The Ford Barn

JoeCB · 08-24-2022, 08:20 PM

Trying to understand how the crack propagated. I looks like the crack started at the stem hole and progressed radially along the circumference of the rim for some great distance. With that crack, the sidewall of the rim began to flex outward at every revolution of the wheel. That flexing fatigued the rim from the hole transversely, leading finally to separation and catastrophic failure.
Joe B

updraught · 08-25-2022, 05:43 AM

It looks like it hit something hard a long time ago. There seems to be a 90 degree crack from the valve hole as well. The steel looks thick so doesn't look like corrosion.

ArtimusGordon · 08-25-2022, 08:57 AM

When I restored my Model A , before I painted the wheels I checked them for RUST! If I found any I removed it by sand blasting. I would NEVER PAINT OVER RUST!!! My only wheel problem in 50 years of driving a Model A was a BROKEN SPOKE!

norcalal · 08-25-2022, 02:30 PM

And one broken spoke(or rust under the end of a spoke) will lead to another, and another and……..can’t be careful enough

08-24-2022, 08:20 PM	#21
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 284	Re: Wheel failure on Interstate Trying to understand how the crack propagated. I looks like the crack started at the stem hole and progressed radially along the circumference of the rim for some great distance. With that crack, the sidewall of the rim began to flex outward at every revolution of the wheel. That flexing fatigued the rim from the hole transversely, leading finally to separation and catastrophic failure. Joe B

08-25-2022, 05:43 AM	#22
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,971	Re: Wheel failure on Interstate It looks like it hit something hard a long time ago. There seems to be a 90 degree crack from the valve hole as well. The steel looks thick so doesn't look like corrosion.

08-25-2022, 08:57 AM	#23
ArtimusGordon Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 79	Wheel failure on Interstate When I restored my Model A , before I painted the wheels I checked them for RUST! If I found any I removed it by sand blasting. I would NEVER PAINT OVER RUST!!! My only wheel problem in 50 years of driving a Model A was a BROKEN SPOKE!

08-25-2022, 02:30 PM	#24
norcalal Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 79	Re: Wheel failure on Interstate And one broken spoke(or rust under the end of a spoke) will lead to another, and another and……..can’t be careful enough