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[Healeys] Wire wheel hubs - how?

Subject: [Healeys] Wire wheel hubs - how?
From: glemon at neb.rr.com (Greg Lemon)
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:36:29 -0500
References: <8BAC3AA452F841269A3B04343FBFD920@GregPC> <20110720200144.IH1KT.360263.root@pamxwww03-z01> <000001cc4740$44623e70$cd26bb50$@net>
To make this hopefully productive I will try to re-frame the question.

I don't dispute that under the correct circumstances the rudge knock of 
patented wire wheel as used on Healeys, MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, etc. self 
tightens.

What we really need to know, and I don't know the answer, is what is the 
best and most relaible way to achieve optimal torque with the 
knock-off/wheel/hub assembly.

By optimal I think we can agree we want

1.  Safety--least chance of knock of coming off or something in the assembly 
breaking (due to being too loose, too tight, or having been exposed to undue 
stress)

2.  Minimal Wear to the splines over a lifetime of use.

As I have read how the self tightening works I believe the wheel works in 
sort of a spiral pattern in relation to the hub and acts against the knock 
off to tighten it, if moving it is moving in relation to the splines too, 
which it should be, I assume this causes wear.  Does this action go on 
indefinitely, or does it eventually self tighten to a point or relative 
stability? ( I don't know)

To refine the question as I see it is does the presumably higher torque 
achieved by whacking the hub on hard get you to a better point of 
stability/safety than the self tightening.

I guess I subscribe to the big nut, big torque tight good theory, don't have 
proof of it, but maybe with the question better defined we can work towards 
a better answer.

Rich, you bring up a good point about lubrication,  I would bet a lot of 
spline wear on former daily drivers results from improper lubrication and or 
corrosion in the splines acting as an abrasive and causing wear over time.

Has anyone ever put a mark on the knock off and wheel when they have 
tightened down "good and hard" to see if the self tightening still occurs?

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