Richardtr3a Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 I was out on a trial run this afternoon to be ready for drive it day, when there was some squeaking and groaning from the front LHS wire wheel. I pulled it off to investigate. There is one short spoke broken. I can repair this but the shoulder on the extension, where the wheel sits, was bright shiny metal, as if chromed. This suggests that the wheel is moving slightly. Is it time for two new wheels on the front? The hub extensions were replaced two years ago and only about 5k miles. I am not confident about the very shiny surface on the wheel and extension. Thanks for any advice, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 A photo? One broken spoke shouldn't be a problem. I have driven my car with its previous 48 spoke wheels with up to 3 broken spokes. Only around town mind you and not at speed. Groaning from the wheel might just be the wheel wasn't tight enough. It could also be that the spokes are indeed loose or the knock on is old and stretched and doesn't tighten the wheel properly. I had this problem in years past Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted April 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 I have changed the wheel for a spare from the back of the garage. I have discovered that the wheels are made in India and the seating on the hub extension may not be precisely machined. There is an option in the Moss catalogue for a locating tab and an insert collar to locate the wire wheel. I do not have that option so I wrapped a strip of aluminium foil, secretly liberated from the kitchen drawer, around the hub extension shoulder. An initial test of 500 yards was positive and the creaking had gone. Is this a temporary bodge or will it last? New wheels ,splines, painting, tyre fitting and balancing add up to a bit of pocket money. Will the supermarket foil last longer than a week end or is there some other spacer material that I could use, which might be longer lasting. Thanks Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drewmotty Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 (edited) The foil was a good diagnostic tool so well done for the diagnostic ingenuity but dont be tempted to rely on it to hold your wheels on. Ive been in a car which lost a wheel on a track; its not something which you want to experience on the open road. You could try testing the seat with engineers blue to see how much contact you have and if required a machine shop could take a couple of thou off the taper to correct the cone angle. No more than a very light skim though. I grease the splines but ensure that the taper seats are free from paint, clean and dry. Edited April 29, 2018 by Drewmotty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted April 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 A photo? One broken spoke shouldn't be a problem. I have driven my car with its previous 48 spoke wheels with up to 3 broken spokes. Only around town mind you and not at speed. Groaning from the wheel might just be the wheel wasn't tight enough. It could also be that the spokes are indeed loose or the knock on is old and stretched and doesn't tighten the wheel properly. I had this problem in years past I never thought that the spinners could be a problem. Mine are over 32 years old. Hoe does the spinner cause a problem. Surely it does not reach the end of it's thread ? I need some more advice on this before I start buying wheels , hubs, tyres etc. I have found a company selling Spinners . Orson Engineering. Has anyone any experience of their wheel products. Are they made in the UK? Thanks Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 I never thought that the spinners could be a problem. Mine are over 32 years old. Hoe does the spinner cause a problem. Surely it does not reach the end of it's thread ? I need some more advice on this before I start buying wheels , hubs, tyres etc. I have found a company selling Spinners . Orson Engineering. Has anyone any experience of their wheel products. Are they made in the UK? Thanks Richard Yes, They have supplied the specialist vintage/classic car trade for many years with high quality product. Here is an alternative to Motor Wheel Services for spoked wheel manufacture/repairs. http://pjhallewellengineering.co.uk/ MWS http://shop.mwsint.com/ Cheers Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted April 30, 2018 Report Share Posted April 30, 2018 With mine the knock off was fully tightened and the wheel could move on the spline. I recall the knock on was actually touching the spokes. That was with very old wheels, the more modern wheels are a different shape and they grip the knock on much better. Tighten the wheel up and see how much clearance there is between the knock on and the spokes. It should be about 5mm or 1/4". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted April 30, 2018 Report Share Posted April 30, 2018 Y Here is an alternative to Motor Wheel Services for spoked wheel manufacture/repairs. http://pjhallewellengineering.co.uk/ Cheers Peter W Hi Pete, is 'Phil the Wheel' still going. I was with him about five years ago and he just had a 'hip op' and I had the feeling he was about to pack it in. He had some lovely machinery for making spokes etc. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richardtr3a Posted April 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2018 Hi Roger, I contacted him at the start and he explained that he could not match the price of the Indian made wheels but he could mend my spokes. It seems as if my problem is more related to the hub shoulder/wheel contact. I have a TR man checking it out on Thursday. Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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