How do I attach baby moon hubcaps?

A hard wack with the palm of your hand on the edge. 

Very carefully! They easily dent but should just snap into place. Are they an exact match? If Chinese re-pops keep em clean and waxed or they'll rust overnight. 

I got them from Kirk at Vintage Speedsters

Where can you buy anything but reproduction hubcaps?  

Be careful. Easy to dent and easy to come off....ask me how I know....

You will find 3 nubs on the wheel. You'll also find three small holes somewhere on the edge of the hubcap.

Hook the hubcap over two nubs with the hubcap holes over the third. Hit toward the edge with a palm strike. After you think it's on, try turning it. If it pops off, try again.

Also, I find spraying a little WD40 on the wheel first helps.



>

Troy Sloan posted:

Where can you buy anything but reproduction hubcaps?  

The SAMBA, I've seen a set or two every once in awhile.

Well my wheels have 4 nubs and the caps have no marks. But my palms and thumbs now have plenty of marks and bruises.

Do you have the old hub cap to compare the inner edge with? Maybe take another (same side) off and compare.

The old one is forever lost on the side of the road. I tried like an idiot for 10min. Taking one off is another question. I guess I should know how if I ever get a flat.

There should be 2 tiny holes around the rim of the hubcap. A puller is used if so. A flat blade screw driver with a small piece of leather or similar to protect it from scratching. 

Both the caps on the car and those off are perfectly round. No holes. Looks like a perfect round rimmed stamp.

Post some pictures of one of the remaining three hubcaps and a photo of your replacement hubcap. Front and back photos please.

To remove hubcaps without a puller I use the yellow edge of the Wonder Bar below:

I tape it up real good and hook the edge under the hubcap and very gently pop off the hubcap.

Does this help? I took a video of my current and replacement hubcaps.

Why couldn't it be this easy?

https://youtu.be/_oQnosxRo-w (in Russian, but I get the drift)

@Theron when you replaced the front right hubcap, did it just bang on as the above comments suggest? I feel like a fool for struggling to do something that looks and sounds so simple. And my swollen palms and thumbs are especially frustrated.

> They are a very tight fit at first. Put the new hub cap in the sun until it is too hot to handle. With a set of gloves, put the lip over two tabs and push down until the third tab seats.
-=theron

>

Sounded promising. But my heat gun couldn't get the job done either. I think I need professional help.

Welcome to the madness.  We all need professional help ;-)

Your car is just testing you to see if you are worthy; it will not be the last time:-)

 

I'm a software guy with a little experience in building electric bikes/motorcycles and NO experience with auto mech. So I was proud of myself for getting my hands mildly dirty in an ICE by replacing a belt. And taking out the stereo and wiring a lighter/charger correctly (without killing my battery). But this darned hubcap is making it very clear where I really stand. 

Don't feel bad, sometimes it's the simple things that drive us nuts with these toys...

crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:

Troy Sloan posted:

Where can you buy anything but reproduction hubcaps?  

The SAMBA, I've seen a set or two every once in awhile.

And how can you tell they are not reproduction? 

I shared the above with Kirk and Mary at VS. I'm curious if they have any other tips. They must do this several times a day.

Ryan, you should drive on up to Auburn. I'm not far off of 80 and I would be happy to help you through the sometimes bizarre maze of Speedster replica ownership.

Of course, you're closer to Mitch but he just might take a sledgehammer to the problem...

Not sure what to tell you Ryan. It really shouldn't be that hard. I have the same four-bolt rims as you but I have the nipple caps. The inside edge has a slight roll to it which I'm assuming flexes a little when it is pushed on. In the video I angled the hubcap slightly so the hubcap covered all but the top "knuckle" as you called it and pushed a little. Now mind you I'm 6'4" and weigh about 300lbs and bench press 500lbs but it shouldn't be too hard for you.  Okay, just kidding on my physical stats but if it is harder than that something's up.

Here's a photo and a video:

 

Troy Sloan posted:

crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:

Troy Sloan posted:

Where can you buy anything but reproduction hubcaps?  

The SAMBA, I've seen a set or two every once in awhile.

And how can you tell they are not reproduction? 

Google search and you'll be amazed at what you can find.

1958-1971 Original OE Chrome Hubcap
(3 variations)

Robert M posted:

Not sure what to tell you Ryan. It really shouldn't be that hard. I have the same four-bolt rims as you but I have the nipple caps. The inside edge has a slight roll to it which I'm assuming flexes a little when it is pushed on. In the video I angled the hubcap slightly so the hubcap covered all but the top "knuckle" as you called it and pushed a little. Now mind you I'm 6'4" and weigh about 300lbs and bench press 500lbs but it shouldn't be too hard for you.  Okay, just kidding on my physical stats but if it is harder than that something's up.

Here's a photo and a video:

 

Wow. That movie is what I expected. Instead it's been quite the adventure. I might just take a sledgehammer myself. Good thing I bought an extra. I thought the extra was for a spare. Not just because it's the only one left without a sledgehammer dent. 

I'm just going to throw this out here:

A few years ago there were complaints that the baby moon hubcaps supplied on a new Vintage build were flying off the cars. I seem to remember that it was because the mangle wheels that Vintage was using had slightly changed in design making the hubcap "knuckle" a little smaller in diameter. Obviously the problem was rectified as there haven't been any complaints for a while.

Could it be possible that the hubcaps have been made slightly smaller to fit the new wheels which would make them too small for older VS cars?

 

Terry, I got a slightly different story.

When VS used the last batch of Mangels they had, they (or one of their suppliers) commissioned some Chinese repops and VS started using those.

The hubcap nubs on the new wheels were actually a little LARGER than the old Mangels, so when you tried to mount a hubcap it was too tight and never really popped all the way onto the wheel. It would end up sort of wedged on, but would soon fly off once you started driving.

I ordered some nipple hubcaps from SoCal imports and had this problem with them. Like Ryan, I couldn't get them on with any amount of pounding.

VS soon recognized the problem and had some special hubcaps made up to fit the new Chinese wheels. I had to order one from Kirk when I needed a replacement.

I then switched to a set of original Mangel wheels, ordered a set of caps from SoCal, and they fit just fine.

But Ryan's problem doesn't seem to mesh with this history. If he has the VS chinese wheels, a new hubcap from Kirk should fit. If he has the old Mangel wheels, one of Kirk's new hubcaps should be too loose, not too tight.

 

My head is spinning Mitch.

But we know this: if Ryan is capable to insert the key into the ignition, turn it and start the car, then he is fully capable to install a hubcap - providing he is not dead or in a coma, and the hubcap was made for this particular rim. Since VS has had issues in the past with fitment I would suggest that the hubcap is not made for this particular wheel. 

Back to you.

Take the other three hubcaps off and drive it sans hubcaps!

I lost the right front hubcap not too long ago and replaced it with a VS hubcap just a couple weeks ago. The fit was very tight. I set the hubcap in the sun until it was too hot to handle, then with gloves popped it on, no problems. Again, it was tight, but doable. Ryan is a smart guy, so I have no question that he is really having some kind of physical issue here. Just sad he is 150 miles away.
Ryan, I will be up to visit my sister in law a couple of weeks from now in your area. I'll check up and if your up to it, bring some tools to polish up the ride when I'm there.

-=theron

I was in the Bay Area this weekend @Theron. Unfortunately I was sans speedster. I'll get this solved one way or another.

I'll take my caliper out tonight and see if I can illuminate any discrepancies. One thing is for sure: you all find this no big deal, with video proof. But my experience is anything but easy. Though I'm quite surprised the heat gun didn't soften it up enough to get it on.

@Sacto Mitch is in Folsom, maybe he could help a brother out. Otherwise take your hubcaps and your Speedster to Auburn the weekend of September 10th and join the Mini Tour de Hoe'. The group might be able to get it sorted out.

My neighbor restores old VWs (currently has 9!). He's helping me install seat belts for the rear bench this week. I'm hoping he can help me out. There's also a classic car meetup with 40 or so cars every week about a mile away. I wasn't able to meet them today because I was out of town, but I suspect they could lend a hand too. I've just been learning by listening to them so far.

I do look forward to meeting you locals soon, but hopefully not just for a favor.

In the meantime, I feel like I'm driving with my fly down and everyone notices my missing cap.

Side note: A few months ago I was prepping for an electric bike build for the Sept 11 Lake Tahoe bike race (for fun, not competition since I would've been powered), when the idea of a speedster popped into my head. I scrapped the new bike project and bought a speedster. I'm not sure Sept 10 will work for me, but if it does, count me in.

Take the other off on the same side and role as Two Face until you get it fixed..

HEY!!!     I'M new here!!

 

RYAN.........   all good advice.......

Did I ever tell you guys the story about the Time I was in India (circa 1990) my brother and I went to the food bazaar and had fresh curry lamb brains on flat bread?

I SWEAR IT WAS COOKED IN A TOYOTA HUB CAP!!!!   Still had the clips on it bit no toyota logo!!   

IT was crazy sheet!!   very Delish though...............

Tebs

 

Ryan, didn't realize you're in Sacramento.

I should have some time this week to take a look. I also forgot I have a VS hubcap (made for the Chinese wheels) that's a bit scratched up, but would look better than no hubcap at all until you can find a new one that fits. This would also tell us which hubcap you need.

Where in Sacramento are you? Send me a private message here on this site.

PS: Just noticed in your photo the part number is the same as the ones I have from VS - W1131HC, although mine don't have a vendor logo like yours do.