14 replies to this topic

[hiline2]

In my collection of "stuff"  I have these vintage wheels and tires and have no clue how they were fitted !

 

The brand is VECO, the tires are actually in very good shape and serviceable, the tires that had been on the wheels were dry rotted

and fragmented off. 

 

Ive tried several ideas to fit the new tires and wheels together! i even have that tire tool with different size cones to slide over, for the life of me I cant NOT get those tires on the wheels,  ieven tried just straight compression of wheel/tire in vice but they would not pop on!

 

Do any of you Older Slotters have any idea ? I know I could go modern but these are still good so I want to try !

 

 

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[Jairus]

Try warm soapy water.
Very soapy!

[Steve Okeefe]

I agree with Jairus; if there is any chance of getting those tires onto those wheels, very soapy water will help make it possible.

[Rob Voska]

NAPA has something called Tire Rue.  Go to a tire shop & see if they will give you a dab of it.

[John Streisguth]

Here's a trick I learned working on mountain bikes, putting on handgrips....hairspray!  Acts as a lubricant when it's wet, then becomes an adhesive when it drys. 

[Lone Wolf]

1. Trim some of the inner flash with an X-acto.

 

2. Soak the the tire in the hottest tap water you have for 1 minute, refresh the hot water and soak again. May take up to three times. 

 

3. Chuck an old axle upright in a vise with the wheel on it. Leave the wheel about 1/2" above the jaws. Make sure axle does not protrude.

 

4. Remove tire immediately from hot water and apply some liquid dish soap to the inner bead.

 

5. Work over the wheel with your palm and fingers.

 

6. If this does not work throw them away 

[Steve Deiters]

Veco tires on a slot car track.  Now that is retro mid-60's to the max!  I think we also called other brands of this type "German" tires.

[hiline2]

1. Trim some of the inner flash with an X-acto.

 

2. Soak the the tire in the hottest tap water you have for 1 minute, refresh the hot water and soak again. May take up to three times. 

 

3. Chuck an old axle upright in a vise with the wheel on it. Leave the wheel about 1/2" above the jaws. Make sure axle does not protrude.

 

4. Remove tire immediately from hot water and apply some liquid dish soap to the inner bead.

 

5. Work over the wheel with your palm and fingers.

 

6. If this does not work throw them away 

Think I give this the best shot,   will let you know if it works !

 

I just like using the "old" stuff if it still has life in it !

[Ramcatlarry]

WD-40 works as well for hand grips and such.  I still have a set of set screw rims I made in the early 1960s for Veco tires.

NOS tires still dry out and have a loss of stretch.  I have used 'Brown aircraft tires' on some restorations - still foam, but fresher.

[Dennis David]

Doesnt Ortmann have replacement tires? Check with Electric Dreams.

[hiline2]

the tires I have (in package still) are good just really hard to fit., It is just wanting to use these as the yare designed.

[Ramcatlarry]

Maybe soaking the donuts in a lanolin for a while will soften them up some.

[don.siegel]

I like all these creative suggestions, but in fact on these Graupner "German sponge" tires, you had to grind out the inside a bit - they were originally for model airplane hubs and were never meant to be mounted on slot car wheels... 

 

Don 

[olescratch]

I like all these creative suggestions, but in fact on these Graupner "German sponge" tires, you had to grind out the inside a bit - they were originally for model airplane hubs and were never meant to be mounted on slot car wheels... 

 

Don 

EXACTLY!  That's the fun of scratchbuilding, taking things and using them where they may not have been designed to be use.  What motor is it that was designed for the automotive industry, but is now one of the most widely used in slots, fk comes to mind!

[Tom Katsanis]

Do you guys use lighter fluid for that over there down here we soak donuts in shellite (same as lighter fluid or white fuel over there) & I can squeeze this rim into that donut no worries without it it's nearly impossible.
I'm not sure if it works on the german sponge but I have soaked some & they expand.
Tom

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