MTFCA Forum

I know it's a long shot but I am looking for a set of small drum wire wheel rear wheel hubs. Even if you only have one. Any leads are greatly appreciated.

Rick

Never made them you'll have to get rear hubs and make the drums

Oh yes...because they have Sold on here before...

Check the below link on this Forum:

https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic. ... um#p257686

Re: Small drum Wire Wheel Hubs FS
Post by Dan Hatch » Sun Sep 10, 2023 12:09 pm

"Wish you luck. Took me about 15+ years to find that set. All they were on different ends of the country. Dan"

I have not seen one in the wild during my 40 years in the hobby.
I would not allow their rarity to slow my project.
Putting a small drum on a WW hub is really easy. Doubt It would take more than 2 hours to assemble a pair.

Hmm well then I guess ill eat my words

Hi Richard,
You can buy wood to wire adaptors Or I made these for a friend. Craig.

Friend of mine has wire wheels with small drum brakes. As far as I know they are just the small drums mounted on the wire wheel hubs. Even without the bent up tabs, the studs would be swedged into place. New holes would need to be drilled to match the pattern. Guess you could do water jet or laser to do them adding slits so the tabs could be bent up to lock the studs.

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:50 am

Friend of mine has wire wheels with small drum brakes. As far as I know they are just the small drums mounted on the wire wheel hubs. Even without the bent up tabs, the studs would be swedged into place. New holes would need to be drilled to match the pattern. Guess you could do water jet or laser to do them adding slits so the tabs could be bent up to lock the studs.

The tabs are there to keep the studs from turning. I agree the studs should be swedged.
I prefer using the original style studs be new or reused.
Taps bent up in the drum unnecessarily complicates the conversion unless you can access laser work.
A small bead of weld @ the flat on the drum is more than adequate.

Hi Guy's,
One thing I forgot to mention on those hubs I set up is that modern serrated studs were used because they needed to be longer than the originals
for the spacers that are needed to move the wheel out so there is room for A-C small drum outside brakes. The car they are going on has a Aux.
trans so they would be needed. If using Rockies the spacers would need to be even thicker. The wood to wire adapters will most likely give ample
room for A-C brakes but don't know about Rockies. I wonder if Sure Stop makes a set up for this application? Also keep in mind that when you
move the wheel out you increase the load on the bearing & axle.
Craig.

Can't get pix to though tex or email phillipoldenhage@ gmail.com or tex 209 769 3384

As Mark points out, the hubs are all the same. It's only the drums that are different. Many have re-worked small wood wheel drums to use with wire wheel hubs.

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 19, 2024 10:30 pm

As Mark points out, the hubs are all the same. It's only the drums that are different. Many have re-worked small wood wheel drums to use with wire wheel hubs.

Hubs are not the same.
Wire wheel hubs fit into the wheel hub & support the wheel.
Using wood wheel hubs & adapting to WW is a much less safe adaption.
It is true that a small drum can be made to fit in place of the most common ww big drum.
The drum centering holes are the same size. The small drum stud holes have to be changed in position & go from 6 to 5 holes.

John is correct regarding the use of Wood Wheel hubs. Failure to modify the hub so that it supports the hubcap side of the wheel will eventually lead to cracking of the wheel center around the lug bolts because of wheel center flexing. Wood Wheel hubs will work fine if a ring is welded to the hub over the old hubcap threads extending outward and then machined to the same diameter as the outboard end of a wire wheel hub. Model A wheels are pretty much supported in the same fashion.

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 19, 2024 11:31 pm

Jerry VanOoteghem wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 19, 2024 10:30 pm

As Mark points out, the hubs are all the same. It's only the drums that are different. Many have re-worked small wood wheel drums to use with wire wheel hubs.

Hubs are not the same.
Wire wheel hubs fit into the wheel hub & support the wheel.
Using wood wheel hubs & adapting to WW is a much less safe adaption.

That's not at all what I was saying. To state it more clearly, "... the WIRE WHEEL hubs are all the same..."

BTTT again,

I think I have a set I made from 26 hubs and small drums. Let me know if you are interested.

Here is one recent result using that small adapter plate to change from 6 bolts to 5 wheel lug nut bolts.

That truck came close to a roll over!

The problem was solved by buying a set of 1926-27 rear wheel hubs, then drilling four holes in an earlier small drum and enlarging one original hole slightly,

Selecting the proper original hole will allow four holes to be drilled completely without interference or overlapping with any of the original six holes.

Then, some file action on the inside area of the holes allows the original five type bolts to be installed and hammered into place.

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 18, 2024 11:25 am

The tabs are there to keep the studs from turning. I agree the studs should be swedged.
I prefer using the original style studs be new or reused.

A small bead of weld @ the flat on the drum is more than adequate.
[/quote]
If you dont tack the heads, they can get loose, then you'll have a tough time removing the wheel.

FYI : Not all reproduction studs are created equal. I have seen some where the shoulder diameter is smaller that original.
You can not Swedge them. Dan

Here are the hubs I made up.

New studs and tool I purchased from Snyder's.

Thanks to everyone. I got what I needed.
Thanks MTFCA