How much out of true is okay in wood spokes?

[colonelpowers]

I picked up another car the other day and am starting to sort through everything that is needed. The wheels on the car look very good. The wooden felloes and spokes are tight and solid but while I had it jacked up I did notice that there is a good bit of side to side warp especially in the driver's side front wheel. If it were on a buggy or wagon I wouldn't give it a second thought but since it is on the front of the car I thought I would ask y'all. I have a similar rear wheel on my centerdoor and we drive it everywhere. Since it is on the back and the spokes are tight I haven't really worried about it. Something about the greater stress on a front wheel gives me a little more concern about that one.

Any advice?

[TWrenn]

It's likely that it's the felloes that are out of "true" and I believe around 1/4 inch is about the max.

[Erik Johnson]

If you are really concerned about wheel run out, wood felloe wheels can be trued or fine-tuned as described in Dyke's and Gasoline Engine Encyclopedia. (My father and I have performed this procedure in the past after we tightened up a set of wheels by shimming the felloes, heating up and reinstinalling the rims but before installing new rivets.)

Note: the rims must be tight, the wheels must have good wood and no loose rivets.

With the tire off, jack up the car, rotate the wheel and figure out where the run-in and/or run out is by using a ruler and some type of reference on the floor such as a wood block. When you figure out where the run out is, lower the car so the rim rests on the floor (so the weight of the car holds the rim against the floor). Using a large hammer and a piece of hard wood, tap (hammer) the felloe in or out as needed - the weight of the car will hold the rim stationary against the floor and the felloe should move slightly as you tap/hammer it. I hope what I've described makes sense.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Really, more important than "how much", is "why". Runout can be kind of normal, if not too extreme, (like much over 1/4" total side-to-side play). You really should do a little close inspection to figure "why" however. Some causes can be innocent, while others can be a symptom of what may become a worsening problem.

What style of wheel do you have?

Causes can range from...

Bent rim
Bent felloe
Poorly mounted detatchable rim
Poorlyy seated clincher bead
Torn clincher tire bead
Bent or cracked hub flange
Bearing issue
Loose hub bolts, (the 6 bolts)
Worn/loose spokes at the tennon ends

And probably a few more.