Wopoden Spokes

[Don51]

Happy New Year Everyone,

My restoration of a 1927 Chevrolet truck is progressing, but I have encountered a small roadblock. I require a new set of timbers spokes front and rear.
Is there anyone out there in wood heaven making spokes for Chevrolet.
I have sets that can be used as templates but I would not risk the old spokes with weight of the new timbers on the chassis.

The truck was originally the Binalong Poo Wagon (Runs on 4 Tins). It was retired in the late 30's and my Great Uncle converted it into the farm truck. It last ran in 1967 and sat in the open ever since.

Chassis timbers and back tray - Ironbark
Running Boards and Dash Board - Oregon
Cabin - Cedar ( Western Red and Australian Red Cedar)

Don

[ptc]

Don
post a pic with measurments (if you can).
Some one with a copy lathe then might say i can do that .
also suggested timber for the job.
i have a copy lathe ,but have no idea what the spokes look like?

[bitingmidge]

Here's a link to a '28 Model http://www.cruisenclassics.com/28chevygastruck.htm

Wheel pic is http://www.cruisenclassics.com/images/28_chevy_gas_truck/1928%20Chevy%20gas%20Truck%2002.jpg

I haven't seen spoke wheels that were turned. My experience is pretty limited, but all I have seen were milled then shaved (with a spokeshave not surprisingly!), most i've seen are very square in cross section, but the rounded arrising gives an illusion of roundness. It's funny what the eye wants to see!

Cheers,

P

[Gra]

Ive seen a bloke around the swap meets that does wheels, Though I dont think they are cheap. We split a spoke in one of our wheels, and found it was cheaper to sandblast 5 wire wheels than get the broken one respoked. From memory it was somewere in the area of $500 for a wheel, that was about 10 years ago.

He did a display at one of our club meetings. The one thing I remember was he advised that the shape of the wedge at the bottom was critical.

You could also have a talk with alan at antique tyre supplies, he will probably know someone who is doing new spokes.

Remember this is a bit of a specialist field and there wont be many people doing it anymore. Also if your spokes are dodgy, how are your rims.

[hcbph]

Don

Somewhat related to your subject, I saw something of interest the other week on TV. We have a program on here called the WoodWrights Shop where most things they do by hand. They had a program that included going to a museum and they showed some old tools. One was for making spokes for wooden wagon wheels. It had a spot where the spoke was inserted horizontally into it and clamped down. On the other side of it was a tendon cutter on a hand crank. You rotated the tendon cutter via the crank, and cut the tendon on the end of the spoke. I couldn't tell if the cutter was geared to advance automatically by itself or if you had to push it manually.

Hope you find someone to fix your wheels.

Paul

[Don51]

To All,
Thank you for all your helpful information.
I was at the Chevrolet Club meeting on Friday and was told that there is a spoke maker in Queensland who might be able to help.
Made the cabin floor today, Dashboard timberwork still in progress.

Don Scott

[redwood]

Don i was talking to a bloke 4 months ago who was in a similar position and he told me to his knowledge their was only a bloke in Darwin that dose them and their :eek: $1000 per wheel :eek: he ended up getting 2 secondhand from perth and had the rims laser cut and new bits welded.:) i think from memory the timber was hickory

[Gra]

Don

Post some pics. Love to see your progress