MTFCA Forum

Hey there Model T friends. This is my first post in a good while. As most of you know already, I own a 1926 TT. I have not driven my truck all that much in the past few years and that it=s due to one central reason. Almost every spoke out of the 48 on the car is loose. This looseness causes the truck to walk all over the place when I'm driving and is frankly unsafe. Due to this I have only gotten to drive my T around the neighborhood streets and no where I actually want to take it. I have already tried every little trick in the books to try and extend the life of the wheels out a little bit to no avail (Hub shimming, linseed oil, ect.). Of course, the TT uses the beefier wheels in the rear so that sort of puts me in a situation. I have been researching but I have yet to find a supplier for the proper spokes for a TT. On the bright side, I have a set of both the 20" rims and 23" rims so I have options in that aspect. I have all the equipment necessary to put together wheels myself but if necessary I have no opposition to sending them out to a reputable rebuilder. If anybody can point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You in Advance, Jacob Mangold

Dave Seiler in SoCal. Can build new spokes. I understand he has done several TT wheels lately.

While the wheelwrights like Stutzmans and Calimers will rework your wheels for you I do not know if they sell individual spokes.
There are wheelwrights scattered around and I do not know of any near you.
Your profile says Henderson Nevada, I am Mid Atlantic so I don't know of suppliers in your area.
You will have to ask them if they will sell you just spokes.

Wood wheels have multiple minor detail differences that make spokes have multiple different sizes.
This can make it tricky to get the exact required spoke.

From my personal experience of installing bought spokes and having the wheels reworked I have found that they cost about the same.
Shipping is the only real difference in the total cost.
While I do as much as I can due to my limited budget I prefer not to do more work and not save money.
You might not be saving as much as you think (hope).

Is there a wheelwright near you?
Can you pickup or deliver the wheels or parts at a show or event?
Is someone in your area visiting the wheelwright and you can piggyback or share?
I have worked with others where one delivers and one picks up and we both get good wheels.
Strong wheels is very important so I hope you find a way.
Mike

Thank you John and Mike for the quick responses. As far as I know, there are no wheelwrights in Southern Nevada. So far I'm thinking Dave Seiler out of SoCal may be my best bet. Do you happen to have his contact info John? You are probably right about just sending them out as well Mike. I don't mind spending the money to have it done and knowing it done 100% right by people who've been doing it for years. I am more of a fabricator and mechanic than I am a woodworker so it would be for the better to send them out. I will probably have a quicker turnaround doing it that way anyways due to how busy I am.

Thanks again, Jacob Mangold

Dave’s Wood Wheel
Dave Seiler
412 South Flower
Brea, CA 92821
(714) 501-7080
wheelguy221@yahoo.com

Some good discussion about four years ago. A few of the same names mentioned.

https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=29544

I see you are in Nevada, a hot, dry environment. Before panicking, try soaking your wheels in a small kiddie swimming pool, like from Wallyworld. Your spokes may expand and tighten up enough to be safe and useable. Worked for me.

Water will dry out.
Use linseed oil, if they can be saved.

A period solution here was to have disks cut from plate steel, drilled for hub and bolts and installing these in the 20" felloes. Not wood, but 'period correct aftermarket' and never need worry again.

Here is a 'back in the day' picture of steel wheels from another truck that have been fitted:

It may not be 'factory' but is 'period'

I've seen plow discs welded into old wood wheels.

That should cut through the muddy roads

Haha, I guess I could do that. Just kidding! I want to keep the original wooden wheel look. Spokes are too far gone to be soaked. Reached out to Dave and I am awaiting a response.

Thanks for your help, Jacob Mangold