Steel Felloe Wheel Question

[Mark Osterman]

I bought a set of steel felloe wheels for 30 x 3 1/2 demountable rims. They have a punched raised piece at each rim mounting bolt location for a separate lug I’m guessing. Will these work with my fixed lug Hayes rims or did I but lawn art? Bought them for rebuilding so that I can keep driving my T with the wheels on it.

[Allan]

Mark, they look like the Kelsey loose lug wheels we have on most of our Canadian sourced cars. If so, the foot on the Hayes lugs will not clear the felloe because there is no relief pressed into the edge to accommodate it. Other fixed lug rims without the foot on the lugs may bolt up, but may still not sit on the felloe as they should.

The rims for those wheels have no lugs other than a bridging lug that fits over the rim bolt nearest the valve stem. This prevents the rim slipping on the felloe and taking the valve stem out with it.

Allan from down under.

[CudaMan]

They are Kelsey rims, they use separate lugs and flat bottom nuts like this:

https://www.modeltford.com/item/2846B.aspx

https://www.modeltford.com/item/2848B.aspx

The rim bolts are the same as Hayes:

https://www.modeltford.com/item/2847.aspx

Kelsey wheels use the same 1/32" longer spokes as Hayes. Standard Ford spokes will be a little too short.

Hayes rims with the attached lugs and "feet" that extend back along the felloe may mount, but won't work well because the lug "feet" will prevent contact between the rim and the felloe except at the four lug locations. There will be a gap everywhere else.

Others may argue, but I found that later Ford rims with attached lugs but no "feet" do fit with full contact on the Kelsey felloes, see pic.

[CudaMan]

Here are pictures of the correct Kelsey 88 rim for those felloes:

[Allan]

Excellent photos Mark. The Kelsey 88 you show is one of two types. Your photo shows the rim with the rolled in land to engage on the felloe and the milled lug rests which accept the short end of the U shaped lug. This type of rim allows water into the assembly, causing rust problems. Also, the land for the lug wears more quickly due to the thinner rest for the lug.

The better Kelsey 88 rim has a flat base to the rim with a continuous solid bead around the rim to act on the felloe in the same way as the rolled in bead does. These rims do not suffer the same rust problems, and because the foot for the lug is solid, they wear much less, and are easier to repair if they do wear.

Allan from down under.

[TRDxB2]

There may be some stamping on the inside of the felloe to identify it

[Mark Osterman]

I’m so disappointed. I have all Hayes rims. Anyone need these wheels for what I paid .. $175

[CudaMan]

Mark, I tried to reply to your PM, but got an error message, so I don't know if my reply made it through. The lugs on Hayes rims have a reinforcing "foot" that extends back towards the center of the rim. This "foot" sits proud of the raised ring that is supposed to fit tightly against the outside lip of the felloe. As a result, there will be only four points of contact between the rim and felloe, one at each lug (if the rim will slide on to the felloe at all). Over time, this point contact could bend the felloe, rim, or both.

Of course, you can always ignore all of the advice, try it anyway, and report back when you finally remove these "temporary" wheels from your car.

[Allan]

Frank, both the rims and the felloes on our Kelsey wheels have that same branding. However, only our 21" felloes have that sraight-up outer edge on the felloe shown in your photo, and these 21" wheels take split rims with fixed lugs. Is there any chance your photo is of a 21" rim?
Our 23" rims all have the rolled in outer edge on the felloe. The rims are designed to wedge on this rolled land, something they could not do on your red felloe.

Allan from down under.