Near Disaster

CHANMADD · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:30 PM

Just looking at the design of that "button" it kind of looks foolproof to me.How can it possibly go past without the button being pushed in by something ,or it was'nt on right in the first place?

Murphy · #2 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 09:09 AM

I took off all of my wheels and inspected them. All of the spring loaded pins function the same and appear undamaged.

The only odd thing was the spinner on the wheel that came lose had a spot about 1/2" long where it was clear that it was rubbing on the pin. There was a slight burr in the thread of the spinner where it appeared the pin crossed into the threads. How the pin compressed and crossed into the spinner threads is a mystery. It did occur while driving on the interstate.

You get plenty of warning as the car was all over the place and I knew there was a problem.

Ronbo, my wheel looks just like yours except I don't have the Kirkham spinner.

David Kirkham · #3 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 09:24 AM

Murphy,

If you think the knock off is any sort of a problem, I will send you out a new set of our billet knock offs today (burr, too big of bevel, whatever). Just let me know. Let's get to the bottom of this.

David

emberglo66 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 10:31 AM

David, Nice service!!! I am lucky to have the same attention to service here in Houston with my Superformance shop. Your 289 FIA car is one of my wish list cars.

Murphy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 04:49 PM

[/IMG]

OK, here is a pic. Looks like possibly the casting that is the spinner has enough of a raised radius to force the push pin in as it rotates? It appears the pin jumped the threads at the highest section of the spinner??? OK NASA guys tell me what really happened..

David Kirkham · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 04:57 PM

I don't know what happened, but I have a new set of knock offs here if you think that will solve your problem!

David

csx700? · #7 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 07:28 PM

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jmimac351 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy

Looks like possibly the casting that is the spinner has enough of a raised radius to force the push pin in as it rotates?

Mike, I see what you mean and I agree. One way or another it got depressed and that seems to make sense. I never would have thought that could happen though given how high that button sticks up. I have Vintage wheels with billet spinners and they don't appear to have as much bevel. I'd definitely opt for the billet ones. Glad nothing happened. And, glad to hear you are solo approved.

Buzz · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy

[/IMG]

OK, here is a pic. Looks like possibly the casting that is the spinner has enough of a raised radius to force the push pin in as it rotates? It appears the pin jumped the threads at the highest section of the spinner??? OK NASA guys tell me what really happened..

Looking closely at the picture, The ears on the spinner bulge outward from the face with a nice radiused curve. The markings on the face indicate that it might be possible that the curving bulge of the knockoff ear, which is close to the level of the retaining pin, caught the pin and forced it down enough for the spinner to slide over it.

Blow up the pic and look at the mark thet spirals inward from the bulge of the knockoff ear at 12:00 o'clock. It starts at the height of the top of the pin and it works its way down to the edge of the center hole beneath the ear at 5:00 o'clock. If this mark was made by the pin rubbing against the turning spinner, that may be a telling clue.

Barring a failure of the spring pin itself or the spinner starting off on top of the pin (which Murphy has assured us it didn't), that is the only way I see the pin depressing enough to allow the spinner to pass.

EDIT: The more I study the pic the more convinced I am that that spinner design is not safe with the spring pin arrangement. Look at the spinner in the other picture on page 1. The pin rides on the flat of the raised bevel around the center hole. The bulge of the ears on Murphy's spinner can definitely contact the pin and force it downward.

If I am reading the picture correctly, this will happen again with that type of spinner.

Murphy · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Kirkham

Murphy,

If you think the knock off is any sort of a problem, I will send you out a new set of our billet knock offs today (burr, too big of bevel, whatever). Just let me know. Let's get to the bottom of this.

David

Should I be watching my mailbox?