Replacement SS 28-29 hubcaps not fitting

S

SpeedTruckBill

New member
Last fall at Hershey I bought 5 new stainless steel hubcaps for my 29 A that is a driver. I know they are not a perfect duplicate, but probably good enough for a driver.
Today I am trying to install the first one, bending the tabs over as tightly as possible and the darn thing is still loose in the wheel.
Has anyone else run into this issue? If yes what is the fix?
 
Mine were the opposite. Even using a rubber mallet, I had to tap them way harder than I felt comfortable with but they did finally go.
 
shew01 said:
This is what I used on my car.

https://www.brattons.com/6-PIECE-30-31-HUB-CAP-GASKET-KIT/productinfo/1471/

They essentially are thin O rings. Put the hub cap on the wheel; then, stretch the O ring so that it goes between the hub cap and the wheel (on the outside of the wheel).


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Why do people band those tabs over? Sure, the repros are not made as well as the originals but they are supposed to snap in. If those tabs are set in the right place, the cap snaps in securely - job done. In this case, seeing as how they are already bent waaay over, I go with silicone like those above.
 
Does the word in the center of the cap say Bord instead of Ford? If so this could be the direct cause of your problem. As a last resort I agree with using a light bead of clear RTV silicone.
 
Does anyone have a preference as to brand of silicone to use?
I plan to use black as I have black wheels.
Permatex has a”Black Adhesive Sealant” silicone RTV #81258, but this states not recommended for engine sealing. Or would the engine sealing type be better for this application?
What have you used, found to work well and be durable?
Thanks!
 
I just changed out my wheels, 19” on 1930 and when I put them on it tried to push the hubcaps off. I then remember that there are to the best of my memory, 3 different types of wheel. I see the problem with mine being the part of the wheel that attaches to the hub being thinner than my other set of 19”. I know I read this on here as someone had explained it in detail. I doubt this has anything to do with the problem you have but feel sure I’m not the only one to experience it.
 
I can't help the OP with his 28-29, but on my '30 I use the "Hub Cap Tool" Bends the tabs perfectly so the cap snaps on. No glue needed.

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With my original caps, they were a bit loose when fitted. I didn't want to risk bending 90 year old metal that has who knows how many previous bends, so I used a run of liquid nails on the inside to secure the cap.
 
Dale'45 said:
I stretch the O-ring over the partially bent tabs on the inside of the wheel. Keeps them snug.
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You’re a better man than I. LOL I tired that for an hour or two and gave up on my wheels. There just wasn’t enough tab left over to bend with the O ring inside my wheels.


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shew01 said:
You’re a better man than I. LOL I tired that for an hour or two and gave up on my wheels. There just wasn’t enough tab left over to bend with the O ring inside my wheels.


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I just reread that. I was trying to insert the O ring on the hub cap, then insert the “assembly” into the wheel, and then bend the tabs. I never thought about stretching the O ring around the tabs on the inside of the wheel. My O rings didn’t come with any instructions; so, I improvised with something that worked.


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