Author Topic: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?  (Read 5965 times)

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Offline jordanp

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Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« on: April 14, 2015, 12:05:25 AM »
Aloha,

Tried Google-Fu, and came up empty handed...

I don't see any reason why (aside from a skinny rear tire) you couldn't swap a 19" front rim onto a rear comstar hub...Am I missing something? I'd really like to see how that looks!

Anybody??

-J
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2015, 01:28:35 AM »
I think the main reason you didn't find it because, what the f@*k for...?   You do realize there's no cush drive, sprocket mount, its a twin disc hub very few, if any rear 19 inch tires, Spoke lengths are different so there's no pulling a front wheel apart and joining it to a rear center..and, did I say, WTF for... :o ;D ;)
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2015, 03:12:02 AM »
not really understanding exactly what you are trying to do...but just so you know, and in addition to what Retro already said...Honda expressly forbids any dis-assembly, repair, or modification of Comstar wheels.  Once taken apart, they ain't going back together...
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2015, 08:42:15 AM »
Wow, you guys are fun!.

People have been disassembling comstar wheels for a while now and they go back together no problem.

I love the look of a set of 19's on flat track bikes and was curious if anyone had done it with comstars.

Not sure who pissed in all of your cheerios but hey, thanks for the replies I guess! Maybe I should ask this question on another forum.

Thanks,

J
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2015, 09:17:44 AM »
The negativity is what I'm referring to, which your post is chock full of.

So I'll take it as a NO, that no one has seen it be done.

Thank you, though for the actual info regarding hub dimensions. It is not hard to fathom someone machining new spokes to make this work. Just wondering why every one of you to reply has responded with negativity...specifically the last post referring to this as a fools errand and referring to a future Darwin Award...
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Offline Rookster

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2015, 09:52:37 AM »
You can run a front wheel on the rear.  It will take some machining skills to make a sprocket carrier and a disk carrier as well as spacers but it can be done much easier than trying to remake a rear comstar hub with front comstar spokes.  You need to swap out the wheel bearings with the correct OD for a front comstar with a 20mm ID for the axle.  You will also need a bearing in the sprocket carrier to help take the load.  Again not much of a problem if you have access to a machine shop.  I have never messed with comstars but I have explored using a 19" front Lester wheel on the rear of a CB750.  It is very doable.  You need: sprocket carrier (does not need the cush rubbers), spacers, disk carrier (basically a spacer that moves the disk into the correct distance from the swingarm), and 3 bearings + the front wheel.

Scott
« Last Edit: April 14, 2015, 09:55:47 AM by Rookster »

Offline 70CB750

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2015, 10:17:57 AM »
You need to swap out the wheel bearings with the correct OD for a front comstar with a 20mm ID for the axle. 

Scott

That's possible.  I replaced bearings for the front wheel with bearings that will accomodate the rear axle (20mm) from CB750 - but the reason was to beef up the wheel for the future sidecar use.

Edit:   6004 are bearings that will fit in front wheel with 20mm ID. 

But I dont think it's a smart/safe idea to take apart and completely rebuild Comstars like that.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2015, 10:22:02 AM by 70CB750 »
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2015, 12:22:49 PM »
Thanks you guys, this is great info, and exactly what I am looking for. Except you, wilbur.
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Offline 70CB750

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2015, 01:17:08 PM »
Thanks you guys, this is great info, and exactly what I am looking for. Except you, wilbur.

It is nothing more than opinion, you should consider all of it and not make stupid comments about the information provided.

If somebody calls your idea stupid, its his opinion and he has every right to say it. Maybe grow up a bit and come back when you do?
Prokop
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2015, 02:58:37 PM »
No sir, telling someone they are up for a Darwin Award is not information.his connotations are of an antagonistic nature and that's not the kind of s*** we need in threads. That is borderline name calling so I'm not sure who needs to grow up... Its all good I'm just trying to get some information not be beat to death by some internet single overhead cam hero... Great now here I am name calling. I better take my apple juice and go home
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2015, 03:08:25 PM »
That hero thing wasn't directed at you 70cb750. I appreciate your info. Thanks.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2015, 03:53:52 PM »
No sir, telling someone they are up for a Darwin Award is not information.his connotations are of an antagonistic nature and that's not the kind of s*** we need in threads. That is borderline name calling so I'm not sure who needs to grow up... Its all good I'm just trying to get some information not be beat to death by some internet single overhead cam hero... Great now here I am name calling. I better take my apple juice and go home

Haha, who got their panties in a twist...? I love all the attitude and innuendo that ends up in the interpretation of someone elses post, if all you want to do is get offended then so be it, I suggest a few scoops of cement. Now, back to the wheels, If you don't have the ability to look at the front and back comstars and work out that its impossible to do what you were originally asked about, then you don't have the skill to convert a front wheel to a rear without paying someone else to do it, also, comstars are "10 dollar" wheels, ugly things, only loved by their mother {but their mother doesn't tell anyone  ;D}, spending the necessary money to have one converted from front to rear would involve some sort of psychological assessment of the mental state of the "converter". Do yourself a favor, use a spoked hub, get it laced up to a front rim and save yourself all the bother of converting something that usually spends most of its time waiting to be recycled....
Scott, there's a big difference between using a desirable, aftermarket mag wheel to a cheap nasty comstar, I would love to see what you do for a cush drive..?  yes its doable, anything is doable, but its not easy and very expensive  , thats why  i said originally,  WTF for... :o  For what its worth Jordan, Darwin award nominees turn up here quite often.... ;D ;D 8)
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Offline 754

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2015, 04:17:21 PM »
Does it absolutely need a cushion drive? I wouldn't lose sleep over it..
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Offline hsas.69

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2015, 04:32:02 PM »
I think it would be pretty sweet. Dirt trackers don't need a wide wheel when sliding around corners. And I, myself like comstars. Don't really see the need for cush drive anyway if racing dirt track with it, but I would prefer to have it on the street.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2015, 05:08:28 PM »
Does it absolutely need a cushion drive? I wouldn't lose sleep over it..

Being a comstar i would say absolutely Frank, the design of the wheel dictates the fact that they aren't inherently strong in the first place, look at the Astralites, they are well known to lose rivets and split, there's plenty of info online about this problem, The Hesketh forum covers it in great detail, there's now way i would use a riveted wheel without a cush drive, welded, yes, riveted  NO, think about it mate.... ;)
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Offline 70CB750

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2015, 05:34:59 PM »
Frank, don't you think that Comstars were assembled first and the tire groove was machined later to make it run true?

I would think that reassambling the wheel you end up with a wobble and no way to correct it.
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Offline Rookster

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2015, 05:51:20 PM »
I think just about everyone agrees remaking a comstar with parts from different wheels is a bad idea.  The better solution is running a front wheel on the rear but admittedly I don't have any experience with comstars.  It can be made to fit quite easily but the parts (spacers and carriers) have to be machined.  I have no idea about a comstar without a cush drive.  Aluminum mags can and do run without a cush drive but Retro has a good point about the comstars and their riveted construction.  One option for a cush drive is to use rubber bushes  with steel outer and inner cylinders like the lower shock mount bushes.  This would involve more development and machining of the sprocket carrier.  The sprocket bolts run through the bushes which essentially allows them to flex 360 degrees.  Just thinking out loud here.

Scott

Offline 754

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2015, 08:24:30 PM »
The system you just described is what Morris uses, and I know several owners of them that tossed that setup and went rigid.
My Astrallites are tight, they actually have a very high rivet count.. I would take my changes at wearing them out.. I do have the cush drive with missing rubbers..
 At my age, I ain't got a lot of time to wear things out anymore...
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2015, 08:41:33 PM »
I love all this info...I do have a machinist friend that can make absolutely anything. I'm sure he'd love the challenge.

I do agree the comstars can be hideous, but I think done right they can look really cool...I'd love to see matching 19's with flat track rubber.
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Offline 754

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #19 on: April 14, 2015, 08:49:49 PM »
Most people won't touch them, but anything, almost anything. Can be modded.. Even if those things should not be touched by most people.
 And I know people that. Do that sort of thing..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
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My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

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Offline 754

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #20 on: April 14, 2015, 08:51:11 PM »
The challenge starts when people say it can't be done..
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #21 on: April 14, 2015, 09:09:48 PM »
The challenge starts when people say it can't be done..

Oh it can be done Frank, I don't think anyone is saying otherwise, its just that a better wheel would be a great starting point, riveted wheels aren't the best option for this conversion, add some pretty decent skills, time, planning and patience would be required to make it all work, Time better spent on something worth while, I just think its a complete waste of time and money on a dirty old comstar... ;D ;)
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Offline 754

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #22 on: April 14, 2015, 09:14:18 PM »
Some of the stuff being made in the Valley here is pretty wild. Sometimes its a collaborative effort, sometimes it's a guy doing mostly himself, or a bit of consulting along the way..
 I am talking boats, snow machines, motorcycles, and more..

 The rim section of a Comstar is quite nice, it's the spokes that gotta go.. Too bad rims are not wider.....
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My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #23 on: April 14, 2015, 09:24:08 PM »
Some of the stuff being made in the Valley here is pretty wild. Sometimes its a collaborative effort, sometimes it's a guy doing mostly himself, or a bit of consulting along the way..
 I am talking boats, snow machines, motorcycles, and more..

 The rim section of a Comstar is quite nice, it's the spokes that gotta go.. Too bad rims are not wider.....

The rim section is quite good, rims can be widened as well, make your own hub and spokes or use an alternate hub and make your own spokes   8)
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Offline jordanp

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Re: Anyone mount a front 19" Comstar rim to a rear hub?
« Reply #24 on: April 14, 2015, 09:35:42 PM »
You guys are rad, thanks for the input.

Good point about having him make a whole damned wheel haha...

I also like the 18 front and rear, but to me, nothing says badass like gnarly flat track rubber on 19's....and a Darwin Award.
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