MTFCA Forum

When I purchased my 1913 Touring the previous owner replaced one rear wheel with a later demountable rim (pictured).
Is this the correct rim that I need to build an original non-demountable rim to match the other three wheels like the one pictured.
Would those with more driving/touring experience suggest two new rear rims for some driving related reason.

https://www.universaltire.com/vintage-r ... r-rim.html

Thanks!
Gene

Looks like the right one to me... but you may want to consult the fella who will be building the wheel first

Was there not a thread about repro rims not fitting tires? Dan

Dan,
I searched, “Repro Rims” but did not find the post that you’re referring to.
Can you give more details?
Thank you.

Gene

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:30 pm

Was there not a thread about repro rims not fitting tires? Dan

This was about 1-2 years ago... there was a bunch of assumptions that the rims were made wrong. Templates were made, and compared with original rims, yet the profiles were never dimensionally measured nor was a specification identified. If you manage to find the thread, you will find that I made the last post, and did my best to measure the profiles of the McLaren, New Zealand, and at least 1 really nice original rim. I tried to suggest that none of the rims I measured were of the same profile, nor did they match the apparently only known rim drawing to exist. My suspicion, is that the tire profiles are just as “incorrect” as the rim profiles, and some tire/rim combinations are just prone to slipping.

That was the one. It was about tire slip. Dan

The original non demountable wheels had wood felloes. The felloe is the circular part where the outer ends of the spokes fit. The steel rim is riveted to the felloe. The earlier cars had two sizes of tires. 30x3 for the front and 30x3 1/2 for the rear. The rims are different for the front and the back. The de-mountable wheels had steel felloes and the rims bolted to the felloes with lug bolts. So you will need to decide whether you want to use all de-mountable wheels all the way around which all have 30x3 1/2 tires. The same spare mounted on a spare rim will fit any of the wheels. The other choice would be to replace the other rear wheel with a 30x3 1/2 demountable to match the other side. The rims are not interchangeable. You will need to find another wheel with wood felloe with a good rim and if it is in good condition use it, or if not, have it rebuilt.
Norm

Found it...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13729&hilit=Rim+profile

The car (my ‘13 touring) has the correct 30 X 3 non-demountable rims and tires on the front.
It has one correct 30 x 3.5 non-demountable rim and one non-original 30 X 3.5 demountable rim on the rear.
Am I better off looking for a good original complete wheel or good original rim?
I will take all four wheels to Stutzman’s before I do any serious driving so an original wheel would not have to be perfect.
If Stutzman’s has the rim and hub will they make the felloe and have the correct rivets to attach the felloe to the rim?
Thoughts and suggestions?

Gene

All Stutzman needs is a hub and rim, and he will create the rest. The hub in your demountable wheel may be just fine if the taper and keyway are in good condition. And I wouldn’t hesitate to use a new rim... they are a lot easier to find than a straight, rust free, and undamaged original.

Gene, if I had a 13 T with 3" front tyres, and I was contemplating having the wheels rebuilt, I would keep the original front wheels intact, and have new fronts built to take 30 x 3.5" tyres all round, just as the Canadians did. Then you need just one size spare tyre and tube. For the purists, you will not have destroyed any original parts.

Allan from down under.

Gene

The non-demountable rims are riveted and shrunk onto the wood felloe. The rim is heated and then cooled. It might be tough to find a good rim that fits on a non-demountable wheel by itself. You might be better off trying to get a complete wheel. Then send all 4 to Stutzman. Just put the demountable wheel in the back of the garage. Check with Stutzman to see if he has the rivets and the plates that the rivets go through. Otherwise, Langs has them.

Another option is like Allan said, find another set of 30 x 3.5" and install them all the way around. If you can find 5 demountables, you will have it easy if you get a flat and can just replace the flat tire.

David, I know that steel buggy wheel tyres were heated and shrunk onto the felloes. The longer, solid tyres they used would respond by expanding to fit and then contract when cooled to make a tight fit. I watched a master craftsman in New Zealand make wooden felloes for the car wheels he rebuilds, but I was not aware that the rims were fitted by heating/shrinking them. For that to work I imagine the wheel is first built into one piece, before the rims were fitted. Period photos I have seen showed the two halves of the felloes and the spokes that went into them, being fitted together into the rim. I wonder if I was interpreting those photos correctly.

Allan from down under.