Greetings,
After treating the wheels on my 1916 Touring with Linseed oil, I noticed this flaking. Using my finger I am able to scrape off some soft wood. Should I assume the wood on the wheel needs to be replaced? Seems like a bit of a safety issue to say the least.
Thanks
Patrick
If that is as soft as it looks, I would not drive that one anymore. Time for a rebuild, or find a better one.
That looks pretty bad. I'd send it to Noah Stutzman.
That looks pretty mushy. If the felloe is soft enough that you can carve into it with a fingernail as you've shown, it's well past time to send the wheel out for a rebuild. That wheel is not safe.
Thank you. I assumed that to be the case. I will be taking a very close look at the rest of them as well.
Patrick
A soft surface can hide a solid center. It depends upon how deeply the rot penetrates. However, once the surface begins to check like yours has? It is pretty much done for. A re-wooding job is in order.
This from a fellow that has tightened and run many wheels that others would not.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2