VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1928 Capitol 1 Ton Front Spokes Loose

Anbout 4 of the wooden spokes on a front wheel are loose enough that I can see them move a bit when I grab them and push/pull on them. I removed the wheel to expose the spoke ends and there is plenty of tip filling the wholes in the steel rim. I have tried to seperate the hub halves to see about shimming the spokes at the hub end but unable to get it apart as yet. Any ideas on how to seperate the hub halves or perhaps a better way to tighteen the spokes? Any ideas appreciated, Maxie.

Hi Maxie,

With spokes as loose as you indicate the wheel really should be respoked for safety.

Slightly loose spokes may be tightened by use of a spoke jack and shims. The shims are placed at the end of the spoke and not at the base. Best you don't mess with the center hub.

Hi Maxie.
A company ask me some years ago to do something with the woodwheel on their -26 truck. The spokes was loose and I repair they with epoxy glue.
The spokes was bad, but not roten. The best way was of course new spokes,but it was expensive and not many do the spokes job.



Mark each spokes 1 to 12 from the tube valve hole.
Sandblaste the end of the spokes.Made a casting frame on each spokes. Filling with epoxy glue.Heat epoxy with a hair dryer to get it more liquid. When the epoxy has harden,grinding or use a lathe to restore the orginal length of each spokes. You must have a force between the spookes and the wheel hub. After that, remove all spokes.New epoxy on each spoke end and in the hole on the rim.
Assemble the spokes / hub and tighten the 6 hub bolt. Wipe off surplus glue.







The truck was only driven one or twice times each year,and this repair solve their problem. And I think it can be used on cars/truck using more frequently than 1- 2 times each year.

Regards Arvid :)

THIS SPOKE REPAIR WORKS !! For what it is worth, just wanted to report back on loose spoke repair. I found the spokes were in good shape at the hub end. The outboard tips had become loose where they protrude through the wheel rim. I replaced the 6 carriage bolts at the hub because when I removed the nuts off the old bolts, the threads were damaged. I think the bolts were mechanically spread after the old nuts were installed to keep them from coming off, there were no lock washers.

I needed to fill the small gaps at the outboard end of the spokes so I purchased a couple of 30 cc syringes and cut the end off. This left the syringe barrel opening with a 7/8 inch I.D., just the right diameter to fit over the hole in the wheel rim where the spoke protrudes through.
After mixing the epoxy and loading the syringe, I pressed the end of the syringe tight against the wheel rim over the spoke end and extruded the epoxy around the worn spoke end, through the space in the wheel rim and into the small gaps bewtween the spoke and other side of the wheel rim. Wiped off excess quickly as the set time was 5 minutes. Sweet!! This took care of the spoke snapping and the wearing back and forth of the loose spokes. I would recommend this epoxy injection technique if the spaces between the spoke end and the wheel rim are not excessive.

Thanks to all for your imput. Just completed a tour this last weekend that was perfect! Two hundred miles in the Kansas countryside with many green wheat fields and no bugs. It has been a good day at the Closson's, Maxie.

Cuting of a 30 cc syrings and the epoxy injection technique was a great idea Maxie.

Arvid :)