Does anyone know where to purchase the nuts that hold the brake drum to the wood wheel.

They are 3/8 X 16 and are about 1/4" thick and oversized.  The standard 3/8 x 16 nut uses a 9/16 socket these hub nuts are 3/8 x 16 and use an 11/16 socket.  Two sizes bigger ?  Are these Jam Nuts ?

Quote from: Russ T. Fender on October 28, 2021, 08:35:20 PM
While I don't advocate using questionable wood spoke wheels for safety reasons you might try shimming the hub to get a tight fit.  I have done it on Model T wheels to keep the car on the road while my spare wheels were being respoked.  Artillery wheels are much stouter and if the hub just sits snugly in the wood the flange should keep things in place as long as the holes in the spokes for the flange bolts have not worn oversize.  I have wire wheels on my 30-U so I don't know exactly what you are dealing with but I am assuming your wood spoke wheels are basically the same construction as a Model T.

I agree, I'm not a proponent of shimming a wood wheel to compensate for worn spokes.  I have given others similar advise.  Since I got back on the road I have had continuing issues with this wheel which led to replacing the king pins and now the brakes.  I think I am avoiding the inevitable.  Unfortunately I have no spare wheel.  I do have a set of 19" wood wheels which I mistakenly purchased from a 29 owner that had 30U wood wheels on his 29.  My original tire size is 20"   The other issue is that hubs and drums are different front to back. So I would need a spare front wheel.  What a pain.  I'm getting tired of working on this car.  4 or 5 years of work to drive 125 miles only to take it down again for an unknown amount of time.  Last time I checked it was a year or more wait for a wood wheel rebuild?   

Quote from: Articifer Tom on October 27, 2021, 08:35:38 PM
Looks good ,Chet .  You may want to put hub back in and soak/ wipe  with RAW linseed oil to swell back .

Raw linsee oil a little pricey. $15 for 8oz.  I know it's the best for the purpose. 

Tks Chet.

I took the car out for a test drive and same problem. 

I took my spare front wheel drum to my local NAPA machine shop and they cleaned the drum with a minimum cut.
Picture below.


Spent the rest of the afternoon removing the existing drum.  Had to heat it to persuade it to slip off the wheel hub.  Needless to say this is my worst wheel so the hub also came right out.  Not good since it should be press fitted to the wood spokes.  That's another decision for another day.

Anyway after much inspection of the old drum I found that it wasn't out of round but worn in the center and high on the inner and outer edges.  What was happening was my new perfectly square shoes were only touching on the inner and outer edges with one inner high spot ?  I am going to see if it can be cut square.  It might be to far gone.  We will see.

Now what to do about the old wood wheel. ?? I will have to review some old posts on fixing it or maybe send it out to be re-spoked.

Well I checked all adjustments and reinstalled the passenger side wheel.  I think the bad return spring may have caused the rubbing noise which sounded like the drum was out of round.  After removing the wheel I couldn't find anything out of spec except the return spring.  Checked the driver's side wheel and that looked good also. 

I hope to take it out tomorrow for a test drive.  Fingers crossed.   Chet...

BTW... Tom, thanks for the call.., your explanation of Arching was very interesting.  I have always bought stock replacement brake shoes which I assumed were cut and ground for the car I was repairing.  I can now see when having shoes rebounded, the process might require a more critical look at what you are installing. 

Tom,

I use the Tool which aligns the new shoes perfectly.  I do file the top and bottom on an angle to eliminate brake noise.  It's quite possible that the return spring wasn't pulling the pad that faces front all the way back.  When I first looked at it prior to changing the spring, the shoe seemed loose.  After replacing the spring the shoe is tight and doesn't move.   I might just put the wheel back on and see if the problem still exists.

Thanks, I'll let you know, Chet...

I don't understand what you are asking. I don't know what you mean by "did you arch them "

Quote from: Articifer Tom on October 23, 2021, 05:56:10 PM
Chet , hard to see from this angle . But do not notice much arch in linings edges . Where they checked and done .

Yes, both top and bottom. 

I spent a lot of time going over my front wheel problem.  I really couldn't find anything that jumped out as incorrect.  The back plate and brake shoes mic-ed perfectly with the AAMCO tool.  The return spring was stretched a bit so I replaced it.  I have another drum that I'll see if NAPA can clean it up.  If anything the old drum must have a high spot.  Pictures attached.

When I take this apart I'll let you guys know what I find. 

Quote from: Articifer Tom on October 20, 2021, 10:23:53 PM
Do not think you can turn those drums if not cast iron . The steels flex . Can be mis- shapen by prior turning or hard braking . look into rounding with re-torquing to wood spokes more evenly .

Tom,  The hub seems to pin the drum into position.  There is no play.  I replaced a drum on the driver's side and in order to get the drum to go on the hub I had to heat it slightly in the kitchen oven.   That wheel works fine.  The passenger side brake pads are definitely hitting harder on one side and you can see this on the drum surface.   I am pretty sure I have another drum so I will try changing it first.  When I do I'll post some pictures.  For now until ice comes.., I'll putt around the neighborhood. 

On second thought maybe it's the backing plate misaligned.

A snow bird.  My older daughter and my three grandchildren are on the space coast outside of Orlando.   Hope to be down there at Xmas time.  I wasn't sure if they could turn those drums but there is a Napa by me with a machine shop attached.  If it can be done they can do it.  I hope the drum isn't warped but I have another front drum I could have them turn.  If it works,  I'll try the one that's out of round and see if it can be fixed.   

A metal lathe.., I wish.  I'll ask Santa !!

Thanks, Chet...

Here it is in Black & White:


A look into the past.  Chet...

PS... How are you doing with your car.  My passenger side brake drum is out of round.  I have another but it might need to be turned true which I don't know if that can even be done.  I will take it apart after the first winter road salting when I can no longer drive the car.

Quote from: Russ T. Fender on October 19, 2021, 06:07:25 PM
Great shot.  Photo shopped to sepia tone it would look like 1929.

Thanks that's a good idea!  I'll try that tomorrow.

Haven't done much to the cars these days but couldn't resist a drive today.  Only went about 14 miles to Abbotts Pond nature trail took a lot of pictures but the one below was the best of the bunch.


The car started right up even after sitting for 2.5 months.  Still using the vacuum fuel pump without any problems.

Chet...