Knock-off wheels -> how to open ?
 

Hi guys,
I ried to open the knock-off wheels on my Kirkham cobra with aluminium nuts with a lead hammer, but I can't open it.

Just for sure : passenger-side lefthand thread / Driver-side righthand thread, right ?

I won't destroy anything, so do you have any idea how to open without destroying anything....? Do you use a hammer only ?

Best, Stephan

Lead hammer... rotate towards front of car to loosen...towards rear to tighten

Mnemonic = "Tight a$$"

Watch this here...

Superformance Cobra, Daytona Coupe and GT40 Wheel Care - YouTube

Provided they were properly mounted to begin with. Take a minute to study any exposed hub threads to try and verify they in fact tighten with the top side rotated towards the rear of the car.

I say this because there are a few guys on Corvette Forum with Corvette knock offs that insist GM got it all wrong and they run theirs to tighten towards the front - I think just to aggravate the rest of us.

Also, I've seen a number of Cobra pictures with their knock offs wired to prevent their turning towards the rear. Not sure if they just wired them in the wrong direction or actually have the knockoffs installed backwards.

...in that case, the taut wire going slack would indicate a loosening spinner.

A Sure-Fire Method
 

For the easily confused, or those with memory problems...

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...dblwire001.JPG

HA !


Those pesky knock offs

Hi guys,
Having fought the removing of my spinners and wheels to replace the original tires, probably not removed since 1995. I put anti-seize grease on any surface where the wheels mate to the hub, inside and out tappers, including the pins. I'm take no chances !!!! Been There, Done That, with other cars. Steel/Alloy/Time, relationship is not your friend !!!!

This has probably become confusing enough to warrant some professional advice from Bob Lacey.

Safety Wiring Procedure for Spinners : Vintage Wheels, Hot Rod and Muscle car

Using an Air Chisel for Hammer Blows
 

Something that could be used to provide a combined effect of an impact wrench and lead hammer is to use an air chisel on the spinner ears. Obviously, you will want to use something to protect the surface of the ears (ie., aluminum, or anything softer than the spinner). I saw a video of someone using one on a rather large (1-7/16”) radiator fan clutch nut (link below). He simply put the chisel head on the edge of one of the flats to sort of push/rotate it around and then pulled the trigger while pressing down to push on that edge. About three half second bursts and it loosened right up. Granted it wasn’t tightened to the same torque as a spinner, but with a spinner you do have the well defined surface of the spinner ear to put the chisel against and provide direct blows.

Although in the video he uses a standard chisel head attachment, it looks like the head in the shape of an inverted “V” would be the preferred attachment here, as the insides of the “V” are not sharp, so it will be providing more of a hammer effect than cutting effect on whatever you are using to protect the ear, and it can straddle the ear to keep it in place. Chisel and attachments < $20 at Harbor Freight.

As a disclaimer, I haven’t done this nor have I seen it done, but the concept of using sudden blows on the ears is essentially the same as with the lead hammer, just a much much faster repetition of blows. Just use the same method as has already been pointed out in other posts on the subject….just a few seconds of taps on each ear, and work your way around, several times if necessary. As with an impact wrench, the vibratory action alone will have a tremendous effect on breaking the molecular bond that gets established between the threads over time.

Use of air chisel is at around 2:20
LS Type Vortec V8 Water Pump Replacement (part 1) | How To Save Money And Do It Yourself!

Heat the spinners
 

Try heating the spinners. The heat should expand the spinner and make it loose.
Lead hammer is a must. Good luck.