21" Wheels

[rarebike]

I just picked up a set of four 21" Model A rims that the owner says are AR wheels, how do I positively identify them as AR wheels?

[ronn]

By the depth of the inner rim. Its very apparent-thinner hub about 1 /14 inch deep vs about 1 3/4 inch deep.

just compare them to one you have laying around.

[rotorwrench]

The design was a carry over from the 1926/27 model T with small drums. The early A drum size was larger and so was the wheel center but the T lug bolts were retained. When the brake system was improved with larger drums, the wheels was also changed to function with the new drums.

[Model "A" Fords]

I know people associate "AR" as being an early Model "A" but I understood "AR" was part of a number/letter combination on a revised part and not actually referring to an early car.
"A" for model "A" and "R" for "Revised"?
We had a set of wheels that we thought were Model "T" but told they were "AR". The person buying them said they were early Model "A". I suppose they both meant the same thing.

[rarebike]

I don't have another Model A wheel to compare to but this is what I have.

[ronn]

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rarebike, take a look at the back of the rim-hub-how deep is it?

thats your answer, not what youre showing.........

[rarebike]

Is this what you are talking about?

[ronn]

yes and that appears to be just a reg rim.

the AR should be 1 1/4 approx

[dlshady]

Here's some photos I took a few years ago to help people ID their 21" wheels. The orange wheel is a Model T, the bare metal wheel is an Early 28 (or AR) and the red oxide primed wheel is the late 28-29 style.

Model T:


Early 28:


Late 28 and 29:


Model T on the left and Early 28 on the right:


Early 28 on the left and Late 28-29 wheel on the right:


Early 28 on the left and Late 28-29 wheel on the right:

[Jim/GA]

The Ford Service Bulletins discuss this (early wheel/drum versus later wheel/drum).

In June 1928 (with the separate parking brake system) the hub flange depth increased from 1-3/16” to 1-3/8”.

Mismatching either wheel to the wrong drum will be bad.

[DougVieyra]

dlshady - Post # 9

If "A picture is worth a thousand words", you have given us the Encyclopedia Brittanica !
Many of us are more 'visual' than those who are 'literate'. And I appreciate both; but with your photos you have done us all a great service. Thank you very much.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, California

[dlshady]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

dlshady - Post # 9

If "A picture is worth a thousand words", you have given us the Encyclopedia Brittanica !
Many of us are more 'visual' than those who are 'literate'. And I appreciate both; but with your photos you have done us all a great service. Thank you very much.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, California

Glad to help! I was really active here several years ago, long before life had other plans for me, and I used to see the wheel question come up at least once a week. One day I was working on my son's Model T when the UPS man brought the early 28 wheel pictured above, and I realized it was a good time to drag out the third version and take some pictures while I had the opportunity. Those photos have been shared soooooo many times now it's not even funny, but as you said, a lot of folks just need to see something for it to click. And it never hurts to have them side by side so the differences become more obvious.

[rarebike]

I appreciate all of the responses and I second the "A picture worth a thousand words"

Tim in Omaha

[Fullraceflathead]

That seems fairly simple to identify after seeing the pictures the late 28 and 29 will have a gradual radius whereas the early 1 doesn't!!!