Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-14-2018, 06:06 PM   #1
Colonel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 251
Default Tips to select good Model A wheels

I am going to look at a pile of Model A wheels. Besides the overall condition of the metal, the hub, the spokes and the lug nut chamfer what other things can I do to pick good straight wheels. I won't have access to any special equipment to spin the wheels for example. It's a cash and carry deal - no return policy. All help appreciated.
Colonel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2018, 06:18 PM   #2
Dennis Pereira
Senior Member
 
Dennis Pereira's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Georgetown Divide Kelsey ca
Posts: 868
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Roll slowly on a hard surface like concrete they will wiggle and hop if bent .
__________________
Dennis in Kelsey ca
Dennis Pereira is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-14-2018, 08:15 PM   #3
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

28/29 beads rotted out or full of rust.
__________________
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2018, 09:53 PM   #4
Charlie Stephens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 7,017
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

If I was in the market for wheels I would make something to spin them. There is a lot of bent wheels out there.

Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2018, 10:38 PM   #5
Rich in Tucson
Senior Member
 
Rich in Tucson's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 374
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Jack up a front wheel, remove it. Mount a prospective wheel. Place gauges to show runout on front of rim and on outside of rim. For gauges all you need are rods mounted in a base so that you can place one rod on the front side of the rim and one on the outer side. The rods ought to meet the wheel at the mid-height of the rim at whatever height you have it above the ground or floor. I have a lead brick that makes a good base but anything heavy will work.
Rich in Tucson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 06:09 PM   #6
Bob-A
Senior Member
 
Bob-A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central FL, USA
Posts: 1,136
Thumbs up Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
The last time I bought some "A" wheels. I took along a rather heavy, but
accurate home-made tool for checking wheel run-out. A Model-A front spindle C-clamped to a metal jack stand. With bearings and a drum properly mounted. Placed the "tool" on a concrete floor and bolted the wheels on using three lug nuts. Very clumsy way of checking a wheel, but tells you what you need to know.


Bob-A
Bob-A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 06:59 PM   #7
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob-A View Post
The last time I bought some "A" wheels. I took along a rather heavy, but
accurate home-made tool for checking wheel run-out. A Model-A front spindle C-clamped to a metal jack stand. With bearings and a drum properly mounted. Placed the "tool" on a concrete floor and bolted the wheels on using three lug nuts. Very clumsy way of checking a wheel, but tells you what you need to know.


Bob-A
I made something similar and use it to balance the wheels. It's not sophisticated (but then, neither am I) but it works. I've been to about 65mph on wheels balanced this way and no sign of vibration. I also use it to check runout.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 08:14 PM   #8
2manycars
Senior Member
 
2manycars's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern CT
Posts: 2,732
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

I made a tool to check wheels by welding a ford pickup axel to a plate,and adding a pointer to check wobble and runout.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg wheel trueness checker.jpg (45.5 KB, 51 views)
__________________
Bill
www.brauchauto.com
2manycars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 08:49 PM   #9
Lee Mitch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sandy, OR.
Posts: 157
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

A friend taught me to use a wrench and tap on each spoke. They should sound the same. A broken one will sound very different. Definitely roll them on hard surface as post #2 says. Avoid deep pitting as even with powder coating they can't be covered entirely.
Lee Mitch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 08:52 PM   #10
Don Turley
Senior Member
 
Don Turley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: GA 30809
Posts: 629
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

If you have absolutely no tooling to check them, then lay one on a flat surface, then stack another one on top of it. If it rocks on the one below, then one (or both) of them is warped. Try another one until you get two that do not rock. After that, then roll them on a flat surface and watch for wobble. Of course, having a spindle to rotate them on is best, but at least this method will weed out the worst ones.
Don Turley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2018, 08:57 PM   #11
Ray in La Mesa
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: La Mesa Ca
Posts: 1,157
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

RE Lee Mitch: Good tip Lee, sounding the spokes not only tells a broken one but also it tells the tension. Helps you to see if a broken one has been welded as the tension will sing a different note, even if you can't see the weld. All should be the same note,people watching you at a swap meet will either think yo are playing a tune or are crazy.
Ray in La Mesa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2018, 09:22 AM   #12
Afordman31
Senior Member
 
Afordman31's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 577
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Carry a lug nut with you to check the bolt holes. If the nut sticks thru on the back side the hole is washed out or starting to wash out. If the nut sticks thru the wheel won't tighten and then you would need to use the washers that venders sell.
Afordman31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2018, 12:57 PM   #13
Dodge
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sonoma, CA.
Posts: 1,491
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

If they are 28/29 shake them and also listen to them as you roll them to see if there is a bunch of rust inside the bead.
Dodge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2018, 01:46 PM   #14
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

It all depends on how much is being charged for the wheels. If reasonably priced and you start doing 21 point inspections on them, you might get thrown out on your rear!
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2018, 04:34 PM   #15
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle View Post
It all depends on how much is being charged for the wheels. If reasonably priced and you start doing 21 point inspections on them, you might get thrown out on your rear!
Yep!
And even "junk" wheels are still good for making chairs or yard art. I've seen nice chairs made from junk wheels, and that's why I have saved a few that aren't good for a car.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2018, 06:57 PM   #16
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: Tips to select good Model A wheels

Delete
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

Last edited by eagle; 10-16-2018 at 10:52 PM. Reason: Unimportant
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:18 AM.