C2: KO center cap removal

[Dan Pepper]

What's the easiest/best way to remove KO wheel center caps w/o damaging them? I saw one person recommend using a suction cup, but seems like the caps fit too snug to have this work. Any suggestions?

[Eugene B.]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

Dan,
I assume that you mean tightening and loosening the spinner. I can't imagine how a suction cup would accomplish this task.

While at Carlisle, I saw and interesting device for KO's made from hard polyurethane. It had a cutout in the center of the block that fits over the spinner; you then bang away on the outside corners of the block to tighten and loosen.

Don't know if it works or not. Perhaps others have seen/used one.

Gene

[Kenneth S.]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

Get the suction cup, it works like a charm.
Ken

[Jerry Clark]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

Gene
He is referring to the actual center cap, removal is necessary with reproduction KO to access the locking pin and the cap is a PITA to remove.
jerry

[Brian J.]

Re:REAL KO's...

don't use pins, center cap removal is not a problem!

[Mike M.]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

if you're wanting to remove the cap centered in the spinner, remove spinner, place a large socket on backside of spinner cap and gently tap cap out of spinner. if you want to remove the cones from the k/o wheels themselves, this job is a PITA as all i've removed from the wheels were glued to the wheel. try bathing the cones in laq thinner or paint remover to soften glue. good luck, mike

[Joe Pennington]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

I'm able to remove mine without scratching the cap, takes about 15 seconds a cap. Using a small 1/16" flat blade screwdriver, insert blade between the cap and spinner centered on any one of the three color strips. this is where the three outward embossed nubs are located on the center cap. You don't have to jam the screwdriver between the cap and the spinner, just enough to pry the outer lip of the cap inward so the nub will be released from the groove machined in the ID of the spinner.

[Joe Pennington]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

Post script- do not pry the cap at any point except the center of one of the three color strips, as doing this causes the nubs to just lock in tighter in the spinner groove, making the cap almost impossibe to remove.

[Dan Pepper]

Thanks all for the suggestions. *NM*

[Don H.]

Re: C2: KO center cap removal

I have a set of the newer direct bolt on's that use the repro spinner and "pins". I bought the suction cup from Long Island and it works PERFECTLY on mine. Don H.