Welding Spokes

[nashville_bill]

A friend of mine has asked me to repair a couple of wheels from an antique tricycle. I would like to help him, but I'm afraid I'll butcher the wheels. I've included a couple of pictures of the wheels (solid rubber tires) and would appreciate any suggestions you could give me. One wheel has a spoke that is broken in two, and one has a spoke broken where it attaches to the rim.

I have a MIG welder and C25 gas to work with.

Thanks in advance,

Bill

[mjr6550]

Since you are asking, I assume you don't have a lot of experience. I'm not an expert, but if I was going to do that wusing mig, I would replace the bent and broken spokes and weld at the hub.

This assumes the trike is not a valuable antique.

[Bls repair]

Can you get the tire off

[snoeproe]

That’s a tough job, trying to weld the broken spokes.
Replace them instead.

[BD1]

I did a wheel repair similar.
I would add a piece of round for missing spoke.
The wheel rim, I would wrap with watered rag and tack.
Clean and clean and only tack. That is thin material. Your tack should penetrate through. Sand and paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nashville_bill]

Thanks to all that responded; I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

Bill

[BD1]

Thanks to all that responded; I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

Bill

Test on scrap round same diameter. Vary settings and you'll see what I mean about penetrating.
Use a small piece of angle for the fill in spoke piece. Cut it longer so existing ends are in it. Then drop in fill piece. You could bend sheetmetal too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bob]

Clean the paint off and tack on both sides of the spokes and you shouldn't have any problem.

[OPUS FERRO]

nashville_bill

A friend of mine has asked me to repair a couple of wheels from
an antique tricycle . . .

Is it for display - or is it going to be on the road again ?

If this was an only surviving part from a '28 Duesenberg, it
would be worth the time and effort to restore to OE specs.

Don't waste your time - this would be an unsatisfying project
for an accomplished welder . . .

You would have more money: in masking, blasting, material
purchase, fit/fixturing - then real joy - actually welding . . .

Spend your effort finding serviceable replacement parts - OEM
or vintage . . . there is a lot out there . . .

https://www.google.com/search?q=vint..._AUoAHoECAEQAA

hth


Opus


.

[VaughnT]

LOts of unknowns, and straightening out the spokes is certainly going to be fun.

Were it me, I'd use a short piece of 1/2"x1/2"x1/8" angle iron to support the two ends, clamping things together the best I could after getting them as straight as possible. If damaging things is okay, I'd take a torch to the hub where it wraps around the spoke and see if I could get the broken end out of there so I could easily replace that whole piece. Then all you have to do is tack a new piece to the rim side of things and tuck the other end under the wrap at the axle portion.

Of course, it's it's a valuable piece or needs to be capable of taking a load.... I might think things a little differently.

[rexcormack]

The only advice I have is that those exact wheel/tire is still available new on Amazon, E-Bay and others!

[danielplace]

You have to set to up on a axle and get it true before you weld it up and keep spinning and truing it as you go. You just don't wanna go tying it all in with a lot of runout or you will ruin the strength of every thing done to get it true again. The outer rim welds if not taking off the tire will need to be quick and cooled with water afterwards.

[Kelvin]

I wouldn't worry too much about wheel runout on a tricycle ... assuming it won't be raced at the Isle of Man TT!

[nashville_bill]

Rex,

The wheels I found on the web have a 7" diameter tire, while these have a 9 5/8" tire. That would be much easier if they were the same.

[nashville_bill]

Well, I made them look better. I think I'll tell him to keep it under 50 MPH.

[walker]

Easy peephole repair, good job.