Wire Wheels
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Topic author - Posts: 1928
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Wire Wheels
I know a lady whose late husband collected Model A parts - she has a couple of barns full of just about anything you can imagine. One thing I noticed is a whole bunch of wire wheels. I understand some people adapt them to fit a model T - not that I'm interested in them for my 1917 but maybe a set would be good to have for a potential future project. Anybody care to share their experience or opinion on the subject?
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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- Posts: 2461
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:30 pm
- First Name: Dave
- Last Name: Hjortnaes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 20 touring
- Location: Men Falls, WI
- MTFCA Number: 28762
- MTFCI Number: 22402
Re: Wire Wheels
What is the possibility that some of those are Model T wire wheels?
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- Posts: 361
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:44 am
- First Name: Bob
- Last Name: Shirley
- Location: Atlanta Tx
- MTFCA Number: 29135
Re: Wire Wheels
Google; model a wheels on a model t. Click on the top link, The 2015 post has some pictures of adapters, some nice work.
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- Posts: 1690
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Humble
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
- Location: Charlevoix, Mi
- MTFCA Number: 28034
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: Wire Wheels
Model A wheels do not look right on a model T.
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Topic author - Posts: 1928
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Wire Wheels
Dave,
Unlikely. The husband disassembled a bunch of Model A’s. I looked for T parts but didn’t see any. I WISH it was Model T stuff...there is so much of it.
Unlikely. The husband disassembled a bunch of Model A’s. I looked for T parts but didn’t see any. I WISH it was Model T stuff...there is so much of it.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
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- Posts: 5407
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Wire Wheels
Here a some previous MTFCA discussions about the two
Fitment
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1247500698
Difference
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1440458505
Hub Conversion
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1299549165
Fitment
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1247500698
Difference
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1440458505
Hub Conversion
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1299549165
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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- Posts: 850
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:25 pm
- First Name: Erik
- Last Name: Johnson
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
Re: Wire Wheels
If you decide to buy the Model A wheels, don't pay much because they aren't worth much.
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- Posts: 249
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:55 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: Kelly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 23 Speedster, 25 TT, 26 Roadster, 27 Tudor
- Location: Noxon MT
Re: Wire Wheels
I need a Model-A wheel for my speedster spare, what are they worth?
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- Posts: 2461
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:30 pm
- First Name: Dave
- Last Name: Hjortnaes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 24 Speedster, 20 touring
- Location: Men Falls, WI
- MTFCA Number: 28762
- MTFCI Number: 22402
Re: Wire Wheels
$50-100 depending on condition
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- Posts: 521
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:42 pm
- First Name: David
- Last Name: Dewey
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1925 runaboaut, 1926 Tudor
- Location: Oroville, CA
- MTFCI Number: 19936
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Wire Wheels
Like real estate, value depends on location, location, location.
the 28-29 wheels have a rolled round "edge" on them, and if you are in a winter salt area, they can rust out from the inside. Also there are "AR" wheels used in the first months of production that are hard to find. The 30-31 wheels don't have a rolled round edge, so are easier to inspect. Both wheels do sometimes crack on the inner flange, as do the T wheels. The T wheels are formed differently, and fairly easy to spot.
I disagree with the "No Value" statement. Depends on condition. Really nice ones are becoming hard to find! BUT, I do have a personal "stash" of some, including T ones. I bought the T ones as a stack o' wheels and an A wheel was on top of the stack, so I paid "A" prices (yes, I will grant you that T wheels are worth more than A wheels-in the right market). And, yes, I knew there were T wheels in the stack when the guy priced them. Should I have said something, probably, but I am known to be CHEAP! (not Frugal) and he was just clearing out the junk his Dad left behind (likely for drug money). The wheels were in high grass and I was not the first person there, nor even the first week of selling, so. . . . what would you have done?
the 28-29 wheels have a rolled round "edge" on them, and if you are in a winter salt area, they can rust out from the inside. Also there are "AR" wheels used in the first months of production that are hard to find. The 30-31 wheels don't have a rolled round edge, so are easier to inspect. Both wheels do sometimes crack on the inner flange, as do the T wheels. The T wheels are formed differently, and fairly easy to spot.
I disagree with the "No Value" statement. Depends on condition. Really nice ones are becoming hard to find! BUT, I do have a personal "stash" of some, including T ones. I bought the T ones as a stack o' wheels and an A wheel was on top of the stack, so I paid "A" prices (yes, I will grant you that T wheels are worth more than A wheels-in the right market). And, yes, I knew there were T wheels in the stack when the guy priced them. Should I have said something, probably, but I am known to be CHEAP! (not Frugal) and he was just clearing out the junk his Dad left behind (likely for drug money). The wheels were in high grass and I was not the first person there, nor even the first week of selling, so. . . . what would you have done?
T'ake care,
David Dewey
David Dewey
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- Posts: 5201
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Wire Wheels
The easy way to identify any A model rim is to check the hub.
A frequent problem with wire wheels is cracking between the stud holes on the flat base of the hub
The A model wheels have a teinforcing ridge, pressed outwards beteen each stud hole. That ridge is common to all A model wheels.
Allan from down under.
A frequent problem with wire wheels is cracking between the stud holes on the flat base of the hub
The A model wheels have a teinforcing ridge, pressed outwards beteen each stud hole. That ridge is common to all A model wheels.
Allan from down under.
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- Posts: 132
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:34 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Cox
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout, 1925 Pickup
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
Re: Wire Wheels
Pictures of the front wheel model A wheel adapters.
The wheels are probably stronger because of being designed for 40 HP.
I will post the rear picture when I have a wheel off.
I bought a set of wood split rim wheels for the 25 picku and am going back to them so that I can put the Model A wheels back on the Model A.
The wheels are probably stronger because of being designed for 40 HP.
I will post the rear picture when I have a wheel off.
I bought a set of wood split rim wheels for the 25 picku and am going back to them so that I can put the Model A wheels back on the Model A.
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- Posts: 6428
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
- First Name: Scott
- Last Name: Conger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
- Location: Clark, WY
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Wire Wheels
Model A wheels are stronger when they are on a Model A. When they are on a T, they can and will flex more than when on an A due to improper support provided by every adapter I've seen (and in full disclosure, I am sure I haven't seen them all). My wife and I rode in a '26 touring with 4 people and it was such a handful with the rear swaying, my wife refused to return to the fellow's home in the car (and I didn't fight her on that). We each found a spare seat in other cars for the return trip and I didn't feel the need to hang on for dear life. They're probably great on speedsters or cars with 2 passengers, but fully loaded, the rear can sway so hard, that the driver has to constantly counter steer.
The owner who was new to Ts, found and fit up correct wire wheels and was amazed at how tame the car became. Sometimes this stuff isn't exactly intuitive.
FWIW - not saying folks shouldn't do it if they really feel the need...just that I wouldn't with the adapters presently available.
This thread gives very good insight to the shortcomings of adapter plates vs correct design: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1317081943
The owner who was new to Ts, found and fit up correct wire wheels and was amazed at how tame the car became. Sometimes this stuff isn't exactly intuitive.
FWIW - not saying folks shouldn't do it if they really feel the need...just that I wouldn't with the adapters presently available.
This thread gives very good insight to the shortcomings of adapter plates vs correct design: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1317081943
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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- Posts: 4956
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- MTFCA Number: 52564
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Wire Wheels
Scott has got that right. The A wheels were never made to be mounted the way they are with the adapters I have seen, just plain wrong. There is a way that will work.
21" A wheels are around 25-35 around here.
21" A wheels are around 25-35 around here.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup