How dangerous are a few loose wheel tenons?

[colonelpowers]

The wife and I took the T on a nice long drive yesterday and coming home I had stopped to get gas. As I generally do whatever I stop I was checking over things and noticed a little bit of play in one of the rear wheels. It is not much, but perceptible. I can feel no effect from the problem while driving and am pretty thorough in frequently inspecting the car and never noticed it before. Since I have been back I still haven't removed the rim to inspect things closer. I have ordered from Stutzman before and plan on respoking the wheel but would like to make it until Winter before I do. I have in the past driven cars with much worse wheels but I was younger and dumber so I thought I would ask for your opinions on the subject.

[speedytinc]

Dont turn a blind eye to this problem. Its a severe safety issue.
Driving with loose spokes makes the wear get worse quickly. @ the very least I would use a spoke jack & add shims. I did this on an otherwise nice set of wheels 30 years ago. That T has seen severe service & the spokes are all still tight.

[TXGOAT2]

Loose wheels are like loose connecting rods, and much more dangerous.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Joshua,

It would be irresponsible for any of us to say "you'll be fine", since we can't actually see and touch your wheels. Maybe they'd be okay for a while, but none of us can know that. The only good advice here, is to rebuild them.

[TWrenn]

VERY!!

Don't chance your life or someone else's by being "thrifty". Replace 'em.

[John kuehn]

If you drive frequently why not respoke them all at the same time and be done with it. You didn’t mention if the others are in good shape.

[TWrenn]

If you drive frequently why not respoke them all at the same time and be done with it. You didn’t mention if the others are in good shape.

Couldn't agree with ya more John! On my Fordor I had two wheels with 2-3 spokes starting to "talk" to me 2 years ago, and one in the rear with two "quiet loose" ones. All 3 went to Stutzman's that fall. I'm not chancing spokes over money. No way. If it gets to that, then one doesn't belong in the hobby. Just my 2 cents.

[Norman Kling]

Depends on the wheel. If you have wood felloes you need to send to Stutzman. If they are steel, you can but new spokes from the suppliers and with the proper spoke press, install yourself. If the front wheels are loose, and one collapses on a turn, you could roll over. If on the back, remember They are used hard both when starting out from a stop to when slowing down with the brake. So they should really be replaced.
Norm

[Oldav8tor]

Norm paints a picture that should scare any of us who have problematic wheels. My experience with loose spokes was an eye-opener. The ends of the tenons looked like warts where they had slowly rotted away over a century. A couple of sharp raps with a rubber mallet and I was able to shear one of them right off. I've attached a photo showing the aforementioned tenons and what they look like when they come back from Stutzman. Varnishing or painting the tenons will help slow moisture from damaging the new ones. [see photo]

I've had three wheels rebuilt by Noah Stutzman and am very satisfied - you might call and see what kind of turn-around he can offer. Being Amish, you leave a message and he'll call you back (330) 897-1391‬. Of course there are other wheel rebuilders who do a great job. I just haven't had any experience with them. I've been to Noah's shop and seen him at work.... a true craftsman - well-equipped to build almost any wheel.

[colonelpowers]

Good news about the loose spokes; they aren't. Well, there were a couple of the hub nuts that took some snugging up (only 1/4 turn) and all the tennons were tight. The perceptible movement that I had noticed came from a combination of 2 other issues that I found. The previous owner had shimmed the axle ends and the shim on that wheel had a damaged place that didn't allow perfect contact all the way around and allowed for the slightest but wearing movement of the hub on the shim. The second issue noticed is that there is a little in and out play in the axle. I am afraid that I know what you will say bit I will ask anyway, how much play is tolerable? There isn't really any up and down play so the bearing seems fine.