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Old 06-24-2016, 10:22 AM   #1
Jacksonlll
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Default Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

One of our members developed a loud noise on his left rear. He thought it was a bearing. We did not drive his car so we could not hear it. We were on a long tour. Toward the end of the tour, we got next to him and heard it. Sounded like a broken wheel. Click-click.
Turns out, it fooled us all. His stud holes were wallowed out so big that the lug nuts could not put any clamp force on wheel. They were tight, but against the studs, not the wheel. We will know next time.
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Old 06-24-2016, 10:55 AM   #2
H. L. Chauvin
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Thanks for posting "locating" the problem -- and thanks for posting same with a "Title" related to this problem ...... could be very helpful for a Model A owner in the future under "Search".

This type of title makes it easy to find Model A problem solution under the above "Search" rather than having a title like:

"Wow, gee whiz, OMG, Click-Click"
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Old 06-24-2016, 11:03 AM   #3
C26Pinelake
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Not uncommon! Wayne
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Old 06-24-2016, 11:07 AM   #4
Y-Blockhead
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Default "Wow, gee whiz, OMG, Click-Click"

So he "thought it was the bearing" and keeps driving it. Wow, Gee Whiz. That could have been dangerous not to mention destroying a hub and axle housing.

Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 06-24-2016 at 11:15 AM.
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Old 06-24-2016, 11:18 AM   #5
Mitch//pa
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Default Re: "Wow, gee whiz, OMG, Click-Click"

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So he "thought it was the bearing" and keeps driving it. Wow, Gee Whiz. That could have been dangerous not to mention destroying a hub and axle housing.
Pretty weird isn't it.. Why not ask someone with knowledge to drive it for a block..
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Old 06-24-2016, 11:51 AM   #6
H. L. Chauvin
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

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Hi Jackson,

One (1) additional moral of this story appears to hint on a subject of "Mechanical Knowledge vs. Hearing."

E.g., if ever on a Model A tour ........ and looking for the audible source of a Model A "click-click" ................... Model A "Senior" drivers are not always the best people to consult as to "where" the "click-click" is coming from.
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Old 06-24-2016, 11:56 AM   #7
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin View Post
Hi Jackson,

One (1) additional moral of this story appears to hint on a subject of "Mechanical Knowledge vs. Hearing."

E.g., if ever on a Model A tour ........ and looking for the audible source of a Model A "click-click" ................... Model A "Senior" drivers are not always the best people to consult as to "where" the "click-click" is coming from.
We have these chassis ears in the shop... Maybe some should keep them under the back seat or trunk of their A
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Last edited by Mitch//pa; 06-24-2016 at 12:03 PM.
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Old 06-24-2016, 12:30 PM   #8
H. L. Chauvin
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Hi Mitch,

Or ....... a suspended stretcher securely attached under the chassis ..... where one could place one's ear closer to the audible source may work ........ that is ....... until one encounters a raised bump in the paved highway.
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Old 06-24-2016, 12:43 PM   #9
figment
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Before spending a lot on painting and repairing wheels you should fit a lug nut to each hole and make sure that the end is not all the way through. If so find a different wheel.
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Old 06-24-2016, 01:16 PM   #10
Rex_A_Lott
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

I would try some one inch lug nuts before I completely scrapped the wheel. We used to have problems with the stock wheels on dirt stock race cars and this would help. I have seen the wheel come off and all the lugs nuts still be in place, the hole just beat out so big they came over the stock lugs. Good Luck.
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Old 06-24-2016, 02:48 PM   #11
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Those wheel lug nut washers might fix this problem.
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Old 06-24-2016, 03:03 PM   #12
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

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Originally Posted by Mitch//pa View Post
We have these chassis ears in the shop... Maybe some should keep them under the back seat or trunk of their A
But how would I attach to my ears :-) You have some cool tools Mitch !!!
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Old 06-24-2016, 03:04 PM   #13
Mitch//pa
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

It registers by LED lights ..each zone has its own set.. The noisy corner will transmit a stronger signal to the control panel
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Old 06-24-2016, 03:11 PM   #14
Charlie Stephens
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jacksonlll View Post
One of our members developed a loud noise on his left rear. He thought it was a bearing. We did not drive his car so we could not hear it. We were on a long tour. Toward the end of the tour, we got next to him and heard it. Sounded like a broken wheel. Click-click.
Turns out, it fooled us all. His stud holes were wallowed out so big that the lug nuts could not put any clamp force on wheel. They were tight, but against the studs, not the wheel. We will know next time.
I assume your diagnosis is correct but another thing to watch for is that if the studs are too long and you are using lug nuts with a covered end the nuts can bottom on the stud before they seat on the wheel.

Charlie Stephens
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Old 06-24-2016, 04:33 PM   #15
barnstuf
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Default Re: Loose wheel with tight lug nuts.

A wallowed out wheel is unsafe with or without washers under the lug nuts. I know of two instances where wallowed out wheels had washers under the lug nuts and a wheel still came off. One instance was at low speed in downtown Falmouth MA and the Model A owner collided with the car owned and driven by the JUDGE of the local District Court. Fortunately the Model A driver was not cited for the low speed collision but it could have been a higher speed collision were he not in a downtown business district.
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