Spinners

[Jac Mac]

Originally Posted by Don

Not having the technical background and expertise. might some one clarify:

I had a Austin Healey 100-6 and then a XK-E, both with factory spinners/knockoffs that were not factory safety wired. I do not recall any recommendations to safety wired

My understanding, the knockoffs originated to facilitate speedy tire replacements for race cars prior to powered devices to remove the single or multiple nuts. When replaced, the knock-offs were not safety wired during the race

What would be the difference in the knock off wheels mentioned on this Thread and the Austin Healey and Jaguar wheels ?

Your XKE & Austin Healey wirewheels would have been of the 'Rudge' design and spline drive as opposed to pin drive.
In the Rudge design the 'knock off or nut' is a concave design where it contacts the wheel center and as such should the nut ever loosen slightly the car weight bears on the top part of the nut. The alloy Halibrands etc have a convex knockoff/nut and if these loosen the car weight bears on the lower part of the nut.
When the epicyclic effect takes place these two different designs tend to rotate the nut in opposite directions when viewed/fitted to the same wheel on a car. note-- this only happens when the 'nut' is in a loose state and this principle was founded back in the days of relatively narrow rims etc. With all the 'extra' factors we have now of better tyres, wider rims,better brakes, more power, huge load offsets, and lateral cornering loads etc-- these all have to be taken into account with each application .