Replacing single wood spoke

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Replacing single wood spoke
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Bartol on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 10:45 pm:

I know there was a thread in 2012 about the hassle of replacing just a single spoke, but my TT has one that is cracked and possibly dry rotted. It's loose and really should be replaced. The others look ok, but I will have to examine.

So, with that said, has anyone come up with a decent way to replace a single spoke instead of redoing the whole wheel? Thanks, Chris the clock man.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 11:23 pm:

Chris Bartol:

I do one or two spokes all the time. Be sure to shake each spoke to see if they are tight. Shake only the spokes on the top half of the wheel because the bottom spokes will have the weight of the car on them. Turn the wheel 180 degrees to test the other spoke that were on the bottom.

1. Lay the wheel flat

2. Remove ALL the bolts

3. Take a small BRASS DRIFT and hammer hit the flange until it closes up the bolt hole. In other words you will be turning the flange about a 1/2".

4. Turn the wheel over and strike the flange through the bolt
hole with a long punch and hammer until the flange falls off.

5. After the flange is all the way off the hub take a number punch and number each spoke starting at the inner tube hole.

6. Now you can remove all the spokes and make a tepee out of them against the hub. Be sure that the ends of your spoke (tenons) are starting in their holes. Be sure you put them in the same order as they were in. Remove the bad spoke or spokes and replace them with your new spokes.

7. Use an old flange that you have removed part of the inside of the circle so it slides over the hub real easy.

8. Put your wheel in your press. Make sure the bolts holes line up with the hub. They do not have to line up with the OLD flange. Press the OLD flange down forcing ALL the spokes in place.

9. Now remove the OLD flange and replace it with the original flange.

10. Drill the bolt hole (s) in the new spoke (s) using the hub as a guide.

11. Be sure to peen the bolts.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Fischer on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 11:56 pm:

This is probably a dumb question, but dumb questions are my forte.

If you are going to all the trouble to take the wheel apart, why not replace all of the spokes ? Are the individual spokes prohibitively expensive ?

Dick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 12:01 am:

Dick:

For a Model T owner $2 is prohibitively expensive for anything :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 12:12 am:

Chris,
Front wheel or back wheel? Back wheels on TTs are difficult to work with!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 12:46 am:

If it is a back wheel, where do you get the spokes? What do they cost?

If it is a back wheel, does a single cracked spoke really need to be replaced for safety or strength? Maybe it depends on how the truck is going to be used. If you don't plan on hauling a ton or gearing it up to do 50mph, I bet if half the spokes are sound you would be good to go. Maybe an appearance patch up job would be in order if the truck is to be lightly loaded and driven at speeds Ford recommended (less then 20 mph).

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Bartol on Tuesday, July 08, 2014 - 11:58 pm:

It's a front wheel. One or two may be bad, but not all of them. It just seemed unnecessary to replace them all, plus, I don't have a press. I was hoping to knock one out and hopefully tap one in its place. I'm thinking, "what would they have done on the road if they broke a spoke?"

Thanks again, Chris.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 07:18 am:

I agree with Dick Fischer, but also got a good laugh out of John Regans point. However, being a former Facilities Director, preventive maintenance was a big thing with me. If one spoke is cracked, there'll be more to follow, just a matter of time. Might as well PREVENT the others from happening when you least want it. What price safety?

I'm on my way to Stutzmans this morning to pick up two wheels from my '15 for that very reason, front wheel had two spokes with a crack in it,(only a slight crack, but a crack all the same) back wheel had three. Now I'll feel better down the road.


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