Kelsey Rims

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Kelsey Rims
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Gregory on Saturday, November 16, 2013 - 04:17 pm:

Anyone know where i can get a few 30x3 1/2 kelsey rims? I tried the classifieds but all i got was junk mail from India.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Saturday, November 16, 2013 - 09:57 pm:

Gary,

Mark at Model T Haven web address: http://www.modelthaven.com/parts.html scroll down to where it says Rims – normally has usable rims. Note, he sells at retail, as that is how he pays the light bill, food bill, etc. Note the very early 1919 cars used a slightly different Kelsey rim than the later cars. See: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/185430.html?1296156654 for feedback. Some swear at him while others swear by him. My experience has been he sells at retail and does a good job. And compared to the cost of traveling to a swap meet, renting a hotel, taking off time from work, etc. – his prices are often a bargain when compared with the current cost of gasoline and distance to the swap meets.

The photo below is from his site:



Several folks from the forum advertise parts on the MTFCA swap site – perhaps one of them has a couple of them. You can also look at the "for sale" and soon recognize the names of some of the folks with large collections of parts.

Langs, Chaffins, Snyders, all have some used parts. Often they do not list them as they have a small supply and it is not a regular item they stock etc. Feel free to give them a call and ask.

If you are not in a hurry, a large swap meet such as Chickasha, Oklahoma see: http://events.kfor.com/Chickasha_Swap_Meet_45th_Annual_Largest_Swap_Meet_in_Oklahoma/256056484.html with the next one coming up in may.

If you just need a spare to get you home, there is an excellent chance that the Ford style with the fixed lugs will work for that purpose. And depending on when your wheels were made, all the 30 x 3 1/2 demountables had interchangeable parts for a short while after Mar 7, 1924 to 1925 and possibly later. [Ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/U-Z.htm#wheels see Mar 7, 1924 entry]

Note in addition to the two types of Kelsey loose lug rims, both Firestone and Cleveland produced rims that did NOT have fixed lugs. They will NOT work well on a Kelsey felloe as the valve stem will tend to be cut on the rear wheels from braking and accelerating. See: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/39258.html

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/131483.html

And from memory – not as good as notes – I’m 95% sure that folks have successfully used the Hayes style fixe lug rim (produced by Hayes, Kelsey, Cleveland, and Firestone during 1924 – 25ish) on the Kelsey fellow. I would not recommend that, when good Kelsey 88 rims are available used. Some minor modification to the felloe maybe required if you use the Hayes that has the more pronounced lug profile.

Hopefully someone will chime in that has some or knows where some are currently located.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Gregory on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 09:27 am:

Thanks Hap....maybe someone will have a few.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William A. Reep III on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 09:54 am:

I have two good 30" rims, they are clinchers that accept seperate lugs. I'd be willing to sell them if that is what you need. 330 241 2641


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 10:36 am:

A minor correction, Hap. That link is for the wrong meet, not worth crossing the street. The Chickasha Prewar Swap Meet is in March. This is the real one: http://www.pwsm.com/.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 10:45 am:

I should add that I've bought parts from Mark Freimiller several times and have no gripes. You all know I like to be excruciatingly frugal, but I think Mark's prices aren't bad, especially compared to some guys who think vanadium is gold.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 02:04 pm:

Steve,

Thanks for the correction. I book marked it so I get the correct one next time.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Gregory on Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 04:45 pm:

The Kelseys are demountable rims and have thclamp with the nut inside it. Only one wheel has the correct rim...the other 3 had Firestone rims and dont seem to fit as they should.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Stroud on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 03:17 am:

Gary, there are two types of Kelsey rims and lugs. Both are marked Kelsey NO.88. One style of rim has a solid, kind of pointed, ring that runs around the inside of the rim. The other style has a rounded ring that has four notches punched into the ring that the lugs fit into. These notches are punched into the rim leaving a slit that can let water into the rim. I put a bit of RTV sealant on the inside of the slit to prevent that. The lugs are as you describe, or can be a two piece design with a kind of "u" shaped lug with one leg shorter that the other with a seperate nut. Both styles of rims and lugs are interchangeable and have the NO.88 designation. The wheels will have Kelsey NO.88 stamped in the inside of the felloe, if they aren't too rusted. You are correct about the Firestone rims, they don't fit correctly. I may have some rims, but I don't have a good way to ship them from here. My TT on my profile picture has the two piece style lugs and nuts on the front wheels. Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary Gregory on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 07:17 pm:

David...yes, the rim has a slight lip...or ring where the clamp rest. The felloe has the notches cut at each point where the lug clamp go's. I'll look for the 88 ..the wheels are not rusty so maybe I'll see it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R. S. Cruickshank on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - 02:40 am:

Note to Hap Tucker: You can put Hayes on Kelsey rims but they will not be evenly connected to the fellow. That ends up with a wheel that is not round. If all rims were mounted this way and in the same position with each other, the car would lope down the road!!! I know this from experience. When I bought my 24 it was set up with Hayes rims on Kelsey wheels. I corrected this by replacing the wheels with Hayes. I now have some beautifully restored Kelsey wheels available to anyone interested. $500. plus shipping.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - 04:17 am:

Gary, I can supply the U shaped clamping pieces, re-plated ready for use. The square shouldered nuts are now available from Snyders.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


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