MTFCA Forum

I tightened up the hub and all the spoke are now tight. I was hoping for good measure I could just use something like Chair-Loc in the joints and tenons, epoxy at the tenon ends at the felloe, and Spar Varnish for protection. Will that for me based on what you see or are my spokes done for?

Thanks, Darren

Need to see a picture of the tenons for a full evaluation. They must be solid & strong.
I don't like what I see, but if possibly still solid & that's only cosmetic, maybe...........

Those spokes look weathered and shrunken. It's likely that some or all of the tenons are decayed or worn. Wheels that have run loose will have wear on critical spoke surfaces in addition to shrinkage.

Tightening the hub bolts will clamp the spokes tighter, but it will not restore the necessary tight fit between the tapered inner spoke ends. In some cases, putting shim washers between the outer spoke ends and the felloe can restore the tight fit between the inner spoke ends.

Here are the tenons

Darren

That wheel needs new spokes. Either professional, or DIY.

The last picture looks like a loose tenon. Loose or rotten tenons cant be safely repaired.
I would not try to save these spokes.

Here is the fellow I have. I think it’s a Ford but my rim say Kelsey with a 7-6-09 stamped on each lug. There are 4 lugs I don’t know which spokes to order.

Thanks Darren

Darren,

Sorry to say, but your felloes are in poor condition. The wide flanges on the "backside" of the felloes are supposed to be angled. Yours have been badly bent over, flattened out & dented, probably from someone driving the car without rims mounted. As such, the rims will not properly seat on the angled flanges, (like they're supposed to).


The red line aligns with your flattened out flange, while the green line indicates the angle that we should see on the flange. (Obviously, not precise, but you get the idea.) Unfortunately, having those felloes re-spoked would not be a good investment.

Good catch Jerry.
I have straightened bent edges back into place with a large adjustable open end wrench.
That's a really abused set of wheels. Better yard art than candidates for restoration.

Makes getting a set of wire wheels a better idea.

Felloes would need extensive straightening or re-rolling.