Terry, I have a '62 TR4 with 41 year old knock-offs. I whack the
knock-offs with my copper "Thor" hammer till the wheels are on really
tight. The ears are dinged a little as if this had been done for the
last 41 years, but the copper does a great job of taking the real
beating. I'm sure lead would work, but I'd be afraid a rubber hammer
wouldn't tighten the knock-offs enough, and a lost wheel can really
damage your chrome.
But you're not alone in worrying about it -- the guys at the tire shop
that put on my Vredestein Snow+ studded tires this week were afraid to
use Thor even though I left him on the seat for them. They used their
own rubber mallet, and I tightened them at home that evening. And it's
not just you and the tire shop guys; I think Moss and others carry a
wooden "wrench" that fits over the knock-offs so you don't risk the
chrome. You ought to get one of those or make one out of plywood
yourself. Or get a lead or copper hammer and start building a patina
for the next 45 years.
Steven Newell
'62 TR4
Terry wrote:
>Hello, everyone.
>
>I ordered a lead knock-off hammer from the Roadster Factory. When I received
>it, I discovered a large crack fissured into the lead by the handle, so sent
>it back. No big deal, perfection is for gods and liars.
>
>But I started giving more thought to hammers and knockoffs in general. I have
>new chrome two-eared knockoffs. On my MGB (20 years ago in college) I had the
>"nut" style knockoffs, so used a wrench. But with two-eared knockoffs, I
>imagine one just whacks on the ear to loosen it, and whacks on the opposite
>ear to tighten it. But this seems likely to damage the chrome. I asked for a
>credit on the hammer I returned as I work this out.
>
>So what do you all do with yours? I'm wondering if maybe the best thing isn't
>just to buy a cheap hard rubber hammer.
>
>Terry Smith
>'59 TR3A (In pieces, but getting cleaner every week!)
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