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Wire Wheels on Early hubs

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CJD

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I've been studying up on the TR2, and ran into something I don't quite understand. The books say that special hubs and axles were used on early TR2's with wire wheels. Later special adapters were used in place of the special hubs.

So my question is, can anyone explain what was different about the early wire wheel hubs, and will the newer wire adapters fit on the early "non-special" hubs?
 
martx-5

martx-5

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The early hubs for the wire wheels had the spline drive integrated with the hub. It wasn't a separate bolt on part. Triumph did this until TS13046 when it went to front disc brakes. Lots of other manufacturers continued the practice. IIRC, MG and Austin-Healey were a couple still using the combined hub and spline throughout production. A pain in the neck if you want to change from one system to the other.
 
Andrew Mace

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CJD said:
I've been studying up on the TR2... will the newer wire adapters fit on the early "non-special" hubs?
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Yes, they will. As with such on any other big TR, the wheel studs must be shortened approximately 5/16" when fitting the adapters (some folks use spacers if they plan to switch back and forth between wire and other wheels), and the special conical nuts must be used to retain the adapters.
 
Marvin Gruber

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Wire wheeled TR2s had the hubs made similar to MGs, you have to change out axles or diffs for the back. Plus the diff is a different size, they called it a skinny axle diff. I have the whole wire wheel set up for an early TR2 if anyone is interested.
 
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CJD

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Thanks guys...now I understand. So on all the TR2's the wires were integral to the hub. So I assume the front hubs had to be different too.

Marv...definitely interested, so sending a PM...

Thanks again
 
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CJD

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I got the early hubs from Marv and thought I was all set. I was just studying the parts illustration as I plan my week of cleaning parts...and learned these early hubs also take a tapered collar to locate the inside of the wire wheel cone. Does anybody have a pic of one of these " locating cones", so I know what I am looking for? I'd ask if anyone knows where to find them...but I think Marv is my only hope for that. They appear to be NLE!
 
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Here you go.

Dan

image_zpsb5d6d6df.jpg
 
OP
CJD

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Oh my...those are much more detailed than I imagined they would be! It appears the split allows the collars to lock down on the long post as the wheel nut is tightened. Oh well...just 4 more unobtainium parts to add to my list.

Thanks, Dan, the pic is exactly what I needed.
 
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CJD

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A week later and I still got nada. The best I've found is a place in Britain that machines these collars. Between the macihinist rate and shipping they are not a viable option. If anybody stumbles on a set of these early collars, I'd be much obliged.

In the event there are none, I have thoughts of taking a set of wire wheel bolt-on adapters I have with worn out splines, and having a shop turn the centers out, leaving just the cone disc. Just a thought at this stage.
 
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CJD

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I have yet to find any collars...so if anyone stumbles across a set, I'm definitely interested.
 
TR3driver

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Sure sounds a lot easier to just go with the later adapters. They are totally hidden with the wheels installed, so no one will know (except you of course).
 
Marvin Gruber

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John,
a guy from GA stopped by yesterday looking for TR3 parts. Long story short, he thinks he has some collars. He promised to look for them when he got home. I will stay after him. He also said he had a set of long door TR2 doors.

marv
 
M

mallard

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John I'm not sure what you mean when you say collar but if you mean hubs I saw a couple on ebay France NOS. Sorry no link provided. One seller is moss Europe. Both are left side.
 
OP
CJD

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Well...the good news is I found the TR2's gas tank on Ebay for $50...it cost more to ship it than I paid, but a lot better than the $500 new. I was worried about it, since it was glassed along the bottom as though somebody tried to repair a rust through. It turned out it is fully intact, so I don't know what the deal was with the glass?!?

The bad news, I'm still looking for these early hub collars...you guys don't forget me if you run into a pair!
 
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CJD

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Final follow-up.

On a tip from carpecursusII, I found the collars at Revington TR in England. They only have used ones left, and they make you dig deep into your pocket book for them. I do not think they will be available at all in short order. The splined taper collars used in the lockheed axle is also unavailable new from any source, and used sources are drying up.

So, a new record...it took more than a year to find these collars!
 
OP
CJD

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The good news...the collars came from England faster than my Moss order that was made on the same day. All I have to say is whoa...I paid $300+ for those little collars! The bad news...three are usable, but the 4th is bevelled at the split from riding up on the locating peg. It will have to be repaired.

I have noticed that Triumph restorations never end. You merely devolve into smaller and smaller sized parts to work on, which cost more and more to find. I spent 2 month's budget on these tiny rings, and I have to fix them on top of that...
 
OP
CJD

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Will do. They are grungy, nothing like your pristine looking collars! It appears they dipped them in waxoyl or something similar to preserve them.
 
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