It is becoming difficult if not impossible to find anyone willing to true
wire wheels. Current economics seem to make replacement the only option,
which affronts my sense of propriety. The argument is that the cost of
truing a wheel is nearly as great (or greater than) the cost of a new
wheel, at least for the painted ones (it would still be worthwhile truing
chrome ones like mine, from this standpoint, but they don't seem to be
making the distinction). British WireWheel in Santa Cruz, CA is where I
used to send my wheels; but this summer when I put on two new tires they
said it was the last time. I guess they are just going to sell wheels
(and mount tires) from now on, which seems an odd business model because
it puts them in sales competition with Moss, VB, etc, with no particular
advantages. You could call them, I suppose (I don't have the number in
front of me but I could find it).
As for the recommendation that new wheels be trued before installation, I
have seen that statement in several places, also. It does seem to leave
one in a "Catch-22"! One thought I had was to try motorcycle shops --
certainly wire wheels are still a current technology in that field --
look at all those Harleys.
Good luck.
Joel Woodard had this to say:
>I have a 1964 MGB with wire wheels. I have balanced and balanced, but at
>60-70mph I still have a slight vibration. On the balancing machine, the
>wheels (all four) have a very slight wobble, so I think they need to be
>trued. I had a machine shop make a special spindle for the balancing
>machine,
>so I am confident that the balancing is as good as I can get it. Does
>anyone have good experience having their wire wheels trued? Where? I live
>in Kansas, so I'll probably have to ship them somewhere. Is it better to
>buy new wheels? The VB catalog mentions that even new wheels should be
>trued before installation. Any advice will be appreciated!
>Joel Woodard
>bjoelw@acck.edu
>'64 MGB
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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