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 09-03-2018, 04:38 AM   #1
bigd1101
Senior Member
 
bigd1101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Ithaca
Posts: 345
Default hub caps

Silly question. How do the hub caps come off on the 28 Model A? One rattles and I want to put rubber seal behind it. I don't want to force it and break something and I don't want to chip the paint on the wheel. I'm assuming they just snap on and off, but the one in question is not easily just popping off. Thanks.......
bigd1101 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 05:24 AM   #2
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: hub caps

Don't bother taking it off. Just put a little silicone around it from behind where it can't be seen and drive on in silence.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-03-2018, 05:45 AM   #3
dave in australia
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 1,170
Default Re: hub caps

Some of the parts houses sell an o ring that will slip over the hub cap and sit between the cap and the wheel. The wheel normally has to be removed to remove the cap as most owners bend a few of the tabs over to prevent the cap coming off to easy.
dave in australia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 05:59 AM   #4
dpson
Senior Member
 
dpson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Montpelier, VT
Posts: 223
Default Re: hub caps

I bought a set of those hubcap O-rings for the 30-31 hubcaps and find they are too thick to use either with the caps on the car or when removed. I'm curious if there is some trick to installing these or they just another worthless product?
dpson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 06:51 AM   #5
2manycars
Senior Member
 
2manycars's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern CT
Posts: 2,732
Default Re: hub caps

I think the O ring is a bad idea. I use silicone on the inside of the hub cap and wheel, and when it dries, it holds the cap fine, and no noise.
__________________
Bill
www.brauchauto.com
2manycars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 08:33 AM   #6
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: hub caps

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigd1101 View Post
Silly question. How do the hub caps come off on the 28 Model A? One rattles and I want to put rubber seal behind it. I don't want to force it and break something and I don't want to chip the paint on the wheel. I'm assuming they just snap on and off, but the one in question is not easily just popping off. Thanks.......


What made you suspect and ID that it was the hub caps?


I have a few squeaks/rattles that are driving me nuts.. Found one, was the Hood in the hinge on the drivers side where the 2 halves hinge together. Rattles I do not mind if I know what they are. But squeaks really irritate me.


I will try taking the hub caps off, hub caps never occurred to me until your post - thanks.


When I take mine off I am very gentle and work my way a little bit around the cap a little bit at a time, also wrap prying surface of the tool with either a rag or preferably an old piece of inner tube. Just be careful the pry tool does not go through what ever you are using to wrap the tool. That is why I like to use inner tube. Another approach is use something non-metal, softer, wood or plastic - again be slow, gentle, and careful.


You could also take the wheel off and go through the back to gently push the cap off through the back of the wheel. Then you have to worry about the lug nuts damaging the paint. Some people use washers behind the lug nuts so the lug nuts tighten down and slip on the washers instead of the wheels. I've also seen where inner tube or similar has been glued/attached to the back of the washers to further protect the paint. The washers are orderable, and are made for wheels where the stud holes are worn from being run with loose lug nuts. The washers self center when tightened down.


You may get marring of the paint and scratches front the tangs of the hubcap, but they should not be visible once the hub cap is on. Do not know, maybe glue felt/inner tube to the back of each tang if OCD?


Always wait a couple of days, to see if there are additional opinions/dis-agreements.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 08:48 AM   #7
Cape Codder
Senior Member
 
Cape Codder's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,261
Default Re: hub caps

Some time ago I had my wheels powder coated and installed NEW Hub Caps. I installed them with only HALF the tabs bent over. I lost one of them shortly after installation. I used that method twice more replacing the lost hubcap.

On my final installation, I took all the caps OFF and reinstalled them using silicon between cap and wheel. I also bent over ALL the tabs. That has to be 4 1/2 - 5 years ago with no rattle or LOSE of cap!
Cape Codder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 11:45 AM   #8
Gary Karr
Senior Member
 
Gary Karr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,483
Default Re: hub caps

Originally from the factory, the wheels were installed and the hubcaps put on after, which means that they did not bend the tabs over as we see today. When new, the tabs held the caps tight in the wheel hub. If you cannot easily remove your cap from the outside, the tabs are most likely bent over to hold the cap in place. You will have to remove your wheel and work from the inside.
Gary Karr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 01:12 PM   #9
johnbuckley
Senior Member
 
johnbuckley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,439
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Karr View Post
Originally from the factory, the wheels were installed and the hubcaps put on after, which means that they did not bend the tabs over as we see today. When new, the tabs held the caps tight in the wheel hub. .....
Well I never knew that! How is it that ninety years ago they managed to do that and now we have to bend bend over the tabs or use glue/silicone ? Did they rattle when they were new?Did they come off easy when they were new do you know? Or were the tabs different from nowadays?
johnbuckley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 03:26 PM   #10
duke36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2manycars View Post
I think the O ring is a bad idea. I use silicone on the inside of the hub cap and wheel, and when it dries, it holds the cap fine, and no noise.
Concur, O rings useless and not sized properly. They hold nothing nor prevent rattles.
duke36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2018, 07:12 PM   #11
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbuckley View Post
Well I never knew that! How is it that ninety years ago they managed to do that and now we have to bend bend over the tabs or use glue/silicone ? Did they rattle when they were new?Did they come off easy when they were new do you know? Or were the tabs different from nowadays?
Yes, I believe they were. A friend of mine carefully bends the tabs so that the caps push on with the tabs springing out behind the wheel to hold them in place. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to learn that Ford did the same thing but we haven't been smart enough to cotton onto the subtltey (spelling?) of it.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 12:14 AM   #12
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: hub caps

Follow TexWillis' instructions and you will have No Hub Cap problems.
https://youtu.be/8LtXB6tF2KQ
Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 02:20 AM   #13
28
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Posts: 49
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead View Post
Follow TexWillis' instructions and you will have No Hub Cap problems.
https://youtu.be/8LtXB6tF2KQ
Wise man
28 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 07:36 AM   #14
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: hub caps

What is the factual evidence that FOMOCO installed hub caps after the wheels were on the cars?



Starting in 1932, the lug nuts were under the hub caps, so FOMOCO made the caps easily removable.



Waxed string works much better than the o'rings to snug hubcaps on the Model A! Silicone is too messy, so best done while the cap is being installed.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 09:02 AM   #15
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
Default Re: hub caps

Originally the tabs were bent in a wave shape (sorta like a speed bump) so they could be popped on and off.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 11:36 AM   #16
Gary Karr
Senior Member
 
Gary Karr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,483
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde View Post
What is the factual evidence that FOMOCO installed hub caps after the wheels were on the cars?



Starting in 1932, the lug nuts were under the hub caps, so FOMOCO made the caps easily removable.



Waxed string works much better than the o'rings to snug hubcaps on the Model A! Silicone is too messy, so best done while the cap is being installed.
If you look at original factory assembly line photos, you will see 1928 chassis' going down the line with wheels mounted without hubcaps.
Gary Karr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 11:40 AM   #17
Gary Karr
Senior Member
 
Gary Karr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,483
Default Re: hub caps

I might add that when I mounted the hubcaps on my early-28, they went on without bending the tabs. They are NOS hubcaps. I had a little trouble initially but cleaned the paint off of the hub inside edge, then using a block of wood and a hammer, I popped them on. They are on super tight and don't rattle.
Gary Karr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2018, 11:46 AM   #18
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: hub caps

Years ago I was wondering about factory installation of the hubcaps also, but as Gary said, when I saw the mounted wheels and no hubcaps on the assembly line, it only made sense that the caps had the tabs bent to be pushed on with a snap action.


Wasn't someone selling a pliers that bent the tabs to be pushed on?
If not, then I'd make a tool to do the job.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2018, 11:09 PM   #19
Mike V. Florida
Senior Member
 
Mike V. Florida's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 14,054
Send a message via AIM to Mike V. Florida
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post

Wasn't someone selling a pliers that bent the tabs to be pushed on?
If not, then I'd make a tool to do the job.

There was a tool but it was way expensive for the job it did. I don't see it listed any more on the vendors sites.
__________________
What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II
Mike V. Florida is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2018, 01:25 AM   #20
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,109
Default Re: hub caps

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida View Post
There was a tool but it was way expensive for the job it did. I don't see it listed any more on the vendors sites.
I have one of those tools , but it came without any instructions and I haven’t figured out how to make it work.
__________________
Alaskan A's
Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska
Model A Ford Club of America
Model A Restorers Club
Antique Automobile Club of America
Mullins Owner's Club
CarlG 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 01:09 AM.