The spokes are very loose. I've read on the forum about people using shims and chemical treatments to restore their wheels, so I'm wondering what's the best approach here. JB weld, or some kind of resin.?
Steve, Looks like you could get a handful of vintage BTU's outta those spokes if nothing else.
Since the spokes are all different lengths already, you could turn it into one of those offset clown car wheels ;>)
Looks o.k. to me. I say run it!
Op-ti-mist
1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome.
2. A believer in philosophical optimism.
I don't think chemical products will do it. You need to shim those spokes!
I have a couple just like that.
#1 Plant hickory tree
#2 Plan color /finish of wheel (water tree)
#3 Build wood lathe (fertilize tree)
#4 Polish rust from old wheel with tooth brush (water tree again)
#5 Start a career (prune tree)
#6 Start a family (water tree)
#7 Marry off children (water tree)
#8 Retire from career (water tree)
#9 Cut down tree (Stack wood)
#10 Volunteer at library (Keep drying wood)
#11 Cut wood into spoke blanks (look for rot, if found, refer to #1)
#12 Turn spokes on home made lathe (if error is made in length, dia or shape, refer to #1)
#13 Sand and polish spokes (argue with wife over finish /color, see #2)
#14 Locate wheel parts (or buy new from swap meet)
#15 Press new spokes together into hub/feloe (Try to remember why you needed wheel in the first place)
#16 Sell wheel at swap meet. (feel great sense of accomplishment)
It's only original once, Steve. Leave it alone....
Good to know! I have several sets of wheels just like that one.
Use the long shims. If you need to borrow my spoke hammer to reassemble it let me know. They are kind of spendy but work very well.
Thanks for the laughs.
Rich
A linseed oil and you will be back in the road in no time:D
I think it's time to plow up and replant.
A box of tooth picks and bottle of wood glue 1 sheet of 80 grit sand paper, and a couple hours on a quite Sunday afternoon. You would be amazed at what you could do with that thing........
Put it in the creek let it soak . It may even grow new spokes.
To bad it is missing the hub cap.
Steve M., will Steve J. need the round or flat tooth picks? If the tooth picks have a good finish already, he probably won't need the 80 grit sand paper.
Steve, I'm sure you probably own a wood stove.
Stephen
Steve, I didn't know you were into '26s, or is it a '27?
That is one of a set of special "sedan transport wheels" made for folks with enclosed trailers with doors a little too short. Finish breaking off the 4 long parts, put on the car, and, while still jacked up, stick the beginning of a large new roll of duct tape to the drum and put in low gear while a friend holds the roll of tape on a stick. When the entire roll is transferred to the drum, do the other side. This may allow you to drive into the trailer without dragging the center of the rear end!
In a pinch--just bolt an inflatable spare on the outside of the hub. It'll get you home to get a better wheel. Also bolt the wheel on the car rear spare carrier. If you get "nudged' by some fool with his hat backwards, you have a cushion.
I think it would be a good airator for your lawn in the spring.
Wow, a prehistoric T? Just look at those stalactites.
Erich
Good point, no use in sanding at all, he may as well spend the extra 16 cents, and get the round smooth tooth picks.... What was I thinking...? You just shaved a 1/2 hour off the job! Good thinking.
Heck, the advice here is truely priceless......
Bottle of Jim Beam and a straw. You won't care one way or the other.
Steve
Build a speedster and use them to lower it, should
be fine.
Bob
Steve I think this is the missing part for the recent find by Chris B in another current thread titled "preserve or restore". Maybe you two can get together and save another one of the truly original model Ts left.
Steve, Sharpen the end of each remaining spoke, Stick cut Tomatoes, Onions, Bell peppers and Meat on them.
Place entire unit on a BBQ and...
WALLAH
Model T Shisk Kabob!
The only thing I can see that Steve's wheel needs is the Rare Lug Nut Covers listed in a prior post!
Steve,
I have some spare spokes here in the barn. Just come and get them. With some elbow grease and a few chemicals they will just be fine to rebuild your wheel. I was intended to use them on Christmas eve as fire wood .
We can maybe tread You the wood and I will take the hub and the brake drum????
To come here You will need to swim a while.
Andre
Belgium
There should be some smiles in it but I don't know how to put them.
Judicious use of JB Weld and some wood putty.
Hey Steve - two wraps of duct tape prior to sandblasting and that would not have happened!
Buy a new wheel!
TO re-store the wheel just remove it from the location that it is currently stored and move it to a new location. It is now re-stored. Of course it does help to remember where you re-stored it
Bill
The remains of the spokes could be turned into pens so they could write them self's into history, which is about what they are now, history or yard art.
Steve: I think you need to re-invent the wheel.
give it to someone with a big mouth for use as a toothpick?
Mark,
My son Christopher asked if he could have some of the old spokes like Steve has.He made me a pen from one them,for Christmas last year.You would be surprised how good the wood is after you turn it down on the wood lathe.
I looks like an exact model of the T that is currently sitting in the cargo hold of the worlds biggest euphemism, the Titanic.
should work on a flat
Looks like a great start to a wall clock for your shop.
Don't destroy the patina. It will be worth a lot less.
Steve
It's only original once.
I use it as-is, maybe drive a tad slower.
I'd love to find some wheels in that condition for some yard art I'm working on
Steve,
I know you want to keep it and use it but consider this: put it on eBay. Opening bid: $342.00. Maybe the guy who posted his "rare battery" (aka ignition coil) on eBay a while ago for $200 might stumble across your "wheel" and bite!
Either that, or he'll get into a bidding war with the guy selling the rare lug nut covers!
Steve: Well I had some of the spokes that I had taken out of a wheel and I gave them to a friend for him to make some fancy pens and pen light (turned on a lathe).
I have in a bag here in front of me that says as follows
"This is to certify that this pen and pen light is made from a spoke of a 1917Model T wheel owned by Bill Dugger"
signed Pens by Herb.
P.S.
He is a truck driver for Knight Transportation and doe not have a lot of spare time but when he is home the lathe and crazy glue is flowing. He lost his wife early this year so he has to do some to keep his mind busy and he and I have been friends for about 45 years, and were old CB radio buffs long ago.
Two words: Kwik-poly.
If the hub and drum are still good, and you have a felloe, you can re-spoke it.
It would be unsafe to drive on it as is.
Otherwise, use as yard art.
Norm
Had a rear end with a couple of those on it out in the cow pasture. Used to pull it around when I was little. Worked just fine. When my brothers got older we'd take turns riding on the bottom spring while the other two guys pulled it around. The spring was busted through the center bolt hole so you had to line it up right so you didn't pinch anything delicate. Rode a little rough but we had fun. ;-)