Straightening wire wheels

[Model A Ron]

I am restoring a set of 21'' wire wheels and I do have a bit of left to right runout in just about every wheel. Does anyone have any tips or tricks when it comes to working this out?

Thanks
Ron

 

[shew01]

This is pricy, but it worked well for me.

https://www.brattons.com/SPOKE-STRAIGHTENING-TOOL/productinfo/2360/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Model A Ron]

This is pricy, but it worked well for me.

https://www.brattons.com/SPOKE-STRAIGHTENING-TOOL/productinfo/2360/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks....any tips on using the tool?

 

[Synchro909]

Thanks....any tips on using the tool?

Just be careful of the cancer and reproductive harm according to the warning in the ad.
What a load of BS!

 

[wrndln]

A fellow in our local club in the Twin Cities, MN (Dave Gerold) has a good method to fix run-out in 21" and 19" wheels if they aren't real bad. His website is: http://www.durableperformance.net. The wheel straightening is under the DYI help tab. He uses a propane torch to shrink the spokes to correct the run-out. He did 5 wheels for me a few years ago and it got the run-out down to 1/16" to 1/8" on all the wheels, which for model A wheels is fine.


BTW, you should straighten any bend spokes first. I use a slide hammer to straighten spokes very carefully.

Rusty Nelson

 

[Charlie Stephens]

Ask at your local club if anyone has the equipment to do it.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Krylon32]

I've had 2 pairs of 32 wires widened 2 inches and trued by Bruce's Rod Shop in Spring Texas. 1 pair has about 8,000 miles on them and they are perfect. He has some sort of truing tool?

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

A fellow in our local club in the Twin Cities, MN (Dave Gerold) has a good method to fix run-out in 21" and 19" wheels if they aren't real bad. His website is: http://www.durableperformance.net. The wheel straightening is under the DYI help tab. He uses a propane torch to shrink the spokes to correct the run-out. He did 5 wheels for me a few years ago and it got the run-out down to 1/16" to 1/8" on all the wheels, which for model A wheels is fine.


BTW, you should straighten any bend spokes first. I use a slide hammer to straighten spokes very carefully.

I have attached a PDF copy of Dave's handout for those who want a direct link to it. Very nicely written by him.

Like Dave, I started out with a wheel straightening machine (-mine is a Beeline) but I started using the shrinking method many years ago because I feel it does a better job over a mechanical press. I still use my old wheel straightener as a fixturing unit but the same success can be had using a small propane hobby torch and the front axle with a rotating hub.

As far as a straightening tool, we use an old Clutch Housing Pedal Shaft that we removed and then used a grinder to cut a perpendicular notch in one end of the shaft about ½" from the very end. This notch just needs to be large enough to slip over the spoke where the spoke can be pried in a specific direction. A small machinist scale (ruler) to use as a straight edge against the length of the spoke and the bar to bend the spoke makes the job of straightening go quickly. Often times a bent spoke will require heat shrinking first prior to straightening because of the stretch. Work on the Concentricity (-think egg shape) by shrinking one, -or both spokes in the 'X' and once you are within spec, then work on Lateral Run-out shrinking the long spokes.

Ford's engineers specified that runout in a wheel must be less than 0.125" (⅛") and like Rusty stated, generally it is pretty easy to get in the 0.060" range.