TT Wire Wheels

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Jeepbone1
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First Name: Brad
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TT Wire Wheels

Post by Jeepbone1 » Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:54 pm

I think I’ve solve my problem that is a terrible supply of 20” TT wheel parts. When I got my 27 TT the rear wheels were in terrible shape. Namely the rims. I’m pretty sure you could read the news paper through most of the rust holes. So I thought I’d just get a better set. Now I’m positive that rims in good shape are made of unobtanium. I found a very nice set of Model A 19” wire wheels at a steal on an unrelated parts trip and then the gears started turning. I know adapters were already available for T wood hub to A wire wheel but nothing for the TT so with that information I set off on my own personal project. What it now boils down to is, with the help of my buddys machine shop, I have successfully adapted Model A wire to the TT rear hub. The A wires are a stronger wheel and 19” tires are way cheaper than their 20” counterparts. I can still get big 19” truck tires to fit the wheels but the tires that were on the wheels are very nice Firestone white walls so they’ll do for a while until I want to buy bigger tires for the rear to match. I’ve also made the plate thick enough to push the hub far enough away from the wheel to run disc brakes without interference or sacrificing structural integrity or safety. Once I’m done with the mock-up it’ll all go back together with loctite and lock washers to ensure nothing tries to come apart.
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Topic author
Jeepbone1
Posts: 596
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:10 pm
First Name: Brad
Last Name: Kirtner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring Car, 1927 Closed Cab TT, 1927 Coupe
Location: Salem, Virginia
MTFCA Number: 50618
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Jeepbone1 » Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:55 pm

More pictures.
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Henry K. Lee
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Henry K. Lee » Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:06 pm

Looking Good Brad!!!!!!!

Hank


Allan
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Allan » Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:15 pm

Am I dreaming, or did some AA trucks come with wire wheels at the rear?

Allan from down under.

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Pep C Strebeck
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Pep C Strebeck » Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:31 pm

Allan wrote:
Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:15 pm
Am I dreaming, or did some AA trucks come with wire wheels at the rear?

Allan from down under.
And the front as well. Almost all of the ones that I have seen were on firetrucks, but I have also seen them on an AA ambulance and hearse. AA wire wheels,they do exist, but just about as hard to come by.

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Kevin Pharis
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Kevin Pharis » Mon Dec 28, 2020 8:04 pm

As I understand it... it was 28-29 AA trucks that came with wire wheels. They look like really heavy 26-27 T wheels. My dad did this conversion on his ol closed cab TT, with some help from Eric Barrett. Seems to me they were lock ring 20” rims.

The wheels pictured above don’t look right to me... the outer spokes cross like a tunable spoke wheel... not welded. Maybe a variation for ‘30-‘31...?


Erik Barrett
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Erik Barrett » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:18 pm

1928 AA trucks used wire wheels. I make adapters to put them on the rear of TT trucks. I use 26/27 T wire wheels on the front.
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modeltspaz
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by modeltspaz » Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:01 pm

I've been told that the heavy duty wire wheels that were used on AA trucks, fire trucks, and ambulances/hearses were the same wheels used on Lincoln passenger cars.
Probably just as scarse.
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Dallas Landers
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Dallas Landers » Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:27 am

Nice. Cant wait to see them mounted.


Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: TT Wire Wheels

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Tue Dec 29, 2020 11:17 am

Jeepbone1 wrote:
Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:55 pm
More pictures.
If I understand the assembly you've shown, I would suggest adding a tight fitting "doughnut" between the black spacer plate/adapter and the hub nose. It will help the hub to support the wheel without putting all the load on the bolts that sandwich it all together.

Cool idea btw!

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