Hayes vs Ford rim/felloe confusion

[cslandry]

I’ve decided it’s time to rebuild the wheels on my speedster. They are in decent shape, but the spokes have been shimmed and re-shimmed several times, and since I drive it a couple thousand miles a year, it seems like the right thing to do. I didn’t build it. The guy who did had passed away and I acquired it from the estate 10+ years ago. I didn’t realize until recently how mis-matched the wheels are. There are three types of felloes and three (or more) types of rims. I don’t think they are particularly well matched. I’m surprised I haven’t had any issues.

Since I’m starting over, I decided to come up with a matching set. I believe I’ve done that, but I am still a bit confused. The rims I have are clearly Hayes, with the welded-on lugs. The lugs are stamped Hayes. Hayes 2845B as in the picture below.

Picture1.jpg (9.25 KiB) Viewed 77 times

(Interestingly, I also have some rims that are identical in profile, but have more rounded lugs and are not stamped with a manufacturer.)

Continued . . .

[cslandry]

My confusion has to do with the felloes. I have one set with a straight outer rim, notches cut for the lugs, and a 20-3/4” inner diameter. According to the picture above and the information in the vendor catalogs, these would seem to be “Ford” felloes.

The other set I have has a rolled inner rim, with rolled depressions for the lugs, and a 20-13/16” inner diameter. These would seem to be “Hayes” felloes.

The confusion is that my Hayes rims fit nicely onto the “Ford” felloes, but really don’t fit on the “Hayes” felloes. It’s not just about the lugs – the diameter just doesn’t seem to quite match.

I’m pretty settled on using the Hayes rims with the “Ford” felloes and the normal length spokes but, before I order $500+in spokes, I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. I would have thought that Hayes would match Hayes, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts on this confusion.

[Allan]

In my experiencewith Hayes 23" wire wheels the felloes all have the depessions in the rolled in outer edge of the felloe. When bolted up, the lug should stand off the outer surface of the felloe. The rims are designed to be wedged onto the inner land on the felloe before the lug can make contact. If this is not happening for you it indicates to me that the rim and or the felloe are worn, allowing the rim to go furtger onto the felloe. I have seen Hayes branded lugs with straight sides and tapered sides.

Our Canadian sourced cars came with Kelsey wheels. The loose lug types and later fixed lug rims mount differently. Loose lug rims wedge on to the outer adge of the felloe. The fixed lug rims wedge onto a wider inner land, with the lug standing off the outer felloe surface. To fit Hayes rims to these demands that the depression be made to accept the foot on the Hayes lug.
Allan from down under..