Rear Wheel Flange Plate

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Rear Wheel Flange Plate
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Hanson on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 10:05 pm:

A couple of years ago, I installed newly rewooded wheels on my 1917 pickup. Over time, I noticed that the spokes on the rear driver side wheel were moving around a bit at the hub (paint was cracking at the seams and around the flange plate). I removed the wheel a couple of days ago and found that I had not sufficiently peened the bolts and they were all somewhat loose. So, I tightened them up real tight and got ready to re-peen them again. Unfortunately, I did not realize that my bolt tightening was distorting the flange plate. I have attached a copy of pictures.

Does the distortion to the face plate present any safety issue with the wheel?

Would it be preferable to just put a new flange on?

Thanks for your time and advice.

Distorted Flange PlateDistorted Flange Plate


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 10:19 pm:

Just looks cosmetically off, but should function OK.

Lot of work to remove the plates, but if you do, no need for finding replacements, just re-work the existing plates on a flat metal surface with a hammer and then check to be sure the plate is flat again, most of the bending is around the hole.

Then use new hub bolts and nuts, as the bolts are now pretty much stretched with the over-tightening. Use a normal size 8" long handle wrench when re-bolting. No need to really try to crank hard on those little bolts and nuts. Then stake or peen over the threads to keep the nut from backing off, Loctite can also be used in addition to peening. And then touch up the paint on the plate as you repaint the hub bolts.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - 11:59 pm:

Are you sure they were not bent to begin with. It would take a lot of force to compress the hickory spoke enough to bend the plate like that. Something seems amiss here beyond that that meets the eye.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 01:15 am:

It is common for the outer flange plates to be distorted that way. I would not say it is desirable. If the car is not a "show car" I would not do much about it.
By the way. GOOD CATCH! I love wood wheels on most antique automobiles, especially Ts. But they do need to be checked occasionally. Rust dust, paint dust, paint cracking are among the things to look for. These are usually the first signs, before the wheel can make a clicking noise or become noticeably loose. Noticing these can save your wheel, and your life.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Thursday, August 29, 2013 - 05:13 am:

Mike, don't beat yourself up about not tightening the bolts properly. Because you had new wood in the spokes, it takes a little compression over time. I like to take up this compression a couple of times, re-peening the bolts each time. Once you can get no more take up, you are done.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


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