Trouble with knock off spinners

[Igotta P]

Hi Everyone

New to the Club. Relatively new owner of a Backdraft. Still figuring things out.

I have full polished Halibrands held on by peg drives and spinners. As hard as I try, I can't get the spinners off. Yes, I've used penetrating oil and beat on them with a lead hammer. And yes, I've rolled the car forward/back to pound equally on the spinners. No luck.

Does anyone have a trick for this?

[mln385]

Are you hitting them in the right direction? Left side of rim facing it ...hit down.

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by mln385

Are you hitting them in the right direction? Left side of rim facing it ...hit down.

Down on the front side or back side of the wheel?

That said, you likely are the victim of wheels that have never been off by the previous owner. If you are certain you are striking the correct direction than try heat. Heat the ring of the knock off, just keep moving the torch around and get it warm, then hammer time. Not heating to the glowing stage.

[rpatton3]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Down on the front side or back side of the wheel?

That said, you likely are the victim of wheels that have never been off by the previous owner. If you are certain you are striking the correct direction than try heat. Heat the ring of the knock off, just keep moving the torch around and get it warm, then hammer time. Not heating to the glowing stage.

MANY years ago, my sister's 1969 E-Type would not let go of knock off. They were labelled on and off and left and right. We called them 'dog killers' and just two ears. V-12 cars had giant nut and brass wrench for lead hammer.

I used a six foot steel pipe and put it on knock off. She put car in reverse and I had pipe on driveway. After a huge groan, everything broke loose with no damage. I was 19 and my sister was 17. My dad was shocked after we told him what we did. NEVER, EVER TRY THIS AT HOME.

We were very lucky nobody, including car, was hurt

[cdog]

Originally Posted by rpatton3

MANY years ago, my sister's 1969 E-Type would not let go of knock off. They were labelled on and off and left and right. We called them 'dog killers' and just two ears. V-12 cars had giant nut and brass wrench for lead hammer.

I used a six foot steel pipe and put it on knock off. She put car in reverse and I had pipe on driveway. After a huge groan, everything broke loose with no damage. I was 19 and my sister was 17. My dad was shocked after we told him what we did. NEVER, EVER TRY THIS AT HOME.

We were very lucky nobody, including car, was hurt

This is similar to the procedure used to loosen VW/Porsche wheel hub nuts, which I think are up around 400 ft-lbs.

Make a big wrench: Take a Breaker bar and slip a hyd. jack handle over it. Now slip a 8' length of fence post or pipe over the jack handle. Entire apparatus should be about 12' long.

Stand on a picnic table. Now jump on the big wrench. Pop! It's loose!

[itstock]

Originally Posted by mln385

are you hitting them in the right direction? Left side of rim facing it ...hit down.

Originally Posted by mike harter

get the weight off the wheels and always hit the spinner toward the front of the car

Originally Posted by bernica

just remember they knock tight spinning towards the front of the car and loose towards the back.

:lol:
:cry:

[chucks1]

Maybe it's time for a link to an Olthoff video . . .

Superformance Cobra, Daytona Coupe and GT40 Wheel Care - YouTube

[601HP]

Originally Posted by chucks1

Maybe it's time for a link to an Olthoff video . . .

Superformance Cobra, Daytona Coupe and GT40 Wheel Care - YouTube

To quote Jamo....."assolutely."

Unless Backdraft knock-offs are the opposite of mine, some of these posts are gonna confuse the h*** out of the OP.

David

[lippy]

Sounds like you recently got the car and never had the spinners off before? Any way to find out if they were installed with anti-seize? There are multiple threads on this topic btw.

[Igotta P]

Yes, I've been hitting them in the right direction.

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by Igotta P

Yes, I've been hitting them in the right direction.

Not trying to beat a dead horse, but it is very common with new owners not understanding that the knock-offs don't have the same thread on each side of the car. The left side of the car has right hand threads and the right side of the car has left hand threads. If you already understand that, then just disregard my comment. Also, you may want to look at Craig's Cobras website. He has some info on there about getting off stubborn knock-offs.

Good Luck.

Ted

[mike harter]

Originally Posted by Shootnride

Not trying to beat a dead horse, but it is very common with new owners not understanding that the knock-offs don't have the same thread on each side of the car. The left side of the car has right hand threads and the right side of the car has left hand threads. If you already understand that, then just disregard my comment. Also, you may want to look at Craig's Cobras website. He has some info on there about getting off stubborn knock-offs.

Good Luck.

Ted

Get the weight off the wheels and always hit the spinner toward the front of the car

[Grubby]

I wouldn't get the weight off the wheels to hit them. You are then pounding the bearings.

John

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Grubby

I wouldn't get the weight off the wheels to hit them. You are then pounding the bearings.

John

There are two schools of thought on this. Sitting on the ground the weight of the vehicle is bearing on the chamfer connection between the spinner/wheel which interfers with it loosening - but the energy of the hammer blow is being transferred to the spinner. In the air, the weight of the car is mostly off of the spinner/wheel interface - but a lot of your hammer energy is being absorbed by the suspension.

Personnally, I prefer to loosen/tighten with the wheel on the ground.

I guess you could compromise and jack the car up to slightly unload the wheel but with the wheel still in solid contact with the ground.

[JLip]

Originally Posted by Grubby

I wouldn't get the weight off the wheels to hit them. You are then pounding the bearings.

John

Don't take all the weight off the wheels. Just allow them to touch the pavement.

[DonC]

Lots of threads on this, just do a search. Non an uncommon problem with pin drives with new owners. Go through the previous threads. Unfortunately no silver bullet fix out there but a lot of different approaches.
When you finally get them off take everyone's advice and use anti-seize when you put them back on.
DonC

[Bernica]

There is a lot of info on this subject here on this site. Just remember they knock tight spinning towards the front of the car and loose towards the back. There is even a YouTube video link somewhere here. Don't forget the anti-seize and safety wire when you put them back on!

[MOTORHEAD]

I have seen a number of K.O. adapters installed on the wrong side of the car. Look at the threads (if you can see any) very closely to see if they are the proper rotation for the side they are installed on. Remember "tight a$$" tighten toward rear of car when struck above horizontal centerline of axle.

[CobraDan]

AC Shelby Cobra Ford GT 40 Halibrand Knock Off Spinner Saver Socket Wrench | eBay

[Igotta P]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and thanks CobraDan. I wondered if such a tool existed. Fricking expensive though. Has anyone used one of these?