MTFCA Forum

Yesterday I took the hubs out of a very solid set of 30x3.5 wheels. I need to clean and paint them for my TT project. One hub had a split where the hub cap screws on. The other is really nice. They both are wearing original paint. I used an impact to take nuts off and broke all but one hub bolt. " going to replace them anyway"
The hubs were so tight in the spokes, I like to never got them out.

My questions are, when everything is cleaned up will it go back together easier and let the bolts pull the hub back in the wheel?
Are the hub bolts from Langs good?

I have a good hub in a wheel with soft spokes, should I cut the spokes to remove the hub so I dont have to beat the snot out of it to remove it?

My recommendation is that you buy longer cheap bolts and “jack” everything tight first, including any resistance caused by the wood holes.

When all seats tight, then back off/tap out the “jack” screws, replace with the proper ones, and finish that way complete with a peen to lock the screw and the nut

If the spokes are junk, cutting them is no big deal.

They should be tight, so that is a good sign. I would recommend making a wheel spoke press. You will need it for the replacement spokes any ways.

I opposed on the first wheel Friday, as the bolt holes were not aligned correctly. I flipped over the wheel and pressed out the hub.

A hub with a split where the cap screws on is probably not a good usable hub. Odds are pretty slim that the outer race will be a good press fit.

I'm sure I can round up some OE bolts.
How many do you need Dallas ?

Buy the high quality bolts that RV Anderson manufactures. Old, used bolts are nearly always in poor condition. As someone else pointed out, the split hub is junk.

Ford pressed the hubs in after the wheels were assembled. I however have never had success getting hubs in or out of a wood spoke wheel without causing damage to something.

From my experience when working with good wheel parts, you have to jack the hub in along with the outer flange.

Not a problem...

Go buy some inexpensive long bolts. With a little luck, they can be carriage type where the square under the head is a little smaller than Ford OEM.

Set it up as you would for normal assemble, the threaded end of the hub through the opposing plate and then just crank--er--down in what may be like a modern car wheel pattern, but with the existing wood holes as a guide...

Everything just walks itself in where you could not tap it in previously. Once near seated then just exchange the bolts for your real ones one at a time.

I have another hub to replace the bad one. Thanks for all the help. We will see how it goes.

IMHO: If good spokes are tight on a good hub they SHOULD NOT be taken apart.

I have hubs if you need one (free)

Dallas, if you are talking about taking the hub from the front wheels on my old TT, they both have the trapezoidal type spokes. They will come apart VERY easily just by tapping every other one one way and the others the other way. No press needed to assemble them either. Don't cut them, if they aren't safe to use, they would be good for a yard art wheel. (I just happen to have one that needs better spokes. ) Dave

I think it has been established that this style of spokes were of Canadian manufacture. I wish someone would reproduce them, they are so much easier to assemble and when pressed together by the hub and flange plate, they are forced outward to fit very tight against the felloe, a MUCH better design as far as I'm concerned. JMHO Dave

I wont have to take the old wheels apart. I have another hub to replace the bad one.

By the way how is the 8in1 bed coming along? Dave

The bed is ready for final paint. I have to get the tailgate apart and replace two small boards at the bottom where the drain door attatches. Blast and prime all the metal parts and paint. Getting close.