Differences in 21" Model A Wheels

drpepper1885

drpepper1885

Member
Can anyone shed any light on the two types of 21" wheels used in 1928 and 1929? The earlier type supposedly has a "narrow inner flange" of 1 3/16" while the latter type was 1 3/8". What exactly is the inner flange of a Model A wheel? Thanks for your help.
 
The inner flange is where the spokes are welded to. The narrow flange is for the Early cars that don't have a separate handbrake assembly. It is all covered in the Service Bullitons. These Early cars, up till Sept 28, use the narrow flanged wheels. DO NOT mix and match them, they look like they fit, but they don't and create an UNSAFE situation.
 
i had received a set of early 21" wheels AR got em for a song, let em go for a bit more . there are noticeable differences . first off they don't fit . five on four and seven eights for the wheel studs , then the front hub on your '28, '29, '30, '31 is slightly larger and so the wheel will not fit without an adapter . i was able to purchase a correct complete used set with tubes and tires for what i let the early's go for . a "T" guy bought them for his speedster . if you've got them to sell once you realize they don't fit , sell em to a T guy .
good luck .
 
The early "AR" wheels and the late '26/'27 "T" look very similar but will not interchange. Once you carefully compare them, you will easily be able to determine the difference. The AR wheels will bolt on to the later A hubs but will not "bottom out" correctly. Gar Williams
 
The gentleman who rebuilt the chassis this wheel is on went
to a great deal of trouble to blast, straighten spokes, paint and
put on all new tires, tubes and flaps on four wheels, but did not
realise that 3 of them were the so called 'AR' wheels.
 

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why do some 21" wheels have threaded hub caps & some dont ? . i have 7 , but they vary on threads ...... steve
 
I have a 25 T roadster...and I have two sets of 19" model A wheels and tires. One set is on my 30 coupe. My question is...can I use the other set on the T? What sort of adapter will I need if any? I'm thinking about running the T with no fenders. I saw one somewhere and it looked pretty good. Thanks
 
I know that Lang's sells adapters for model T wood wheel hubs so you can use model A wire wheels. The set of adapters were pretty pricey though (at least to me). They probably have the adapters listed on their website www.modeltford.com
 
drpepper1885 said:
Can anyone shed any light on the two types of 21" wheels used in 1928 and 1929? The earlier type supposedly has a "narrow inner flange" of 1 3/16" while the latter type was 1 3/8". What exactly is the inner flange of a Model A wheel? Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

The question is about Model A wheels, where does the T wheel fit in with an answer? Talk about going off topic... I am sure he didn't ask about where to buy adapters.....
 
How is it off topic? Someone asked about the differences between the early 21" wheels versus the later 21" wheels and the question was answered.

Further down the thread (the third post, right after your first one) someone else posted that the early model A wheels could be used on a model T, which they can not because of a different bolt pattern.

If you read the post directly above my first post (the one that I was responding to) there two direct questions about using model A wheels on a model T, and in particular what type of adpaters would be needed. Would it have been better if I had said "....the adapters that you would need are sold by different vendors...." rather than name one in particular?

Rather than being off topic, it would seem that the original thread stayed on topic and had progressed. Someone who owns both a model A and a model T asked a question regarding wheels, and it was answered.
 
Mustang said:
The gentleman who rebuilt the chassis this wheel is on went
to a great deal of trouble to blast, straighten spokes, paint and
put on all new tires, tubes and flaps on four wheels, but did not
realise that 3 of them were the so called 'AR' wheels.
Click to expand...
i have a A R roadster pick up are you saying i cant use A R wheels
 
ora masters said:
i have a A R roadster pick up are you saying i cant use A R wheels
Click to expand...

Whoops - I should have mentioned my rebuilt chassis is a 29.
The very early (AR) cars can only use the early AR wheels.
The later 28 and all 29 cars can only use the later wheels.
Early or late wheels will fit either car, but will not be supported correctly.

Art
 
From Ford Service Bulletin for March – (Page 328)

"The A-1015AR wheel is designed for use only with A-1105AR and A-1115AR hub and brake drum.
The A-1015 wheel is designed for use with A-1105B and A-1115B hub and brake drum.
Under no circumstances must an “AR” wheel be used with a ‘B” hub or visa versa.
Use of an “AR” wheel with a “B” hub leaves a space between wheel shell and brake drum,
thus losing stiffness that this assembly should have.
Use of a “B” wheel with an “AR” hub does not allow sufficient threads on the hub bolts to project
through the wheel to permit wheel nuts to be securely tightened."

Somewhere I have another paragraph or two explaining that using an AR wheel
on a later car will cause cracking between the spokes on the AR wheel center,
and using a later wheel on a AR car will cause cracking around the bolt holes.

Regards
Art
 
Sorry Jim I didn't mean to ask a question that would cause a problem...I just thought since you were talking about 21" wheels and my T has 21s I'd ask if they might fit.
Thanks criswellnk.
Now I'm wondering if they would fit my 63' SS Impala
 
here is the difference between the two wheels
the inner flange is where the spokes are welded to the hub area
I found the AR wheels are 1 in deep and the B wheels are 1 1/4 in deep
i also took two pictures out of the service bulletins illustrating the danger of using the wrong wheel on a drum
 

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