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Wire Wheels and Air Leak

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Dr. Smoke

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Just bought a nice 1966 Healey 3000 and took it off the transport trailer yesterday. Right front wheel deflated down to the rim. Restored the air pressure and went to tire shop today.
This car has very nice stainless steel wire rims with a knock off cap. I expected the tire to be faulty, but to my surprise, the air leak was from one of the spokes, adjacent to the tire! Never heard of this, and no idea how to fix it. Tire shop put on my spare and the faulty tire now in my truck. Any ideas as to how this can be repaired? Not sure the spoke nut can be tightened any more, but I can try...
Dr Smoke
 
Dayton wire wheels all have a generous bead of silicone spread over the spoke ends inside the rim so you don’t need inner tubes .
not sure about other maker of wire wheels . You could just add an inner tube .
 
Using sealant at the base of the spokes creates 48, 60 or 72 potential leaks depending upon what kind of wheels you have.
For the record I have always used tubes and have only experienced one tube failure in 21 years/75K miles.
 
I had Dayton wire wheels (72s) on both my BJ8s , no tubes never had a leak on any of them .
 
Dr. Smoke said:
Just bought a nice 1966 Healey 3000 and took it off the transport trailer yesterday. Right front wheel deflated down to the rim. Restored the air pressure and went to tire shop today.
This car has very nice stainless steel wire rims with a knock off cap. I expected the tire to be faulty, but to my surprise, the air leak was from one of the spokes, adjacent to the tire! Never heard of this, and no idea how to fix it. Tire shop put on my spare and the faulty tire now in my truck. Any ideas as to how this can be repaired? Not sure the spoke nut can be tightened any more, but I can try...
Dr Smoke
Click to expand...
Tightening the spoke nut won't help with the leak. Adjusting the spoke nuts are for truing the wheel.. Trying to tighten it may make the wheel out of round. You need to find a tire shop that knows wire wheels. I see you're in North Carolina. Recommend you contact Hendrix Wire Wheel in Greensboro.
 
A look at the Hendrix Wire Wheel website shows the following statement under services they perform in prepping tires for mounting: "Dusting with baby powder prevents tube chafe."

The question is not whether you can run wire wheels without tubes but rather why do so?
 
Another look on Dayton wire wheel site will find you this .

so to answer your question the answer is because you safely can go tubeless .
 

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As per John's suggestion, I contacted Hendrix Wire wheels, Greensboro, NC. Quite a nice guy, heavily involved in NC Austin Healey Club. He suggested I bring in all 4 tires as well as the rear brake drums for tuning. 4 hr one-way trip for me, but it sounds worth it....will report later when finished.
Dr. Smoke
 
I've worked with Allen for twenty years and have bought 5-6 sets of tires from him. There's not a nicer fellow around and his shop turns out great work. You're in good hands.
 
Why not use Bear Bond on the inside of the rims?
I'm guessing could cause balance issues.
 
Editor_Reid said:
Everyone I've ever heard from who has had their tires and brake drums "tuned" (trued, balanced) by Allen has raved about the results.
Click to expand...
Today, I removed all four wire wheels, planning to take them to Hendrix Wire Wheels. Allen also strongly suggested removing the rear brake drums for tuning. Thought it would be fairly simple, but it has been an unsuccessful venture so far. I tried penetrating oil, an impact driver and a long handle “cheater bar”, all to no avail. I simply cannot remove the bolts.
Are the threads clockwise to loosen on the left , or counterclockwise to loosen? And , similarly on the right, clockwise to loosen, or counterclockwise to loosen? Also, is there some sort of locking nut covering the bolts? I am stumped as to how to remove these doggone rear brake drums. Any suggestions as to getting these bolts off, much appreciated!
 
Regular righty tighty lefty loosey nuts both sides .
remove wheel . Remove five nuts securing stub axle to hub/brake drum , remove 2 X Phillips head screws securing drum to axle plate MAKE SURE BRAKES ARE FULLY RELEASED INC HAND BRAKE and pull off drum .
 
Dr. Smoke said:
TY! Any idea what socket size this nut takes? Looks like I need a deep socket as well.
Click to expand...
Not 100% sure on size but I think either 11/16” or 5/8” but whichever it is I would use a regular depth if possible impact 6 sided socket and a long breaker bar .
 
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