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wire wheel care and feeding: used wire wheels

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wheelwright

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How can you tell if a wire wheel can be trued/adjusted? Are those on Ebay any good? I see plenty of "original" wire wheels,and with VERY few exceptions they are "boat anchors" Wire wheels can be tested easily.Use a 1/4 open end wrench and GENTLY try to turn the nipple,if the whole spoke turns,the spokes are fused,they will not adjust.No amount of lube or oil will change this,they will not adjust.The ones on ebay are probably too bad to be used,or they would be on a car,not for sale.Also,it is a LOT cheaper to buy new wheels than to "rebuild"them,and MUCH safer,as a new set comes w/ a warranty.I would only consider rebuilding a set that could not be replaced as a new set,and that will be a tiny percentage.Also check the splines on a used set of wheels.The splines should not feel sharp or have any visible pits or grooves going sideways,if they do they can "spin" and will likely ruin your hub splines,and thus you will need new wheels AND hubs.You need to use a LEAD HAMMER to knock your spinners on,while the wheel is off the ground.Other tools exist,but a lead hammer is the best and safest way to mount wire wheels.Don't scrimp on safety!!
 
Good information, Living in the northern climes I have never come across a wire wheel that does not have the spokes and nipples fused, I have occasionally had some sucess repairing a wire wheel that is basically true and sound but may have a few broken or bent spokes.

Procedure, take wheel off car, tire off wheel, cut bent or loose spoke with a dremel cut off wheel and pull it out, replace with new spoke and nipple, tightened to match the others.

If the wheel it out of true or all or most of the spokes are loosening up probably best to just get a new wheel.
 
I have managed to free up frozen spoke nipples many times, but the easier thing to do is replace them. If there are more than a few frozen then it's often cheaper to replace, as wheelright points out. This is mostly true for common wire wheels such as those found on 60's and 70's cars. Early wire wheels are often worth rebuilding (or even replacing numerous spokes), as replacements are fairly expensive and not always authentic in appearance or construction. I've replaced half of the spokes in my '49 TC wheels, but these are original 60-year-old wheels and having them on the car adds history and value.
 
& I've installed used wires on my cars & sold them to customers for years & never had a problem or somebody say one I sold them was bad! All a person has to do is properly inspect them! Plain old common sense!
 
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