Wheels

[Mr Noble]

Just been out to buy an 8mm hex bit to take all the fake plastic bolts out of the wheels as per my plan in the other thread, but I put in the hex key, tight fit, turn it and its just ripped the plastic apart and made the hex hole round!! Tried it in 3 different ones and all 3 never moved, just shreaded the plastic and ruined the fake nut!!



Any ideas? Or do I just let them melt when they bake them and leave the holes there?

Greg

[paulcundy]

Mr Noble said:

Just been out to buy an 8mm hex bit to take all the fake plastic bolts out of the wheels as per my plan in the other thread, but I put in the hex key, tight fit, turn it and its just ripped the plastic apart and made the hex hole round!! Tried it in 3 different ones and all 3 never moved, just shreaded the plastic and ruined the fake nut!!



Any ideas? Or do I just let them melt when they bake them and leave the holes there?

Greg

Drill them out with a drill slightly undersized in relation to the thread size. Then winkle out the remaining plastic coil. Then get them re-furbed. Then flog them on e-bay and buy a decent set of wheels!
Regards
Paul C

[obes]

yep, you've got to drill them out and then clean up the thread with a tap or something

[paulcundy]

obes said:

yep, you've got to drill them out and then clean up the thread with a tap or something

but don't drill too deep!

[mr.man]

Are the holes actually threaded? It would be totaly unecessary to do this for this cosmetic only exercise.
I would expect them to be glued into a pre-cast hole.

[amg merc]

been through this - do NOT try to drill them out and do NOT try to unscrew them! If your wheel man is any good he will strip the wheel in an acid bath - this dissolves all traces of plastic bolt.

BTW, the "bolts" are spot glued in - some touch the base of their socket and some don't! There is no thread on either the bolt or the socket.

[Mr Noble]

Thanks Rob, was think of letting them acid bathe them first. That seems like the best route.

Regards,
Greg

[marshy98]

Been thinking about these false screws and have come up with the following options :

1. Have the wheels refubished and then glue stainless steel socket cap head screws ( M8 i think ) in the holes, may need to machine some off of the head OD but will look something like the plastic ones, downside, extra weight !!!

2. As above but have a local machine shop machine some black nylon inserts and glue these into the holes, black and silver should look ok and very light

Regards

Marshy