
post, well that says a lot.

Posted by: Java2570 Jul 31 2014, 04:14 PM

Damn, Clay....I really like that table idea!!

Posted by: zymurgist Aug 4 2014, 11:53 AM

Posted by: Mark Henry Aug 4 2014, 02:18 PM

I have one...bolted to my shop...yep a hose reel.

Local shop (mike914) gave it to me for free.