New member with spare tire mount question

[stouchton]

Hi folks,

New member here, also new to Model A in general!

Acquired a 31 Roadster, and love working on it.

However, having trouble figuring out the proper way to mount and remove the side mounted spare tires

I figured there is probably a technique to make it easy and I just can't figure it out.

Appreciate any help and pointers. Tried searching the forums (and the internet in general) but could not find much info.

[Charles Coe]

What brand of tires do you have? Are they sticking in the wheel well?

[whirnot]

If they are too tight, there should be some adjustment on the mounting plate.

[QGolden]

Welcome, I love the Red Roadster. Do you have any additional pictures?

[stouchton]

Thanks for the reply.

Brand escapes me at the moment (at work and can't look at one!).

It is snug in the well, and I cannot rock it away from the mount (well, I can but it ain't easy!) far enough to clear the studs on the mount. I really did not want to hurt or scratch anything so figured I better ask some folks who have done this before.

Also, the side mount (part with the studs) rotates all around, but seems like it is keyed so it should only travels vertically. Fellow who owned the car before me kept the mounting nut real loose so it could rotate but I think it is not supposed to.

Figured it is just meant to travel vertical, so that you lift up and out on the tire. Just not sure if the single stud goes up or down in orientation.

Sorry to long winded!

[stouchton]

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Originally Posted by QGolden

Welcome, I love the Red Roadster. Do you have any additional pictures?

Thanks!

I was intending to paint it Washington Blue (my wifes favorite color) -but- there is something about the red that just works... even for my wife!

I do have more pics - will post soon.

[1931 flamingo]

Let some of the air out of the tires, should lift right out. First tighten the mounting, then take the wheel nuts off, lift tire out.
Paul in CT

[CarlG]

I did a mod to my side mount that I saw in an older copy of the Restorer Magazine. It involved driving the studs out of the plate and welding 1/2-20 nuts on the back side. Then converting the lug nuts to studs by inserting a 1/2-20 bolt with the head cut off. Makes getting the tire in and out much easier.

[stouchton]

Paul - Thanks! I actually made sure they were at 34psi while mounted

No real reason too since I have a tire pump in the trunk. Funny how the obvious things ain't so obvious sometimes. I'll let some air out and give it a try.

Carl - that mod is sweet and elegant. If letting some air out does not accomplish the mission, I will be pursuing the mod. Need a good reason to break the welder out and have some fun.

[columbiA]

The side mount plates are RH &LH.Maybe you have the plate for the other side.There should be an RH or LH stamped on the plate.The plate on the wrong side will make it difficult to remove tire.If useing Firestone tires,they are a little taller & wider than other brands & will come out of the well if you use about 5 psi in tires & carry a tire pump.I use my A a lot & have not had a flat in many years.

[stouchton]

Thanks folks for all your help.

I dropped the air pressure down under 10 psi, spun the mounting plates so the 2 lugs were up and tightened the nut so that the plate stays on the boss and can travel vertically.

Moral of the story is that I can put the tire on and remove from the car easily now!

Appreciate having you folks out there to help a newbie like me thru the simple things

[whirnot]

I was going to say mine has the single nut on top. I think it looks better that way as well.
I have found that if you raise the mounting plate a little if makes it easy to get out. You might have done that while rotating it. Once everything is exactly the way you want it, Two up or One up, then you have to go and rotate the hubcap so that the lettering is oriented correctly, then make sure all the tires on the ground have the hubcap rotated to exactly the same position, in relation to the wheel studs, just is case you have a flat and change tire, heaven forbid you have a logo upside down.

See This Model A stuff is complicated!

[stouchton]

That begs a good question:

Should it be the single stud up? Would like to have it correct!

[stouchton]

By the way, the spare tires were made by Guardian - and they are splitting badly!

[Charles Coe]

The single stud should be on the bottom.

[Charles Coe]

Also the hub caps should be mounted with the Ford script running perpendicular to the alignment of the valve stem above it. When used with a side mount, the script will be slightly off horizontal and the valve stem canted to one side or the other.

[whirnot]

Or of course if the single stud is above, and the logo is perpenducular to the Valve stem which is directly above a stud than everything is straight, nothing crooked or canted.

[Charles Coe]

On all the wheels I have, the valve stem is between two studs. The reason everything is not straight is because the side mount bracket is not vertical whether you have the single stud on top or not. The JS shows the bracket with the two studs on top.

[CarlG]

Try as I may, I can't get it to work with the 2 studs at the top!