MTFCA Forum

I’m still working the 1909, today I managed to get all four wheels mounted. They still don’t have rubber and are still unpainted but now I know most things fit.
Notice “most”. The rear hubs are too large for the hub caps. I tried later hub caps and they don’t fit and the 09 hub caps fit the later wheels I had been using. So the problem is the specially made rear hubs. These are custom made hubs that look like the 1909 hub for a straight axle but have the internal taper.
The threads on all my regular T hubs and caps appear to be 24 tpi.
I measured outside diameter of the regular T hub at 2.114” plus or minus 0.001”, measured on several old hubs.
The hubs on these custom hubs are 2.139” external diameter.
Can anyone confirm the dimensions of the regular T hub?

I just measured a rear hub on my 1924 and it measures 2.139" diameter and 24 threads per inch.

Here are a couple of earlier threads on hubs that may prove helpful:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1239905425

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1444951839

Today was the first day of the San Diego Speedster Endurance Run and I measured the hubs on several Model Ts. They were all between 2.108” to 2.115” so now I know what I need to machine the custom hubs.

I'm workimg on a 1923 roadster and i have 3 hubs with outside diameter on threads measure 2.108 to 2.115 but the left front hub measures 2.127 to 2.139 So what did you do to machine your oversize hub threads, have them recut on lathe? this looks difficult as theres not much metal on inside of bearing race and the thread chase die I bought won't fit over, but threads needs to fit hub cap to hold in grease any advise greatly appreciated

This may be the occasion where the special Stevens tool for chasing the hubcap threads would come in handy. This tool can be started on the threads to clean them up. It does not rely on having good threads of the correct size to start onto the hub. The tools are scarce, but if one can be borrowed, with its owner/operator if needs be, it may be the easiest way around the problem.

Allan from down under.

The Stevens 181 thread tool is rare and expensive, but it can be copied. Awhile back Andre in Belgium posted photos of his very nice home made version. I intend to make one someday when I get a round tuit.

I,m intrigued by this "Stevens Tool" you say it was posted to MTFCA,s disussion page? I will search for it, thanks for the responce, in the mean time I have found a solution by sawing 3 short cuts, 120 degrees apart and about 3/8 inch deep around the parimeter of hub cap this allowed the cap to expand enough to thread on to hub, hold the grease in/dirt out and isn't very noticable, not to mention cheap as new reprodution hub caps cost about $17.00 plus postage
Thanks again Stay home/Stay healthy

I misremembered. It was Toon who made the tool, not Andre. Photo is here, and pictues of the Stevens 181.
https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4649


Here's another picture of the 181:

Jack Putnam was making them. Do not think he made any more. Dan

I had new reproductive caps that were real tight. I ordered one of the modern thread restorers but before it came I did try something.

Thread would start...but not go...using the hubcap wrench I’d go half turn on, quarter turn off, repeat until hubcap fully seats. Didn’t crack, still on the car...that tool eventually arrived...haha...I’ve managed to loan it out a dozen times or so now...it has thread blade inserts for just about every TPI known.

And to think I either heard or read that repair shops used to slap hub caps back on with a mallet