Near Disaster

emberglo66 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 11:31 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 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 05:49 PM

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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 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 05:57 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? · #4 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 08:28 PM

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Murphy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 07:10 AM

I agree that it must have been loose to begin with as I only traveled 10-12 miles. The last time the wheels were off was 500 miles ago. I put them on myself and I am positive they were tight and fully engaged. To answer other concerns, yes the hubs are on the correct side of the car and there is no damage or misfit of the wheels or hubs? I am 100% confident that there is no assembly issue or damaged parts as I bought the car as a roller. I still fall back to the thought the geometry of the spinner as it backs off will force the safety pin inward.

Concern remains that the spinner passed the safety pin.

Good news is my wife now refuses to get in the car or allow the kids to go with me....She was with me when the problem occured.

I will call you David.

Ronbo · #6 (**permalink**) 06-24-2008, 11:15 PM

From your photo I'm guessing I'm seeing the thread ridge which doesn't seem high enough to push the pin down.

But another thought comes to mind.. Does the pin have a nice sharp 90deg back to top angle? (check to see if it's rounded over)

The grooves mentioned seem like a good idea, even better would be a knife edge at the top on the button that would "cut in" to the spinner face on contact and thus lock the button in place. Or possibly a groove in the back of the button with a raised lip on the spinner face.

Or of course say the heck with it and get the safety wire out...

Definately take up David on the billet spinners, they're really nice pieces.

jmimac351 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 09:49 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 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:16 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.