Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

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elliott1936
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Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by elliott1936 » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:08 pm

I'm looking to chase the threads of the front wheel hubs for my Ash Three bolt wire wheels. The grease cap is the same as the wood wheel hub cap. Can anyone give me a location to get a die for this job with out a lot of cost. Tom


TXGOAT2
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:21 pm

McMaster Carr might have such a thing, or you might make a thread chaser die out of an old damaged hub that has good threads. You could take a small 3-corner file and carefully go around the hub threads, filing notches across them every 3/4" or so all the way around, then clean up the notches with a small file. For this to work, the notches and hub threads would have to be burr-free.

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RajoRacer
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by RajoRacer » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:43 pm

These were available - https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/Prod ... el-t/tools - Lang's might also carry them.

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by BE_ZERO_BE » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:58 pm

There is also the Stevens 181 tool

 
Stevens 181 Hub Threader.JPG
 
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Be_Zero_Be

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Erik Johnson » Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:03 pm

If they aren't too bad, I would try chasing the threads with a rear hub puller. (If you don't already own a rear hub puller, you should. One should be in every T owner's tool box.)

Note that I am not a machinist or the world's greatest mechanic for that matter. I'm just thinking out loud. So, if this is a bad suggestion, please chime in.

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by RajoRacer » Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:06 pm

You are absolutely right, Bob - just not too plentiful - just used mine on Scott C.'s rear hub the other day !


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Sat Jul 24, 2021 8:13 pm

Original 'pliers' type thread cutters for those hubcaps are very desirable, and generally expensive (I have seen a few sell at around $500!).
Someone was making thread chasers for model T hubs, and they were sold through the usual model T parts suppliers. Reasonably priced, but not cheap. I often don't like thread chasers myself. They are ridged, and must usually be put on from where the threads are most damaged. Which makes them difficult to use.
And, since I am almost always on a very tight budget, some years back, I made my own.

I used some steel strap iron, about 3/4 inch wide. It is strong enough to hold the light pressure, yet flexible enough to open and then clamp down again over the old threads. I welded some steel rod along the outside of the handle and part way around the hub area, to make the handle more ridged. The size for the whole thing had to be figured out fairly precisely, and might vary due to specific donor thread cutter size.
I do not recall what I used for the cutters. It was a common bolt size, something under a half inch (may have been a 3/8?), with a tread count/pitch the same as the model T hubcap. I don't recall what that was either, but if you have a thread gauge, it should be easy to determine. The thread die I used had four 'chip' holes between four sets of cutters, common hardware store thread die. I cut/cleaved though the chip holes. Then, using a good thread hub, I CAREFULLY (the tricky part!!!) placed the four cutters (the order should be kept as per original!) around the hub's threads, using the hub's threads to hold them in alignment. With the carefully sized handle held clamped around the cutters holding everything in place (I used electrical tape out on the handle to hold it clamped), I brazed each of the cutters inside the handle clamp circle.
The heat from brazing will take some of the hardness out of the cutters. However, I kept the heat as low as brazing required, and the loss of hardness has not seemed to cause any problems.

At the time, I had bought a car that had a damaged front hub. I was in a hurry, and did not make a neat job of it. It may be a bit rough and crude looking. But I have since cleaned up quite a few hubs with it. It hangs proudly on a nail in my workshop where I can find it on a minutes notice.
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by speedytinc » Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:40 pm

Thread file. They come in coarse & fine threads . Each one has 8 different thread pitches. Work quite well on t hubs if still round.


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by DHort » Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:07 pm

This was on Amazon, but now you will have to google it.
E-cowlboy 7402 Universal Outside Thread chaser
OIP.jpg
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Jem » Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:49 am

The reason most front hubs won't accept the hub cap is that they have been spread by having slightly oversize bearing races forced into them. That's why you find split hub caps, they in turn have been forced onto a spread hub. Close examination of my hubs show they have a hairline crack the full length of the thread.

So, if you're fitting new races, I would suggest grinding the o.d. so they're a light push fit and using Loctite.

For my hubs, I am going to have to drive out the races, find a means of pulling the hub back into shape so it accepts a cap and welding/brazing the split. Then I'll grind the race to fit the hub.


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Virtus » Sun Jul 25, 2021 4:37 am

The cheapest option would be to purchase a " thread restoration " file to clean up and reprofile the existing threads.


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:00 am

Unless you use a tool such as "DHort" has suggested, you'll need to know the thread size and find a die. Can anyone here say what the thread size is?

I recently purchased a die for the exhaust manifold thread on eBay. It came from China, (took a while to get), and was about $50. That size is 1-7/8-16 by the way.


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by mtntee20 » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:04 pm

John K. has a perfect answer: Thread File. Make sure you purchase one with the correct thread count. Then start with the good thread area and work through the bad threads. The one bad thing about thread files is they only work on Outside Threads and not on inside threads. Been There, Done That.

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Steve Jelf » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:29 pm

I believe Wayne's homemade version of the Stevens tool is the best answer, both inexpensive and effective. Dies and chasers go on from the outside, and it's usually the outside threads that are boogered up worst. The pitch on hub threads is 24, and I intend to cut up a 3/8-24 die and make my own version of the Stevens tool like Wayne did.
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Randall strickland » Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:44 pm



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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by rickg » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:25 pm

There is a company Drills and cutters.com that has or can get just about anything at a very reasonable price, i purchased the dies for both front axles right and left hand thread and the #14x24 taps for the flywheel and Bendix cover.

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by MikeinTexas » Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:14 am

As part of my “wake-up from a deep sleep” project on my 1927 Touring Car I wanted “USA made” Rethreading Taps and Dies. My internet search led me to JAWCO.com, in Reading, PA. Per their website they are also Veteran Owned and Operated, All tools are Made in USA unless noted, and Flat Rate $8 shipping.
Please review their website as they offer thread segments as shown above in this thread!


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elliott1936
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by elliott1936 » Mon Jul 26, 2021 12:19 pm

Thanks guys. I have a thread file that I'm working with and am making progress. It's a slow going but I'm getting there. Tom


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Loftfield » Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:22 am

The device you seek is available from Langs, but it is pricey. I have used one with great success.


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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Dan Hatch » Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:44 am

Jack Putnam was reproducing the Stevens T181 tool. I think he only did one run.

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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Pep C Strebeck » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:22 am

I know this does not help your search, but I found this one at at auction, last March. I have never seen another one like it.

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Definitely not old or used very much when I got it, but very well made and works tremendously well.
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Re: Where to find a die for the wood wheel hub cap

Post by Kaiser » Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:33 pm

Pep that is a nifty set you've got there !
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