The Ford Barn

Brubaker · 09-07-2010, 02:44 PM

I am grading the wheels(19") that I have, and am wondering what defect is repairable and which is not. Bent spokes I can handle, if it spins like an egg, forget it, but what about 'wobble' the other direction(looking from the side)? So far, three out of twelve are keepers and need very little help. Is that about right percentage-wise, or am I being too 'picky'?
Thanks,Bruce.

Russ/40 · 09-07-2010, 03:28 PM

You may be too picky. You should be able to correct any wobble 1/4" or less. I say this from the experience I had with my 21" wheels. I used the heat shrink method of pulling it into alignment by heat shrinking the spokes.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-07-2010, 06:28 PM

I find about the same ratio of 1 good wheel and 3 bad wheels as I find them at swap meets. Many of the wheels that aren't within 1/8" for runout and wobble can be fixed. Dave G. made a nice wheel straightener and lets guys use it. He also demonstrated how to heat shrink the stretched spoke by using a propane torch and wet rag. Dave reports very good success using this method.

Brubaker · 09-07-2010, 07:08 PM

Thanks Tom. I can find a Dave B,C,D and H, but no G. Do you know what his 'handle' is?

Tom Wesenberg · 09-07-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brubaker

Thanks Tom. I can find a Dave B,C,D and H, but no G. Do you know what his 'handle' is?

Go to the SEARCH feature on this forum and enter Straightening Wheels

Dave is the last entry and has a link to his site. This is DAVE in MN.

Dave lives just south of Jordan, MN.

zzlegend · 09-07-2010, 08:45 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Brubaker

Thanks Tom. I can find a Dave B,C,D and H, but no G. Do you know what his 'handle' is?

See if this helps you.

http://durableperformance.net/Do_it_...2.4.09.web.pdf

MCHinson · 09-07-2010, 08:53 PM

Thanks. That was a great document to read. I may have to try that on some old wheels that I have.

Russ/40 · 09-07-2010, 11:15 PM

The document above was the reference I used when I did mine. Worked amazingly well.

30Tudor · 09-07-2010, 11:27 PM

Dave's spoke heat shrink method works really well. It's just like truing a bicyle wheel which I had a lot of practice with being a mountain biker at one point. You have to take your time but you can easily move the rim in an 1/8" and often a bit more. Here are some pictures of my setup.

Brubaker · 09-08-2010, 12:16 AM

EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Very much appreciated! If anyone bumps into Dave/MN buy him a beer on my tab.

Dtolson · 09-06-2013, 12:46 PM

Can you take a 1/4 " wobble out of a 21" rim by mechanical means rather than heat? I would rather not ruin the paint.

If heat is the only way, do you have to remove the tire and tube?

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 09-06-2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dtolson

Can you take a 1/4 " wobble out of a 21" rim by mechanical means rather than heat? I would rather not ruin the paint.

If heat is the only way, do you have to remove the tire and tube?

Wow, this is one from the "archives"!!

To answer your questions, No ....and Yes

.

Dave in MN · 09-07-2013, 09:48 AM

I wrote the pictured article for a Club seminar and keep it on my website for others to study...but let's give credit where it is due...Brent Terry gave me the idea to use the spoke shrinking method. He is a proponent for using this process for a lot of other corrections also. Sheet metal, frames, wheels and only he knows what else.

Dave in MN
www.durableperformance.net

Look on the Do it Yourself page for the link...it works great...and yes you have to take the tire, tube and band off...because it gets pretty hot.

09-07-2010, 02:44 PM	#1
Brubaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 765	wheel 'trueness' I am grading the wheels(19") that I have, and am wondering what defect is repairable and which is not. Bent spokes I can handle, if it spins like an egg, forget it, but what about 'wobble' the other direction(looking from the side)? So far, three out of twelve are keepers and need very little help. Is that about right percentage-wise, or am I being too 'picky'? Thanks,Bruce.

09-07-2010, 03:28 PM	#2
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: wheel 'trueness' You may be too picky. You should be able to correct any wobble 1/4" or less. I say this from the experience I had with my 21" wheels. I used the heat shrink method of pulling it into alignment by heat shrinking the spokes.

09-07-2010, 06:28 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: wheel 'trueness' I find about the same ratio of 1 good wheel and 3 bad wheels as I find them at swap meets. Many of the wheels that aren't within 1/8" for runout and wobble can be fixed. Dave G. made a nice wheel straightener and lets guys use it. He also demonstrated how to heat shrink the stretched spoke by using a propane torch and wet rag. Dave reports very good success using this method.

09-07-2010, 07:08 PM	#4
Brubaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 765	Re: wheel 'trueness' Thanks Tom. I can find a Dave B,C,D and H, but no G. Do you know what his 'handle' is?

09-07-2010, 08:53 PM	#7
MCHinson Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 401	Re: wheel 'trueness' Thanks. That was a great document to read. I may have to try that on some old wheels that I have.

09-07-2010, 11:15 PM	#8
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: wheel 'trueness' The document above was the reference I used when I did mine. Worked amazingly well.

09-08-2010, 12:16 AM	#10
Brubaker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 765	Re: wheel 'trueness' EXACTLY the information I was looking for. Very much appreciated! If anyone bumps into Dave/MN buy him a beer on my tab.

09-06-2013, 12:46 PM	#11
Dtolson Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: KY Posts: 81	Re: wheel 'trueness' Can you take a 1/4 " wobble out of a 21" rim by mechanical means rather than heat? I would rather not ruin the paint. If heat is the only way, do you have to remove the tire and tube?

09-07-2013, 09:48 AM	#13
Dave in MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jordan, MN Posts: 1,411	Re: wheel 'trueness' I wrote the pictured article for a Club seminar and keep it on my website for others to study...but let's give credit where it is due...Brent Terry gave me the idea to use the spoke shrinking method. He is a proponent for using this process for a lot of other corrections also. Sheet metal, frames, wheels and only he knows what else. Dave in MN www.durableperformance.net Look on the Do it Yourself page for the link...it works great...and yes you have to take the tire, tube and band off...because it gets pretty hot.