mjjansson

I have a 65 with reproduction knock off rims. The right front disc is leaking fluid at a very slow pace, so needs to be fixed. My problem is that I can not spin the knock off. I have used the lead hammer, put heat (not flame on it), sprayed it with a silicone spray, hit it with a bigger hammer and nothing is moving it. When I sprayed it, I saw rusty colored overspray dripping down.

Any additional ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

62Jeff

2 thoughts come to mind

1) I understand knock-off wheels have an anti-theft pin that goes through the spinner into the hub. Did you remove that?

2) Just checking the obvious - you are trying to loosen the spinner towards the front of the car, right?

My 65 with original knock-offs had a stuck wheel when it was in the hands of the previous owner, a friend of mine. We ended up agreeing to sacrifice the spinner if necessary so while I held plywood against the fender to protect it from an errant hammer blow, my friend just beat the crap out of the spinner with both hands on the hammer - eventually the spinner budged and actually didn't show any more damage to the chrome than it already had.

Lee H

Check for anti thieft pin as Jeff suggested. If you are using the stock style lead hammer you will never get the spinner to move. Best bet is to get a 6 pounder. Don't be afraid to hit it hard, it will come off. Recommend you get several hammers, you will likely destroy one getting the stuck spinner off.

NedP1

A couple of years ago I discovered a far superior rust penetrant than anything I had tried before.

Aero Kroil from Kano Laboratories. Likely available at an industrial supply outlet. The can says order direct at 615 833-4101. Kano may have a website, but it's not listed on this can.

I had an old Craftsman radial arm saw that I decided to rebuild as it was better than several new $500 I looked at. I couldn't budge the rained on column inner and outer sleeve until I used Aero Kroil. I soaked it for a couple of days. Since then I use it anytime something is stuck from rust.

I agee with Lee. After a couple of uses the hammer I got with my repo kit was about done in. I use a much heavier lead hammer left when I was a mechanic in an industrial plant which works great.

mjjansson

Thanks for the replies. You guys are obviously much more knowledgeable that I. I look all around the spinner and can not see where the anti theft pin goes. Do I have to pull the center cap on the spinner? It's not abvious from the outside.

Thanks again.

Lee H

Pull the center cap. You will see several indexed holes, no doubt there is a pin in one of them. You may have to tighen the spinner up to get it out. Let us know what happens. Lee

silver67

Yes, pry off the cap to see the pins and refer to jeff's reply regarding the direction. Not all wheels came with pins though. Paragon sells a nice beefy lead hammer.

NedP1

Jeeze, I don't remember my set having a lock pin. Wish they did.

The spinner does have a direction arrow for tightening.

Good luck!

MikeM

I'd like to re-emphasize the direction to tighten/take-off. There is an arrow on the spinner to show loosen/tighten. Not all wheels are installed per the instructions. Mine are on backwards but you still follow the arrow on the spinner.

UVETTECHA

Best looking wheel for an old midyear.....but im a little biased--hi
( not my car tho )......dont give up you will get it.......Bill

Vern66

I had the same problem with my '66. I had just bought it a few weeks ago and came to this forum for help in getting my wheels off. I'll confess I was confused on the direction of spin to remove AND best advice I got was to get a 6 pound ****** Thumpar Hammer from Cobra Valley. http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...ls/hammer.html. That did the trick for me. I can see that if I remove these wheels too often, I'm going to have to buy another ****** Thumper as they get chewed up.

alps66

I bought my six pounder from American Striking Tools (815-633-2122). Great folks to deal with. After you beat the hammer to a pulp, you can send them the handle and what's left of the lead and they'll recast it for a nominal fee (around $14, as I recall). In the meantime, go to the gym, bulk up and pound away!

65vettish

After beating the snot out of my KOs, working up a profuse sweat and a case of mild angina, I finally got my wheels off my '65. I then promptly placed an order with VA Vettes for a set of direct bolt on KOs which also gave me an excuse to purchase a set of Diamondback Goldlines I had my on. They both look great and are a lot less hassle than the Knock Offs.

tuxedo

After you destroy lead hammers, orginal KO' spinners, and worry about hitting fiberglass, you will buy the direct bolt KO's. They look great, are safer and are the only way to go. Virg. vettes has the best px's and Dick Baron is a good guy.

63C2splitter

They are a real pain - need to get a good dead blow hammer and forget about the lead hammer. All of my spinners are scarred from repeated removal over the years. p.s. When you put them back on, use "anti-seize" on the threads (and replace the retainer pin).

MikeM

I'm still looking for a set of REAL KO's for a '65 that the current owner is tired of messing with, worried about falling off, buying replacement hammers, etc.

I'll pay a FAIR used price.

mjjansson

Since my original post, I have been working intermittently on the rims. I travel every week for employment so only have weekends (which my wife attempts to fill).

After pulling the pins, 3 of the rims came off with some work. The 4th refused to move. Ended up using a 12 pound hammer and a air hammer to get it off. Destroyed the spinner, but since the brakes were bad, it needed to be done.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help and words of encouragement.

rahzip

The Best!!!!!

ctjackster

thought I'd post this one for you guys who all ditch the KOs and get the fakey "look guys I have KOs - oh wait they're really just bolt on KO-look alikes"




sorry, I just can't help myself sometimes . . .

crw41

I'm all for originality.

However, given the time, money, and effort to restore the car - plus everytime I run the car fast and here a noise I don't recognize - I would wonder if a KO wheel was lossening up.

I am pretty persistant about checking before each drive and using marks on the cones and spinners, but it was just a worry that I didn't need.

I switched from KO to BO:

- easier to remove
- the spinners don't get dinged
- piece of mind