Wheel and tyre ramblings

Found out something today. Paddocks eventually delivered the steel
wheels and Colway remoulds I ordered. When we came to fit the
tyre-pressure monitors (basically a valve with a sensor on the end) we
found that it didn't fit. Turns out that the valve hole in a steel
wheel is much bigger than on an alloy.

So, we needed alloys. Trouble is, we've built this chassis with
Series 2 axles. And the first customer demo is on Wednesday. Much
head scratching and I remembered the Firestyle alloy. Quick google
turned up Difflock, who list it (but pass the business direct to Nene
Valley Offroad).

So I called Mark at Nene (who I've bought quite a bit off previously).
No, the Firestyles won't fit a Series 2 axle (not even one which is
never going on road). So we were stuffed. We talked about all sorts
of options, none of which worked. This guy really knows his stuff
about wheels and tyres.

I was just about to hang up when he said "Hang on a minute. Horribly
expensive, but if you fit wheel spacers it could work". At that point
I'd have traded my first-born for a solution, so we now have (all from
stock) wheel spacers, new Firestyle alloys and BFG 265 All-Terrains.
All for a grand, which is much less than the sum of the parts. A
local mate picked them up this afternoon, and we should be rolling
tomorrow! He would have built them up in an hour as well (except we
need to fit clever valves, so we asked him not to).

Top marks to Nene Valley!

Just need to work out how to keep the front wheels vertical in the
absence of any steering gear now....

Anyone want a set of Mangels wheels and brand new Colway 205x16 AT
remoulds? £58 per corner was the price to me - I'm open to offers
(although I'm tempted to keep them myself if nobody wants to come
closeish...).


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'95 Discovery V8i aka "The Disco" (FOR SALE)
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

In <[email protected]> Tim Hobbs wrote:
> Found out something today. Paddocks eventually delivered the steel
> wheels and Colway remoulds I ordered. When we came to fit the
> tyre-pressure monitors (basically a valve with a sensor on the end) we
> found that it didn't fit. Turns out that the valve hole in a steel
> wheel is much bigger than on an alloy.

That's not actually true, steel wheels can come with either size...

There are two sizes of valve that can be fitted to any wheel. These are
known in the trade as "small valves" and "big valves"

If you want a set of 8 spokes with small valves then shop around, they
are out there and even wheels from the same supplier can come with
either size. If you contact Paddocks you may even find they have both in
stock.

Alternatively you could weld up the holes and redrill them to the
smaller size. It's not like there's anything complex about the hole.

Ironically, I had to drill a small valve hole out to the larger size a
couple of months ago on a white 8 spoke when I needed to fit a tube and
all I had was large valve tubes. Half an hour later I found a tube with
a small valve, sods law !

Either way it'll be a damn site cheaper than buying alloys and spacers,
neither of which are a good idea if you intend using the vehicle off
road IMV.

cheers

Dave W.
http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/

<big snip>
Didn't know about steel wheels with small holes. I probably asked the
wrong questions. The boss wanted alloys in any case, because there is
an element of cosmetics involved. Shame he was too busy to take my
call when I rang to check before ordering the steels!

>
>Either way it'll be a damn site cheaper than buying alloys and spacers,
>neither of which are a good idea if you intend using the vehicle off
>road IMV.
>

Agreed, but this 'vehicle' is never going to leave the 20 foot room it
was built in, and will certainly never be fitted with an engine. It
has, amongst other 'interesting' features, a variable wheelbase!

BTW, anybody want Series 2 front and rear diffs in good condition?
They are going in the skip tonight if nobody shouts out. Free to a
good home, but need collection from Barnsley.


--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'77 101FC Ambulance aka "Burrt"
'95 Discovery V8i aka "The Disco" (FOR SALE)
'03 Volvo V70

My Landies? http://www.seriesii.co.uk
Barcoding? http://www.bartec-systems.com
Tony Luckwill web archive at http://www.luckwill.com

In <[email protected]> Tim Hobbs wrote:
> Found out something today. Paddocks eventually delivered the steel
> wheels and Colway remoulds I ordered. When we came to fit the
> tyre-pressure monitors (basically a valve with a sensor on the end) we
> found that it didn't fit. Turns out that the valve hole in a steel
> wheel is much bigger than on an alloy.

That's not actually true, steel wheels can come with either size...

There are two sizes of valve that can be fitted to any wheel. These are
known in the trade as "small valves" and "big valves"

If you want a set of 8 spokes with small valves then shop around, they
are out there and even wheels from the same supplier can come with
either size. If you contact Paddocks you may even find they have both in
stock.

Alternatively you could weld up the holes and redrill them to the
smaller size. It's not like there's anything complex about the hole.

Ironically, I had to drill a small valve hole out to the larger size a
couple of months ago on a white 8 spoke when I needed to fit a tube and
all I had was large valve tubes. Half an hour later I found a tube with
a small valve, sods law !

Either way it'll be a damn site cheaper than buying alloys and spacers,
neither of which are a good idea if you intend using the vehicle off
road IMV.

cheers

Dave W.
http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/