loosening knock off wheels

[Christopher H.]

I am having trouble getting the knock-off wheels off of my 1965 car. Do you have any suggestions for loosening the spinners? I have tried a small lead sledge hammer and a large rubber sledge hammer and nothing has worked. The safety pins are out and the spinners will not come loose. I don't know what else to do. Thanks.
Chris Heavens 484-343-6397
NCRS #38189

[Wayne W.]

Re: loosening knock off wheels

Get a bigger hammer. Knock H out of it.

[Larry M.]

Re: loosening knock off wheels

On my 66 coupe I use a cheater bar to loosen and tighten my knockoff wheels. I have a spinner wrench which fits over the spinners and I put the 6' cheater bar over the handle and gently pull to either loosen or tighten. It also helps to put a brick under the wheel to keep the car from moving. This method is easier to me than using a hammer and it is less likely to hit the car. The cheater bar which I have was bought at a local hardward store and is galvanized with thick walls so it won't bend when pulling on it. Hope this helps.

[Jack layton #896]

Re: loosening knock off wheels

Can you get any penetrating oil to those threads?

[Larry S.]

Re: loosening knock off wheels

When was the last time you had them off? Are you whacking them the right way? Rubber mallet is not the way to go, a lead sledge or a good solid heavey dead blow hammer.When I whack(and I mean whack it)the car actually moves.

When I had my wheel alighnment done the shop could not get the wheels off after I had explained to them about how to whack it I went over and he was hitting it hard Not whacking it.You realley got to hit them HARD.

[Michael Strinich]

Re: loosening knock off wheels

The best tool for installing AND loosening KO's is to make your own BIG ass hammer. Take the small lead KO hammer you have that is most likely flatten by now and remove the rest of the lead from the hammer. If you do not have a KO hammer, get a long piece of pipe and drill a hole for a bolt with nut to go thru one end of the hammer. Go get a Campbell's soup can or a bigger can that is open at one end and cut a hole in the side of the can of the same size as you handle/pipe. Insert the handle/pipe and install the the bolt. Go to you local tire installation place and get a bunch of old used wheel weights(usually free). Get one of your wifes crummy pans and melt the wheel weights. Be careful as this is lead we are melting and it may cripple your mind in the short instance that you are melting the lead. Pour the lead in the can and fill to top. Center you handle and let the lead harden. The bolt and nut are there to keep the lead hammer head you just made from "flying" off the handle. NOW YOU HAVE "REAL" HAMMER.

Whale away on those KO's! Make sure you hit them the right way. They WILL come off with this type of hammer and not damage your spinners. If you flatten this hammer, just rebuild the hammer.

It works great for me!

Mike Strinich
Nashville, tn.
#11202