MTFCA Forum

I have a set of Dayton wire wheels and hubs I want to use on my speedster. I want to rebuild the wheels. Dayton has spokes and spoke nuts but I am interested in getting new rims. Does anyone know of a source that can produce them?

This is where I bought mine... I got Dayton lock ring rims.
https://www.vintagerims.co.nz/

Another...

https://www.vintagerimsaus.com/

Could try here also...

https://www.antiquetyres.com.au/wheels/vintage-rims


What style wheels do you have? Drop center? Lock ring? Clincher? Dentil drive or pin drive?

Thanks. They are 48 spoke pin drives. I think they take regular 30 3 1/2 tires, like a regular T. Some of the rims are ok. A couple have some sharp spots. All of the nuts are seized and I am looking for a properly fitted nipple wrench. I have 5 wheels and a full set of hubs. Here are some shots of one of the wheels. If you have a sharp eye, you will see some spokes missing. They were sent to Dayton to make matching spokes.

I believe the New Zealand business has closed and the machinery sold to the UK.
Vintage rims Australia makes beautiful rims, and can dimple and drill to suit.
If your other rims are as sound as the one photographed, I would use them. They will need a little more preparation before painting though, if that is what you are trying to avoid.
Laced wheels should be painted rather than powder coated. The spoke nipple tool should be freely available, perhaps from a motorcycle restoration service.

Allan from down under.

Buchannans can supply spokes and nipples from a sample. They also have nipple wrenches available.

https://www.buchananspokes.com/

You might contact Kevin Pharis- he may have some rims in stock.

My experience with old wire wheels, if you plan to run them seriously, replace the spokes because if the old nipples are seized you can't true or tighten any looses ones and the old spokes tend to break after some use.

The rim you pictured looks very good. Are the others bad?

Thanks for the advice and recommendations. The plan is to replace the spokes and nipples. I have some new spokes from Dayton but will need more. The plan is to relace the wheels with new spokes so they are adjustable.

Most of the rims are not bad, but a couple have areas where rust on the edge has made them sharp right where they contact the tire. I could weld these areas up and reshape them, but I think that could cause issues. I am not sure what the steel is and heat could warp the rim.

I will check in with the folks in Oz and look at Buchanan for spokes and a nipple wrench.

I may have access to a complete Dayton wheel for use as a pattern to figure the spoke hole angles. Also have plenty of 30x3-1/2” rims on hand and possibly spokes that will fit too. Send me an email

Here is a shot of one of the sharp parts on one of the rims.