Knock Off Hammer Question

[Ron61]

Ok, what is the best hammer to get to use on knock offs? Lead seems to be out as I can't find any type of lead hammer in any auto or hardware store around this area. What are most of you using and where did you get them. I did find a 4 pound impact hammer, but it costs a fortune and not being sure if that will work I didn't want to buy one until I can find out what is best and where to get them.

Thanks,

Ron

[Lindy]

Use a lead hammer. Check with Finish Line, Operations Plus, PSE or So-Cal (recently purchased Trigo).

[Tongue Pirate]

Those should work! If by chance they don't have them I do have a more obscure source that should have them. You can PM me for the info you need it.

[jwd]

Ron

I got mine on E-Bay. $22 shipped. Works great. http://cgi.ebay.com/5-LB-LEAD-HAMMER...QQcmdZViewItem

Jim

Ouch! - $50 plus shipping at Finishline.

[Ron61]

Guys, thanks for the help. I just called Finish line and ordered one and he said it will go out in the morning. I don't understand why no store around this area can get a lead hammer. And I knew that I didn't want Brass as I want to tighten them and loosen them, not beat them into a pulp.

Ron

[JBo]

Actually what you want is a "Thor" brass and Hide hammer. 2 pounder does my KO's very well if I put plenty of "never seize" on the threads

[Ron61]

Jbo,

I just figure on using a piece of leather that I have to slide over the knock off ears and the lead hammer isn't hard, so I should be ok.

Ron

[jdog]

I just bought one of these, they are great!


http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...ls/hammer.html

jdog

[RedBarchetta]

Tools are like anything else in life...you usually get what you pay for. Spend $30-35 on a good quality, heavy lead hammer...worth every penny. That way you don't have to swing a lighter hammer so wildly to get the same impact on the spinner.

-Dean

[JBo]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Jbo,

I just figure on using a piece of leather that I have to slide over the knock off ears and the lead hammer isn't hard, so I should be ok.

Ron

Ron, I skip the leather and put my hand on the hears and hit that! Jim

[Ron61]

Dean,

I ordered the hammer from Finishline and it should be a good one. I ordered the 4 pound one as I figured that should be enough and their only other one was 6 pounds.



Jim,

Boy do I hear that. I have a couple of broken fingers to prove it too. I thought that one time I saw a picture of some three fingered tool someone had made that worked with a ratchet wrench to remove and tighten spinners, but I am probably imagining that. Everyone around here just uses a 4 pound hammer. At least I do know they turn in different directions on each side of the car. One person didn't and he beat his so tight trying to get it off that he had to cut it off.

Ron

[Three Peaks]

I"ve seen the 3 fingered tool for removing the knock-offs, but can't remember where I've seen it for sale. If I remember correctly, it is designed to be used with an impact tool in 1/2" drive.

Your lead hammer should work fine- as long as you remember which direction to hammer them..........

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Three Peaks

I"ve seen the 3 fingered tool for removing the knock-offs, but can't remember where I've seen it for sale.

FYI. Finishline offers that, too. Most that have shelled out the $$ for it claim that it's a cool paperweight now. If you have a custom, deep dish knock-off (ala rear GT40 or other custom rim) then you need something that will give you the same leverage as a good whack with the lead hammer.

[Mark Roe]

Ron--

Here in California our "WISE" legislators have banned the sale of ANYTHING lead. I just went through looking myself. My first hammer came with the car and only lasts about 2/3 set of on/offs with the spinners.

I got mine locally from Top of the Hill Performance Center--but I did like the suggestion getting it on E-Bay--cheep way to do it if you go through tires on a track

[wtm442]

Ron
Just beat on the spinner with a dead frog.

[Jim Maxwell]

Lead hammers beat (so to speak) all other hammers by a long shot. Large palstic impact hammers bounce off, transfer a tiny percentage of your force as compared to the lead ones. The old Thor hammers do the same, whether you use the rawhide or brass ends, even though that is what original Cobras came equipped with. Ferraris used lead hammers since the 60's, at the least.

[JBCOBRA]

I just use a BIG hammer and a 3 foot piece of 2x4. Put an end of the wood on the spinner and HIT it.
Don't even have to bend over. NO chance of messing anything up either.
Then I hit the button on the lift until the car is waist high and yank the wheel off.
JB

[jon@harrison.ne]

Lead hammers are the way to go, but the ones I've seen are too light, requiring a fast swing to get the energy.This can cause you to miss or glance off the spinner-not good. The fellow at Valley Wire Wheel (La area) will make you a heavy one very reasonably. I have bought three so far. I'll go weigh mine if anyone is interested.

[G.R.]

Spinner removal...always remember this "tight a$$" (courtesy of Turk). 6lb lead hammer always works for me. And use of anti-seize on the spinner and wheel threads.... I check the wheel tightness by looking at the safety wire and give the spinners a "thump" especially be fore ileave for a long trip.

[Ron61]

Mark,

I had a suspicion of that when all of the auto stores told me they didn't have them listed in their books. I think the 4 pound one will work ok, but if not then I can always order the 6 pound one. I don't plan to be taking them on and off a lot.
Now that you mentioned that I remember a year or so ago a bunch of friends of mine that used to go fishing at the ocean and made their own sinkers quit because the state had people checking on sinkers to see if they were bought before the ban or home made. Darn it and I used to have a whole lead bar with 5 1 pound squares. Should have melted it down and poured it in the gas tank.

Ron