Hi Tom
I don't know if the TR uses the same bolt on type adapter for the wire
wheels or if you have your car repaired for you or do it yourself. The
reason I ask these questions is to help qualify the following. A friend of
mine has / had a Herald with the wire wheel conversion, he took it to a
garage to have some work done on the suspension as he was to busy to do it
himself, afterwards he to was passed by one of the front wheels, to cut a
longer story short the apprentice had done the work, and convinced that the
adaptors were on the wrong side had swapped them (all four) around causing
the wheel to later come undone. Fortunately there was no one injured and
only slight scarring to the lower wishbone on a car a very long way from
concourse. The outcome was an apprentice with a good awareness of centre
lock wire wheels and a few drinks for my mate. And another one every time he
tells the story! Are your adapters on the right side?
Graham.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Winslow <tom_winslow@email.msn.com>
To: Triumph Mailing List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2000 3:07 AM
Subject: Ever lost a wire wheel? At 65 mph?
>
> I have been unsubscribed from the list for a while but have decided that I
> need to get back on the list . . . to gain some wisdom and maybe an
answer.
>
> Some of you have seem my 1965 Triumph TR4A IRS. If not, it can be seen at:
> http://www.iredell.com/triumph.html
>
> Last Tuesday I drove the TR to work. When I left around 4 PM I headed east
> on I-40 toward Statesville, NC. The top was up and the windows down. As I
> approached an exit, I headed a 'jingling' sound - as if something fell off
> of the car. I went up the exit ramp and stopped. I shut the car off and
got
> out - made a complete inspection of the wheels. Nothing wrong?
>
> Well, I got back into the car, headed down the entrance ramp on the other
> side and back on to I-40. I entered the right lane at about 65 mph. After
> about 100 ft, the right front wheel came off! I saw the wire wheel bounce
> much higher than the car and go ahead of me down the right lane for about
> 150 yards where it hit the end of a guardrail, bounced high into the air
and
> came to rest.
>
> In the mean time, I slid, ground, sparked to a stop in the grass on the
> right side of the highway.
>
> Now, how does the wire wheel 'knockoff' come loose? That is the only
> explanation. Could it have split? Could it have backed off? I thought that
I
> saw it when I did my inspection - maybe not. Usually they are very
difficult
> to remove because they are TIGHT!
>
> Anyone else ever had such a happening?
>
> Anyway, my mechanic (International Auto, Statesville), waited until the
> rollback could deliver my TR before leaving. It cost about $400 to get
back
> on the road. I am keeping the ground flat (on one side) break rotor as a
> reminder. Next week the TR goes to the restoration shop to fix the minor
> body damage.
>
> Any ideas out there?
>
> tw
>
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