MTFCA Forum

This is one I haven't seen before:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeb5RK-82to

I like it, thanks for posting, Bob

those wheels would not be on my car.they use the bolts to support the car seen at 2:14.you must bore the center of the wheel the same size as the hub.junk. charley

Charlie's correct, The hub needs to really fit tight on the spokes. The person that uses those wheels will hear clicking sounds as he drives, after a few years.

Ed aka #4

I do not believe that enough information is given on the video to come to a conclusion one way or another. We don't know the hole size when the hub went in; don't know the clearance of the bolt holes; and do not know how much "squeeze" the rim places on the fellos and thus the hub.

Thanks for posting the video. Whether or not you agree with the technique, I found it interesting.

you can clearly see the end of the spokes are square and the hub falls in, you should have to press it in,bolt holes look louse to me.charley

Looking at the credits, this was filmed at Coker's wheel shop

Charlie

I agree, you should have to press it in. In a finished wheel. Those spokes have not been compressed at all yet. I am betting that once the rim is shrunk on, it would be very difficult to press the hub out... Just my guess. If it falls out after assembly, yeah, that'd be a problem. However, I am pretty sure these guys do not have wheels flying off of cars as a matter of course.

scott, you can put a round peg in a square hole but it wont stay tight very long!!!!!!!!!!!!! charley

The pemise that wood wheel spokes are turned in a lathe is put to rest. That might work with later T spokes which are round, but not with oval or teardrop shaped spokes. I think a step was missed in the video. The hole in the centre looks undersized as the spokes are assembled in the wooden felloe. To be able to fit the hub, I think the hole was bored out to suit.
I could be wrong again.

Allan from down under.

allan look again you can clearly see the spokes still square on the ends and the hub falls in.there was a wheel shop in calf that them that way we put them in a big lathe bored them out the made a spacer to fill the gap. charley

I didn’t watch the video, but for what it’s worth; I have prints out of the Benson Ford for several wheels and the hub outside diameter to hole inside diameter is between a few thousandths slip fit to a few thousandths press fit. What was important was the precise relationship between the wedge and tennon end of each spoke.

you can make all the spokes from one piece of wood but if the center hole is not tight the car is being carried buy the bolts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! charley

Whether you feel that the spokes were not done correctly or not, it was an interesting video. I watch How It's Made regularly, and have not seen that clip before. BTW: Recording that video and posting it online without written permission is almost certainly a copyright violation.

John

while well meaning, your concern is unwarranted for this particular video. It is posted by the company which produces these shows.

It is a valid point, though, in that many videos are reposts of other original work and is a useful cautionary statement. That does not appear to be the case here, though.

HornsRus wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:39 am

you can make all the spokes from one piece of wood but if the center hole is not tight the car is being carried buy the bolts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! charley

That’s absolutely correct! That is why the bolt holes are between the spokes and every pair of spokes has a bolt between them. Also, the correct bolts have full size shanks and are a very good fit In the holes. All that, combined with the fact the spokes are clamped between two steel plates would make a wheel that is nice and tight EVEN IF the hub was a bit of a slip fit. Such a wheel would perform adequately until such point it was “old and worn out”. Would a wheel with a “light press fit” hub last longer than a wheel with a “slip fit” hub? The answer might range from maybe to probably. Yes, I would prefer a light press fit in my wheel, but the Ford prints tell a story that a slip fit was also acceptable to them so it’s possible a slip fit could have good longevity too.

tha fit on the wheel in the film looks to be about 1/8 th. as i rember the wheels that came from calf after we boared them we had to make 3/8 s ring to press on the hub charley

My favorite wheel shop is Calimers in Pennsylvania. Their work is amazing. I wouldn't go anywhere else, plus they are accommodating. Their wait list is usually about six months. Some time ago I needed a late 30 X 31/2 steel felloe wheel respoked, and they worked my wheel in with another customers!
That is what I call service.

Scott - Glad to hear that. If the video was posted by the owner of the work, there's no problem. Thanks for the clarification.