Spoke Tightening Method
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Topic author - Posts: 451
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 8:36 am
- First Name: Daniel
- Last Name: Snell
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Spoke Tightening Method
Today, I thought I would try to tighten a couple of loose spokes with screws. They seem to have helped a lot, has anyone else tried this method with success or? Like to hear from others. [/size][/b]
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- First Name: Scott
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Daniel
it is in fact a terrible idea that sounds great, and because it sounds great, has been done many many times. If my barn is leaning more and more everyday, is near collapse, and I put up an angle brace on the outside wall, I stopped the leaning movement for now, but did I restore it's structural integrity? Would you let your child play in it's shadow?
If you felt the need to do this, you need new spokes...sorry about that.
it is in fact a terrible idea that sounds great, and because it sounds great, has been done many many times. If my barn is leaning more and more everyday, is near collapse, and I put up an angle brace on the outside wall, I stopped the leaning movement for now, but did I restore it's structural integrity? Would you let your child play in it's shadow?
If you felt the need to do this, you need new spokes...sorry about that.
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
There are ways to shim a solid but otherwise loose spoke in a wheel, that can be done well and last for a whole lot of miles. But this isn't one of them. A screw, or nail temporarily removes unwanted movement by filling a tiny amount of a large gap. It WILL work the screw or nail into the spoke tenon and get loose again soon, then continue to grind away at a small area making the tenon smaller, weaker, and badly distorted. Any such shims need to be full coverage around the tenon, and shaped so that they CANNOT loosen and fall out. In addition inner hub looseness must also be similarly shimmed so that tightening is spread throughout and cannot be shaken out.
Better yet. Unless you are totally broke like me? Buy new spokes and do the wheel right.
Better yet. Unless you are totally broke like me? Buy new spokes and do the wheel right.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Best method I've seen for tightening spokes:
1. pick up phone
2. Call Bill Calimer
3. Follow his advice for shipping of old weels/parts
4. Send some money
5. Wait for new wheels to arrive
6. Finish paint as needed
7. Install and motor on SAFELY.
1. pick up phone
2. Call Bill Calimer
3. Follow his advice for shipping of old weels/parts
4. Send some money
5. Wait for new wheels to arrive
6. Finish paint as needed
7. Install and motor on SAFELY.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Scott's right. If a spoke is loose at the felloe, surely it's loose at the hub as well. More, driving a screw through a spoke is an invitation to split it. Properly rebuilt wheels are the best (and most important) investment you can make in the safety and "good running" of your model T.
"Get a horse !"
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
No !! The beginnings of a cracked spoke !
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
I agree, time to respoke the wheel.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
From the photos, it looks like you have Hayes felloes. If you decide to rebuild your wheels with new spokes, be sure to get the 1/32 inch longer spokes that are made for Hayes and Kelsey wheels. Also be sure to get the right size tenons (they come in 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch sizes).
https://www.modeltford.com/item/2800HS-HY.aspx
Here is a link to the plans for the John Regan wheel press:
http://funprojects.com/pdf/WheelpressA2.pdf
Here is a link to an older thread showing some Kelsey wheels that I built a few years ago. I have since sold these wheels to another member in Texas.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1404960383
The hub end of the new spokes have a chamfer to allow clearance to the fillet in the hubs. Be sure to orient the chamfer so that it provides this clearance.
https://www.modeltford.com/item/2800HS-HY.aspx
Here is a link to the plans for the John Regan wheel press:
http://funprojects.com/pdf/WheelpressA2.pdf
Here is a link to an older thread showing some Kelsey wheels that I built a few years ago. I have since sold these wheels to another member in Texas.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/41 ... 1404960383
The hub end of the new spokes have a chamfer to allow clearance to the fillet in the hubs. Be sure to orient the chamfer so that it provides this clearance.
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
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Topic author - Posts: 451
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Absolutely want to thank all for responding. I had always understood that the wheel needed to be re-wooded, but thought this might hold for a bit, after all, I have been driving on this loose spoked wheel for years now. New wood wheels will be on the car soon. In fact already have them, just need to sand and have painted.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Good to know you will soon have new wood spoke wheel to replace that one.
Loose spokes will make clacking sound as you drive giving warning of bad thing to happen.
Close up of that glossy paint shows cracks, indicating poor wood, likely dry rot. As the book title said....’un-safe at any speed’!
Loose spokes will make clacking sound as you drive giving warning of bad thing to happen.
Close up of that glossy paint shows cracks, indicating poor wood, likely dry rot. As the book title said....’un-safe at any speed’!
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
I repaired a wheel with very loose tenons by drilling the tenon with a 1/2" drill bit in to the spoke about an inch and inserting and gluing a new full size hard wood dowel.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Problem with drilling and installing a replacement, the tenon is a crush fit not a slip fit. In the end you will still end up with loose spoke's. While I am not going to recommend a screw, it does at least spread the tenon to fill the hole, that coupled with shims might get you home. The holes might call for 1/2 or 5/8"" tenons, but in reality the holes are a bit smaller.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Too terrible. Temporarily tight.
Wayne explained the problem very well. If it was a wood-felloe wheel I would do as Terry says and send them to a wheelwright. I've done that. With steel-felloe wheels like these I would use the Regan press and replace the spokes myself. I've done that.
Wayne explained the problem very well. If it was a wood-felloe wheel I would do as Terry says and send them to a wheelwright. I've done that. With steel-felloe wheels like these I would use the Regan press and replace the spokes myself. I've done that.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Not in my wheels.
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Re: Spoke Tightening Method
Who's afraid of a little death ?
More people are doing it today than ever before !