1966 327

Purchased spinner knock off tool at Carlisle several years ago. It's the same one Paragon offers part number 13233K. The neoprene insert dried out is now in 3 pieces. Has anyone experienced this and do you have any idea where one could purchase a replacement insert

deejaydu

Yes I experienced the same problem with mine. You can buy another insert from Dennis Portka for about $50.00. He says that the heat causes the failure. You can find his contact information in Hemmings. I was very aggravated that I had to buy another one.

Jay

Velox

I have looked at several of the various KO tools and my conclusion, and just my own opinion, is that nothing beats (no pun intended) the venerable lead hammer, and there is no better lead hammer for our Corvette KOs than the ****** Thumper 6.2 pound beast

1966 327

Thanks Jay, I'm on it.
John

427/42566 coup

X's two on ****** Thumper

MikeM

Why don't you just get some urethane in a tube and glue the pieces back in?

Better yet, get the hammer.

dplotkin

I don't mean to insult anyone, disparage a company product or patent or otherwise demean or diminish the value of the property of others.

But those tools for removing KO wheels are really, stupid. That the rubber deteriorates is fitting given how ridiculous they are in the first place, an insult to the engineering and original intent behind them, quick change. There's nothing quick about using what amounts to a god-dammed oil filter wrench on a wheel spinner..

There, off my chest. Carry on.

Dan

0Willcox Corvette

I'll never use one and I'll never sell another one.... and here is why..

I got in the middle of this tool by accident around 1996. We sold one of the knock spinner tools to a customer and after he used it, his right rear wheel came off the car.

The right rear wheel took out the right rear quarter panel, the side exhaust cover and the right front fender on a body off 435 hp restoration. The wheel then proceeded to roll across the street and take out the side of a pickup truck in a car wash.

The customer then researched this and was ready to file a lawsuit…..

The issue… (And I’ll cut to the chase)… You can not get the wheel as tight using this tool as you can using brass (or lead) hammers. GM used lead hammers for a reason and I feel sure that they had the ability to make a tool, but nothing beats the impact of the hammers.

Since this issue, we only use a double hammer…

We put a brass hammer on the spinner, and then hit it with another brass hammer to install. We drive the car forward and lock up the brakes, we drive the car backwards and lock up the brakes.. Then we hammer it again. We do this typically three to four times before we release the car.

And… from this issue we also have the customers sign a sign off sheet simply stating that they have inspected the wheels and they are tight to their satisfaction before they leave.

IMHO,

Willcox

71scgc

This.
Never fails.

The special tools are fixing something that ain't broken. With the predictable result.

It's your money...

Carter

dplotkin

No, it doesn't fix a thing. On the contrary it unfixes the correct installation method prescribed by the engineers who designed it. It is dangerous. Not only for the fool who thinks its OK to use one, but the occupants of other car or cars he hits when the wheel(s) come off, or the wheel that bounces into the windshield of an oncoming minivan full of kids.

I'm vociferous about this subject because for the life of me I cannot fathom why anyone with even run of the mill intelligence would ignore the warnings.

What a fool does to imperil himself is of no consequence to me, takes one more idiot out of the gene pool as far as I'm concerned, but when their ignorance endangers the public I'm pissed off.

Again, sorry for insulting anyone, not my intention.

Dan

MikeM

Kinda' like the owners who use a rubber mallet or leather hammer to install the spinners.



PS. Did you kick the dog off the step when you went out to get your morning paper?

1966 327

Sheez. Had no idea I was throwing a hand granade into the crowd. Mae Culpa.
I bought a brass hammer.

DansYellow66

It's that time of the month. We have to have one of these KO threads each month to release pent up aggravation. But seriously, get a MT lead hammer. As long as you don't lay it where it can pick up dirt or something it can't hurt your chrome spinner and it not only will get your KO up around that 450 lb-ft torque spec - but when the time comes to get it off again, it will do so with less aggravation.

dplotkin

I'm sure you didn't. Think of it this way, we are looking out for you, your passengers, your Corvette and the public. It's all about being safe and its all good.


Dan

1966 327

Noted

AndyDiSario

I am writing in response to an entry by Mr. Willcox. Mr. Willcox, thank you very much. Just tonight, I'd noticed the urethane insert on my aftermarket removal tool, just as shown here, for the knock-off wheels of my 1966 Corvette had deteriorated badly. While searching for a new insert, I ran into your addition to this forum. Your points are well taken here sir, so I changed my course of direction immediately. I will order a new brass or lead hammer for the spinners on my wheels. I threw away the old removal tool, which had come with the car when I bought it to finish its restoration, about ten years ago.

Technically, I am familiar with knock-off wheels as I spent my later teenage years reconditioning British sports cars with spoke wheels. These were on 1967-1969 MGs and Triumphs. The 1967 cars had actual spinners, fastened using a lead mallet. Since the U.S. government banned actual spinners in 1968, these cars' knock-offs fastened using a large chrome hex center nut. There, the factory design provided a metal hex wrench which was used to turn the nut by hitting the wrench with a mallet. The wrench was made of a metal which was just soft enough not to damage the chrome nuts. Whether actual spinners or nuts were the case, you bet the fasteners needed to both be installed for the correct left-hand or right-hand rotation (as noted on the fasteners) and with lots of torque.

Regards,
Andy DiSario

65GGvert

In my opinion, brass is not the answer to a lead hammer situation.

JohnZ

I noticed that this is your first post - welcome to the Forum. Also note that this thread is over a year old.

DansYellow66

I agree. A brass hammer of approximately 6 lbs weight would be huge and brass would not be nearly as forgiving on a chrome spinner as lead.

AndyDiSario

Good point. I've ordered two lead mallets.