Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

[Jim B.]

Like many C2 owners with Knock Offs, I have trouble with one of these wheels coming loose. I have had this '63 roadster for 31 years but the older we both get, the more of a problem I have with one wheel (RF only) coming loose after only short trips. I have tried swapping front and back passenger side wheel adapters and worn out a couple of lead hammers with both load on and off, but nothing seems to keep the RF wheel from coming loose. Some have suggested putting anti-seize on the spinner threads, but has anyone tried Loctite or something similar as I would rather have mine seize as long as it was tight? These are KH wheels and were on the car when I purchased it. Thanks and appreciate any opinion on the use of thread lockers. jb

[Bill M.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

Jim You have probably checked every thing in the front end. The wheel should not come loose no mater what. Did you also swap out the adapter when you switched wheels around? Could be a bad spinner or adapter. The anti seize is great to prevent the threads from locking up but not from loosening. do you have the extra long lugnuts holding the adapter on? They are needed to stabilize the wheel.
Bill

[Bob R.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

Check your knock off wheels very closely to see if the holes are out of round or the studs show signs of wear especially if they are an older set. If there is movement every time you stop the wheel is moving a little and loosening up.

[Marco H.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

Each rim has five larger holes to clear the lug nuts and five smaller holes to engage with the guide pins in the adapter. I have only encountered K-O wheel mounting issues, when the wrong lug nuts were used. As mentioned before, the tall lug nuts are ESSENTIAL! While they do not stabilize the wheel, they prevent you from mounting the wheel wrongly. With the regular lug nuts, the wheel may be mounted with the smaller holes being forced over the lug nuts. In that position, the spinner will only go on about THREE revolutions as compared to SEVEN when installed correctly. However most shops or owners do not know the difference and tighten the spinner until there is no tomorrow. Just to go down the road with a wheel working its way lose again. Hope this helps.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

Here's a pic showing the long nuts that Marco describes.

[Gary C.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

Several members I know have drilled set screw holes from inside the knock off adapter. The hole in the adapter drilled near the edge, tapped and the set screw screws into the spinner thread. The spinner cap is secured with a several spots of clear silicone.

Gary
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[John H.]

Re: Chronically Loose '63 Knock-Off

See post #4. Every instance where I have been asked to help solve a "KO loosening up" issue has turned out to be a wheel installed incorrectly either by an owner or a tire shop; there are ten holes in the wheel, and using the wrong five of them will result in the wheel loosening, or worse, coming off.