IDing 40s steels. 4" or 4-1/2" wide? Easy how to.

[Mart]

Here's an easy way to tell if your 40s steel is a 4" or 4-1/2".

If you lay a straight edge across the centre of the wheel and up against the outer rim, On the 4" wheel the end will sit just outside the rim. On the 4-1/2" wheel the end will sit just inside the edge of the rim.

4" wheel:




4-1/2" wheel:


A handy little tip especially when the tyres are still on!
Mart.

[alchemy]

Thanks

[ford38v8]

Leave it to Mart to come up with easy shortcuts. Good find!

[TJ]

I just carry a small tape measure on my key ring. Mart's idea is good but not all wheels have the same back spacing.

[big deuce]

Now we just need a " magic" eye ball to see through the tires to inspect the beads while at the bone yard!

[Death Row Dave]

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Thanks my friend

[GB SISSON]

Mart, I like the way you figure things out. Your next assignment is to make a small, portable gauge to tell if a swapmeet crank is 3 3/4" or 4" stroke. I've found exceptions to the clean out hole sizing ID.

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Mart, I like the way you figure things out. Your next assignment is to make a small, portable gauge to tell if a swapmeet crank is 3 3/4" or 4" stroke. I've found exceptions to the clean out hole sizing ID.

I measure across the large counter weight.

[Flathead Fever]

It seems like any 16" rim would measure the same distance. That makes it look like there are two different diameter rims. I wouldn't want to put a 16" tire on a 15-inch rim.

[Mart]

Originally Posted by Flathead Fever

It seems like any 16" rim would measure the same distance. That makes it look like there are two different diameter rims. I wouldn't want to put a 16" tire on a 15-inch rim.

You're missing the point.

I'm not measuring any diameters. I'm showing the relative alignments of the rims against the centres. The 4-1/2" wheel is 1/2" wider, so sticks out 1/4" more than the 4". You can see the difference using a straight edge.