MTFCA Forum

Today, while getting ready to mount a new 21" tire on a previously powder coated wheel, I found a separated weld on a spoke that I had missed before sending them to be powder coated. The weld is on the end of a long spoke going from the rim to the hub, and is on the hub end, right next to the hub cap hole. I know that if I have it re-welded, the powder coating will be "toast'. I, also, know that left as is, even if I don't have an accident, the loose spoke may weaken the wheel by putting extra stress on the remaining spokes. I won't do the welding myself, but leave it to my professional friend. What are some suggestions from owners who have encountered this problem, previously? One thought that I had, was since i could get to the inside of the hub where the spoke is welded to the hub on the outside of the hub, I could drill a hole through the side of the hub right on top of where the spoke was originally welded on the outside of the hub. The arc welding rod, could then touch the end of the spoke with the broken weld and then fill in the drilled hole. That way, no repair would be visible from the outside of the hub. What do you think? any other suggestions?

Got a pic Terry ??

I can't help about the powder coating, but when a friend I were using Model A's for regular transport, we would sometimes come across a broken spoke. i didn't weld in those days, but my friend, an automotive machinist was very good at it. he believed that at the factory, the spokes were heated to expand them before welding. We noticed that any broken spoke was shorter than it should be. He would use the gas torch to heat the spoke and expand it back to original, then ark weld the ends, or arc weld it to the hub or rim as needed.. When cooled the wheel would be as good as new. I can't exactly remember how he overcame the risk of the wheel becoming buckled, but he clamped it securely to a flat surface before he started work.

Having said that though, I bought an A that had five broken spokes in one wheel and gave no trouble. I am sure that the wheels are overbuilt so although they look reasonably light, they are very very strong.

Whats your spare wheel like

Terry, I have done exactly as you suggest a number of times, but always on the rim end at this stage. The hub end should be no different. If you can't get a line up to use a drill, the same effect could be achieved with a 1/4" burr in a die grinder. I use a MIG to do the weld. The trick is not to get so much penetration that you upset the appearance of the hub on the outside. The hub spokes appear to be in a slight machined depression on the outer spoke end, and it would be nice if this is preserved. The inner spoke end is just like the rim end.

Hope this helps, Allan from down under.

Well Terry I'll be the one to say the obvious. Bite the bullet. Remove the powder coat from the spoke area, if you have any doubt about your welding skill have someone else get a good weld on there and have it recoated. Chalk the dollars up to experience.

Andy

If you can get some of the powder coating material you can mix it with acetone into a paste that you can brush over the damaged spot.

Spoke in 9 o clock position in first picture has broken weld at hub. I propose to drill hole on top of loose spoke to weld it from inside hub. Broken weld is clearly visible at hub/right spoke in second picture

" You picked a fine time to leave me Loose Wheel", er, Spoke.

Terry, if it is possible, tap the spoke aside when you drill the hole. That way you will get a clean hole which will give you a stronger weld.

Two points to mention. I tap the spokes with the wooden handle of a hammer to check if any spokes are unsound before doing any other work. The duds will not ring like sound ones.
Second, some powder coaters like to lay it on thickly, working on the premise that more is better. With T wires, there is a land on the outer end of the wheel hubs which needs to engage with a similar land on the axle hub. A too thick coat of powder coat/paint will interfere with this, and it may need to be removed to get the wheels to fit correctly.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.