Once an engineer!!

[Martin Evans]

My father is fitting some Revolution wheels to his MG Midget and doesn’t like the plastic hub caps, as supplied (Same thing happened when the V8 got new wheels). In the case of the V8, standard V8 hub caps were only very slightly bigger than the holes in the new wheels, so we put the wheels in the milling machine (The wheels are too big for the lathe) and took out a very small amount with the boring head.

The same could not be done with the Midget, as too much would have needed to be removed. However he got a spun aluminium (I do hate the misuse of the word “Alloy” for aluminium ….we get people asking whether we use brass or alloy spoke nipples in the shop….yes they are both) hub centre, that is meant to go with a Wellar wheel (Just to try it) and that was just a touch too small. Three thicknesses of electric tape was enough to make it fit.

I suggested knurling the inner part, that is inside the wheel, though it would have been a bit awkward, as the part is very thin. He has come up with a very simple solution, using a small piece of tube and a 3/16 ball bearing. With each attached to the jaws of a Mole grips (With double sided tape, the ball bearing on the inside), said Mole grip is closed and a row of small dimples made in the hub cap, which grows it enough to be a tight fit in the wheel.

[rich.]

i think i like your dad can we have pics?