How do you correct the alignment of a 1926 wire wheel that is 3/16th off at the rim edge as the wheel is rotated a complete turn?
All the spokes are straight and there is no apparent damage dents on the wheel.
You have to loosen one side of the lace and tighten the other to move the rim. A bicycle shop can show you. Small turns can have big effects.
The spokes in a Ford wire wheel are welded into place. There is turning of the spokes.
Here are a couple of threads that deals with methods of straightening the 26/27 wire wheels:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/265150.html?1328594904
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/74752.html?1230312819
1928-1935 Ford wheels were also of the same welded spoke type, so even more knowledge about repair methods can likely be found at other forums.
My Bad....sorry for the mis-information
I had several T wire wheels that were only slightly out. One or two had a spoke or two that had come unwelded. One even had a broken spoke or a spoke missing. I took them to my favorite welder and he fixed all he could, saving several wheels for me. The ones that were only slightly out (I also loaned him a front hub and spindle), he straightened by tweeking the spokes in the right places on opposite sides of the wheel with a hammer. The adjustment was unnoticeable cosmetically on the wheel. He used a donor wheel to replace a spoke on one that was missing and rewelded one or two that just needed that. It just takes time and patience and since he is the type of guy that likes a challenge, he had fun doing it. It was a lot cheaper than buying new wheels.
At one time some of the Ford garages had special forms and presses to straighten wire wheels. There was a modern day T shop in Denver a few years back that had the forms and original press to do wire wheels and T guys from all over brought wheels to him. I never had any done but the guys that did claimed that the wheels came out very good.
Theres an old time tire shop in Wausau Wi. that will do these for $20 each while you wait... pretty fair eh? Thats 100 mile trip each way for me. Told him around Jan or Feb...Ask for Al... He has a standard for the wheel flange an does it on a press. Includes a spin balance. Job is done with tires ON or OFF! troop
http://www.wausauspring.com/
Pico Wheel
North Hollywood California
There are places that straighten wheels by mounting them on an arbor and applying pressure to the rim as the wheel is rotated. Since this wheel's spokes can not be adjusted and all spokes are straight this is the best way to do it. If you find a company that has the title wheel and rim in its name you have selected the right place. I believe that your hub is the problem and not the spokes. They may also have to apply heat to the hub as well as pressure.
The wheel has experienced a bump into a curb from the side and that compromised the hub.
If no one will fix it for you , you can make shim washers to fit at each mounting bolt. Also look carefully at the mounting holes to see if they have been distorted as they may be re-worked to correct the wobble.
What about torch heating spokes to change the tension. I've seen it done but it may be a trade secret so I won't say more at this point.
James, a friend in Spokane made his own straightening jig, which doubled as a painting jig.
He welded a front spindle to a length of exhaust pipe. The pipe was in turn, welded to a base plate. By fitting a wire wheel hub to the spindle he could use it as a rotating table for painting, just flipping the rim to do each side.
To straighten the wheel it was bolted down with the wheel nuts and rotated to find the wobble. He used a small hydraulic jack and a lump of timber between the base plate and the rim to push the low spots up till the wheel was true. I was surprised at how little pressure was needed to do the job.
Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.
No secret Erich - it's described in the second of the threads I linked above. In the first link it's mentioned Brent Terry at B Terry Restorations has a has a period wheel straightener - he occasionaly posts here as Brent in 10-UH-C
Thank-you for your discretion Erich, but I got idea for the torch straightening from this forum. It is the only permanent method of straightening a wheel that I have have found. I am familiar with Larry's tool mentioned by Allan, but that method has never worked for me. After a time the wheels always seem to "come back" to where they were when you try to straighten them with just pressure, and any significant pressure on the wheel bends the hub.