Knock Off Safety

[64VetteMania]

i bought used knock off's and i ordered new lug nuts and 4 safety pins...but it still looks a little scary using the original style knock off's ...the adapters look fine the way the get bolted...but the spinner to the adapter worries me a little...do these safety pins really do the job?? is there another way i can make these wheels more secure?? maybe some people in here have some better ideas that they have done to there wheels...thanks again

 

[Ronald]

I have had them on for over 20 years, and never had a problem. I don’t know if I am correct in saying this, but my theory is: they could present a problem if you were travelling in reverse. I think they stay on naturally because they are threaded for travelling forward. Of course I would not test this theory by removing the pins!

I also think if there was a problem, their sale or use would be prohibited, at least in some states or provinces, and I don’t know of any such prohibition. But then again, maybe I have too much faith in the government.

 

[youwish2bme]

I still don't understand why people worry so much about this.. If you beat them on properly you shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure to beat them like there is no tomorrow.... Look at how man race cars have one lug attachments... NASCAR is about the only one left that uses a 5 lug system.... Dave...

 

[attret00]

Dave is correct. Keep them tight with pins in and all sould be right. I've never had a problem as long as the pins were in. The caps keep the pins from coming out.

 

[BarryK]

I was going to get the bolt-on KO's for my '65 because I was told they were a lot easier and safer but if everyone feels the real ones are just as safe than great.
A question though. A friend has the real ones (well, reproduction 'real ones" - not the bolt-ons) and he has been having trouble with his caps flying off while he is griving. He has caps come off at least 3 or 4 times this way. Luckily he saw the cap come off the car each time it happened because if the cap keeps the pins on and the pins keep the wheel on........well, you see what the problem could be.
Why would he be having this problem with his caps.
At this point he wants to sell his current wheels and just buy the bolt-on KO's like I was going to do

 

[Ronald]

I had one come off many years ago. I then got the bright idea of writing my phone number on the inside of them, thinking a good Samaritan would find it and call me. That was probably a good luck thing, because I have never lost one since. :L I think the best thing is to always make sure they are always clicked in.

Also, I found the chrome ring would sometimes be a bit loose. I fixed that by laying done a couple rings of silicone on the inside of the rings. This let them snug up nice and tight.

I love my reproduction knock offs. The only thing that bugs me a bit now, is I think there is a specific KO for the 66 (darker inside). Does anyone know if any 66s had another style KO?

 

[BarryK]

I had one come off many years ago. I then got the bright idea of writing my phone number on the inside of them, thinking a good Samaritan would find it and call me. That was probably a good luck thing, because I have never lost one since. :L I think the best thing is to always make sure they are always clicked in.

Also, I found the chrome ring would sometimes be a bit loose. I fixed that by laying done a couple rings of silicone on the inside of the rings. This let them snug up nice and tight.

I love my reproduction knock offs. The only thing that bugs me a bit now, is I think there is a specific KO for the 66 (darker inside). Does anyone know if any 66s had another style KO?

As I've been looking for the KO's, there does seem to be specific models from the various years. '63 and '64 are the same, '65 is different, '66 is different. all these look similair and have the spinners but the differences seem to be in the cosmicis such as all bright aluminum, or with a darker shade inbetween the fins as appropiate for that year. The '67's are different yet in that they didn't have the spinners on them, only a cap.
I think was was only one style offered per year.

 

[ctjackster]

65-66 same, 64 different (lighter shade in between legs).

as for my KO's, I cannot see them coming off with the pins installed, but if my little caps were in the habit of coming loose, the pin could drop out - even then the loss of a pin in and of itself is not automatic disaster, it just means the spinner is able to come off if it was so inclined (as witht he origianl design), and those things are whacked on there. HOWEVER, you just need to talk to one guy with a "my KO came off and f-ed my car up" story to get your mind imagining things . . .

 

[youwish2bme]

Ya but that same guy that loses a spinner is the same guy that probably doesn't do his own work... It's surprising how many guys have no common mechanical skills... Dave..

 

[Ol Blue]

The 65 and 66 KO's were the same EXCEPT for the center cone. The 65 is bright chrome look and the 66 has a brushed look finish.
Ol Blue
Original KO instructions say to strike the spinner with 8 hard blows and test again later. Works for me for years.
http://www.knology.net/~corvettes/63vett.jpg

 

[Subfixer]

The 64 KO's are a natural finish w/ Chrome center rings. No paint anywhere.
A common misconception is that the pins keep the spinners from turning. This is NOT the case. The pins were made available by the aftermarket as a simple anti-theft device. That being said, they will make it almost impossible to remove the spinners without first removing the pin as it gets caught up in the spinner threads. The spinners stay on by the friction fit between the spinner and the wheel. Heavy hammering keeps them on. Just follow the instructions for correct installation.
L.I. Corvette has the downloadable instructions on their website: http://www.licorvette.com/misc.htm

 

[66427-450]

I still don't understand why people worry so much about this.. If you beat them on properly you shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure to beat them like there is no tomorrow.... Look at how man race cars have one lug attachments... NASCAR is about the only one left that uses a 5 lug system.... Dave...

i agree, just use anti-seize, no problem..... and i DO NOT use those damn pins, you have to pry off the spinner cap every time you want to remove a wheel ! besides, they sort'a defeat the design purpose all together (quick take-off wheels)

those expensive tools are nice tho, the spinner shapped plastic lined "socket" setup, worth the money.

 

[66427-450]

.........I also think if there was a problem, their sale or use would be prohibited, at least in some states or provinces, and I don’t know of any such prohibition. But then again, maybe I have too much faith in the government. ............

you MUST be joking.:L You're on your own Pal

 

[Ronald]

:eek Yikes! And I thought the government was looking out for me.

 

[ctjackster]

A common misconception is that the pins keep the spinners from turning. This is NOT the case. The pins were made available by the aftermarket as a simple anti-theft device. That being said, they will make it almost impossible to remove the spinners without first removing the pin as it gets caught up in the spinner threads. The spinners stay on by the friction fit between the spinner and the wheel. [/QUOTE]

common misconception? I don't know if you actually OWN KOs with the pins (I DO) but trust me, they would (and do) keep the spinners from rotating - If you doubt it, take your large lead hammer and strike the spinner with the pin in (don't ask me how I know). That's how they (the pin feature) are being sold ("locking pins"), not as a theft deterrent (no more theft deterrent than lug nuts). (PS - if it stops a thief from removing the spinner, it also stops natural forces).

If functional KOs still spook someone (I know more than few guys in that category), then add a visual cue if you want peace of mind (like a little strip of tape on the side of the spinner and a matching one on the edge of the cone, you can look it over during your pre-flight) or safety wire one ear to a fin for the ultimate racer look and assurance, a la John H's 63 GS Replica.

 

[Subfixer]

Hey CTJ, How ya doin'? I do have KO's with the pins. And as I stated, they will keep the spinners from turning, but that's not their intended purpose. The previous owner of my car lost a KO on the right rear with the pin still in there. He had apparently put the wheel on wrong (holes over the lug nuts instead of the locating pins), hammered it down and put the locking pin in. The vibration of the wheel rotated the spinner right over the locking pin and the spinner and wheel came off.

Of course, this all happened with an improperly installed wheel which was the first mistake he made; but still, the pin didn't stop the spinner. Since I've owned the car, I haven't had any problems with loose wheels. I keep the pins in there just as added insurance (can't be too safe), but I really rely on periodic inspection to ensure the spinner isn't attempting to back off.

Here's an exerpt from L.I. Corvette's KO installation instruction (where I got my info from):
"PLEASE NOTE: THE KNOCKOFF PINS ARE NOT DESIGNED OR INTENDED TO PREVENT AN
IMPROPERLY INSTALLED KNOCKOFF WHEEL FROM LOOSENING AND A KNOCKOFF WHEEL FROM
COMING OFF A CAR! THE KNOCKOFF PINS ARE INTENDED TO ADD AN EXTRA MEASURE OF SAFETY
THAT A KNOCKOFF ASSEMBLY THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED. THE KNOCKOFF PINS ARE
NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER ATTENTION TO DETAIL DURING THE INSTALLATION PROCESS."

Sorry for the all caps, that's how the note was copied from the installation instruction.

 

[ctjackster]

hey SubF- that crap from the LIC site is nothing more than a lawyer trying to shield them from responsibility for KOs coming off after their kit has been installed - those damn lawyers always get spooked when the company is selling a part whose failure could lead to catastrophic results, so in go the disclaimers. I would not take it to mean that these pins are not intended by the entire world as spinner-retaining pins, however.

And, after you shared that second-hand experience, it seems that it is possible for a wheel spinner to rotate over the pin - mind you, the "spinner working loose" in such a scenario would not be facing the sort of forces a lead hammer on an ear of the spinner would impart, so I am at a loss to explain how that happened on your friend's car; if it had happened to you and you swore that the pin was in, I would believe you of course; as it is I am a little skeptical - I banged banged on one of my spinners once and it moved very slightly but not really much at all, I found that odd and then looked to find that I had not taken the pin out (it did not roll over the threads at all, the pin just allows a little movement clock and counterclockwise - that is the extent of my "research" on the holding power of the pins. But I do believe that, even if the spinner rolled over the pin, it would jam, rather than lead to a "free spinning" state of affairs.

 

[Midyrcoupe]

Knock-off trick

I have the repo KO's and I DO-NOT use the anti-thief pins. Instead, after I rotate the tires or service the brakes or service the spark plugs on the passenger side of a BB car w/ air or whatever I do that requires wheel removal I have a simple trick that helps me keep a warm and fuzzy feeling when driving the coupe.

I mark the cone with a pencil.

Tighten the spinner properly then use a pencil or grease marker to mark where the "OFF ->" arrow on the spinner relates to the cone. Before each drive, check the marks to see if the spinner has moved.

BTW - Once I have seated and beated the spinners into submission, I've never had to "correct" a spinner.

 

[allcoupedup]

I think someone should sell their unsafe '65 knock-offs to me for next to nothing

Heck, I'll even mitigate all your risk (I'm at work - need to talk like mgmt.) and trade you a nice set of '67 rallye's with nice rings and caps.

Brian

 

[BarryK]

I think someone should sell their unsafe '65 knock-offs to me for next to nothing

Heck, I'll even mitigate all your risk (I'm at work - need to talk like mgmt.) and trade you a nice set of '67 rallye's with nice rings and caps.

Brian

I'm with you there allcoupedup! I'm looking for a set for my '65 myself so I'll take some of these "unsafe" wheels also!