MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
My new chrome wheels are ready for the 500 mile tune-up. Since my tire guy died, I would rather not take the tires off. Has anyone ever successfully tuned wheels with the tires on before? Since these are new and in a desert environment, rust isn't going to be an issue.
You have more guts than me if your going to start turning on the spokes on a brand new set of wheels.
It's kind of a requirement. Some of the wheel sellers include the cost of the initial tune in their price. Silly me, I bought from Moss.
However, I called my old "teacher" who told me Ishould be alright. Of course, I din't tell him I cheated and used duct tape for a nipple cover. Now, I think I'm screwed, as the tape will wad and wear on the tubes.
I hear some people are using pvc tape; what is that, plummer's tape (the white stuff on a spool)? That too, might wad. Wish I had bought the bands now.
What did the old Fram commercial say??? 'Pay me now or pay me later'??n ( think that was it!! Unfortunately, that is usually true!! I think PVC tape is that self adhering stuff!! That white stuff is teflon tape!!
Yeah, it is. I was thinking that maybe it went by two names. IF you e-mail me, I will measure a tower for you in the morning as I pack to leave.
Chris: I have never in my 30+ years of owning LBCs heard of a 500 mile (or any other) tuneup for wire wheels. Are you sure about that? When I bought my new TR-6 in 1971 with wire wheels, there was nothing about tuning them after 500 miles. Where did that come from? All I ever heard was that you drove on them until they wobbled. When that became unbearable, you replaced them. AL Bradley
If you look at the Hendrix wire wheel site they recommend a break in and tune up. Of course that's their business. A friend just had his done this spring and they now run true and no more shimmy.
<www.hendrixwirewheel.com>
The brand spanking new Daytons I bought for my Midget in April had wide strips of PVC tape on them covering the nipples both in the center and the ones closer to the rim.
Ajusting spokes is a VERY tricky thing to do. Even with the right equipment I would never attemt to do it. I would give this a lot of thought. I have sold several sets of new wires to customers and haven't had a problem.
July edition of Classic Motorsports, p.75 article on p. 82 talks about Allen Hendrix.
Chris:
I found a 3M rubber tape in the electrical section of Home Depot for about $9 a roll which unfortunately was on long enough for 3 wheels. The stuff seemed perfect for the task though; thick and ruberry and sticky. Now that I think about it...not unlike the Grace "ice and water shield" that I have a huge roll of in the garage. I think I heard on this board that the outer nipples were covered by the tire itself and was a non-issue.
Scotch 130C Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape
For Low and Hi-Voltage (thru 69 kV)
Based on Ethylene Propylene Polymers (EPR)
Can be used on cables whose emergency overload temperatures can reach 130 C.
1 in. x 30 ft. x .030 in.
The above is copied from the box of tape I bought at Lowe's for my wires. Thirty thousandths is thicker than most regular (vinyl) electrical tape, and this stuff is rubber, not vinyl. Also, it's designed to handle temps well above any we should see in that area. And it's 3M quality.
