MTFCA Forum

Everyone knows that the rubber rim liners sold for 26-27 wire wheels are just barely wide enough to cover the drop center part of the wire wheel rim. Some of my wire wheels are badly rust pitted, (although not rusted through), from rolled beaded edge to the opposite beaded edge. They are powder coated. Would I be wise to use a tube flap similar to the ones used on split rims, or would it be counter-productive?

High build primer under enamel might be a better choice. De-rust, then apply several coats of high build as needed to fill pits, sanding between coats. Then apply enamel. Be sure you have enough steel left to be safe.

In answer to your question about the flap. You only need the rim liner for the drop center. The tire bead will be inside the rest of the inside of rim and since the air pressure keeps the tire in place, the pitting should actually add to the pressure to keep in place. Only place which would affect a flat tire would be the center which is covered by the rim liner. I have one like that on one of my rear wheels which is pitted and since I put the tires on about 2006 I haven't even had a flat tire. I have been on at least one week long tour almost every year plus driving to and from our local museum one day a month unless it is raining.
Norm

If the pitting is well coated & not sharp, a flap shouldnt be necessary.

A few years ago, I called the Tech department of JB Weld about deeply pitted body sheet metal. They assured me that it would work without fail. I have had good success with it. You could mask off the powder coated areas, blast and JB Weld the rough areas, and prime over if you want.

Since my wheels are already powdercoated and I'd hate to blast the coating off, I think I'll just do as John and Norman said, and run them as they are. The deep pitting is only on the inside; outside is not affected.

Flaps would add another layer of protection. I use them in all clinchers. 450/475x21 tires are less expensive but it won’t hurt.

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:51 pm

Would I be wise to use a tube flap similar to the ones used on split rims, or would it be counter-productive?

Don't do it! Once had to remove a balloon tire from the wire wheel, that someone placed a flap, and what a struggle! The heavy flap takes a set after time in the curved section, and prevents the bead of the tire from dropping into the drop center on removal....ugh!

Ford Manual for Car Owners, 1926-27 says not too!

Aren't all Ford wire wheels drop center type? (NO flaps)

The 26-27 wire wheels are the only stock Ford wheels with drop rims used by the Model T. There could be other non stock wheels with drop rims.
Norm

DanTreace wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 15, 2023 9:35 am

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:51 pm

Would I be wise to use a tube flap similar to the ones used on split rims, or would it be counter-productive?

Don't do it! Once had to remove a balloon tire from the wire wheel, that someone placed a flap, and what a struggle! The heavy flap takes a set after time in the curved section, and prevents the bead of the tire from dropping into the drop center on removal....ugh!

Ford Manual for Car Owners, 1926-27 says not too!



Flaps for split rim not wire wheel.jpg

DAN, If I used flaps (and I have decided after posting this that I won't), I was NOT going to use the thick split rim flaps. I was going to cut some flaps out of old unusable inner tubes that have thinner, softer rubber.

Terry

You have the best answer, since you won't be adding any wider flap than a rim strip. The narrow rim strip just lays within the channel of the drop rim, so it cannot affect the fitting of the tire beads into that drop center.

That wire wheel narrow rim flap is used to protect the tube that can contact the channel from the welded spoke weld spots, the rest of the tube is protected by the tire carcass.

On a model T, the only rims fitted which required flaps were those equipped with 21" split rims on wooden spoked wheels as supplied with 26-7 improved cars.
Allan from down under.

The flap edges are tuck up into the tire and only a small strip can be seen but they do provide great protection to the tube from chafing and undetected sharp pit edges. I have been using them for 53 years and never a flat. Jim Patrick