MTFCA Forum

Can someone who has 3 bolt Disteel wheels post a picture of the center? I have seen some with what looks like a riser or spacer under the acorn nuts and some with just the nuts. Also, does anyone have 1 (or 2) 23" Disteel 3 bolt clinchers that they will sell? Thank You

Here is the center lock ring for the Disteel wheel hub. Hubs both front and rear have 3 bolt lugs.

The center lock rings have acorn nuts with long thin collar that is flared on the backside. Prevents losing the nuts, makes the acorn nuts captive to the center ring.

Disteel rear hub and center lock ring

The nuts on mine are flanged acorn nuts the have a shield over the flange which houses and hides a lock washer. No lock ring on mine.

Tom

Perhaps didn't explain the parts well. You are correct the acorn nuts for the Model T version Disteel wheel do have a thick lock washer that crimps tight to the ring, what I called the 'lock ring'. That ring clamps on the wheel so that the Disteel wheel is held firm to the hub, and sandwiches the wheel to the hub.

Have found often in finding parts and pieces, those captive acorn nuts have that 'flared collar' rusted away and the lock washer can then be loose and removed. The factory fitted the lock washer to the under rim of the acorn nut, sliding it onto the collar of the acorn, placed it into the 'lock ring' and then flared open the collar of that nut to retain the assembly. Many are found with a short collar that is either rusted off like this one in the photo, or have been cut off by previous owners to repair or replace or restore as best they could.

Salvaged nuts below with now short collar from being removed

Photos of Disteel Model T wheels. Perhaps some were made without the lock ring? But all the ones I have seen are like these, with a detent circle that abuts against the Disteel hub shank, and then that lock ring with its acorn nuts with lock washers, fastens the wheel to the hub flange. Really secure mounting.

Mine look just like that, minus the white piece. The old advertising photo with the men in the cross country touring car with Disteel wheels does not look like it has the white ring. Is it a necessity???

IMO, better to have that ring to provide clamping action all around the center, instead of just at the 3 lug spots.

The wheel center hub fit does a lot, but the lock ring is there for a reason. Also the acorn nut with lock washer would cut into the wheel, with the ring, the lock washer on the ring.