From http://www.vtr.org/maintain/wire-wheels-tightening.html
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The earliest instructions that I have been able to trace [McComb says
elsewhere that it was in the 1918 Autocar Handbook. Yes, 1918!], advise
leaving the locking cap finger tight and no more. A later recommendation
is to hammer the locking cap tight, check for slackness after 20 miles
and tighten again if necessary
'Hammer them tight' means the application of a lead, copper or hide
mallet and a little common sense, with the wheel locked up [read brakes
applied or equivalent] ... not a murderous attack with a heavy hammer
...
When do I [Osmundson] stop hitting the ears of my knockoffs? ... I
hammer on the end of a short length of hard wood held against the ear of
the knockoff, with the wheel off the ground and quit hammering when a
reasonably solid blow moves the tip of the knockoff less than about 3/16
inch, [this is not bashing] then I drive the car very carefully for a
mile or two allowing the cap to tighten further until any clearances,
newly introduced by the stresses of a dynamic load, are taken up.
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Sounds like if you only tighten them to 3/16" movement they are not
tight enough, and driving (forward) tightens them further. I hope you
don't use the brakes when you first start out, don't drive around the
block backwards, and that you are very careful... Don't mean to scare
you... :-) Just kidding... :-)
Don Malling
AVALON2455@aol.com wrote:
> I guess you could overtighten the knock-offs.......but I've never had any
> problem with that........just hammer on the lugs evenly, one then the other,
> until they only move a 3/16" or so.......that's just about
>right........doesn't
> spread anything.......un-doing them you don't have to be so careful keeping
>them
> even.
>
> Tightening just by hand then driving around the block would scare the s---
> out of me! Yeah!......running forward they tend to be tightening.......but
>in
> reverse.........I am somewhat suspicious that those hammers, having been used
> for 60+ years, must have some purpose........other than to add weight to the
> boot........<g>.........
>
> Clark
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