Are your spinners wired correctly?

Bob Lacey · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2013, 07:21 PM

Whenever I look around the corral at car shows I notice many Cobras with either no safety wire or wired in the wrong direction.
If the owner is not around I leave a note on the seat so I thought I should repeat this article which we posted several months ago. Click on the link below from the tech info page on our web site to check it out:

Safety Wiring Procedure for Spinners : Vintage Wheels, San Diegos Finest

If any concerns or questions please call on 619 952 4717
Bob Lacey Vintage Wheels

twobjshelbys · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2013, 07:53 PM

And I hate to say it, but the best spinner pliers I found were the ones at Harbor Freight. For the money, they are an awesome deal. Get the "long" one. My grandpa had a tool we used on farm equipment (in the late 50's - early 70's) and the HF tool was so much improved!!!

itstock · #3 (**permalink**) 05-30-2013, 08:03 PM

People probably got tired of onlookers telling them that their safety wire was "backwards", so they appeased the crowd!

I can't count the number of people who have questions my spinner direction safety wire done correctly. The concept of reverse thread is not a common one, that's for sure.

fordracing65 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-30-2013, 10:55 PM

It's not the wrong direction overseas...

Everything is reverse thread...

D111 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 01:36 AM

what would the real disadvantage to doing it the other way as long as there wire tired I thought that the reversed way allows you to see if there's some movement or that they weren't tight enough to begin with?

Danr55 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 02:57 AM

Chance are if you are using anything at .032 dia. or above, the wire is so stiff that it doesn't matter which way they are wired. I've twisted a lot of safety wire on a lot of airplanes and it's usually so stiff that you can't turn the nut even if you wire it backward.

awfink55 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 06:21 AM

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. My car came with one wire, incorrect at that. Will rewire all spinners after removing for a thorough cleaning and polishing. Invaluable info from this site, much appreciated.....Art

601HP · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awfink55

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the article. Very helpful. My car came with one wire, incorrect at that. Will rewire all spinners after removing for a thorough cleaning and polishing. Invaluable info from this site, much appreciated.....Art

Art,
Welcome! Photos?

Tell us more about the car if you'd like. You and I are about 25 miles apart.

David

1985 CCX · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 09:02 AM

Seems obvious to me, good to see it formalized though....

Biggest beef for me is "Does that have 427?"

my427cobra · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 10:42 AM

So if I understand Bob's posted instructions, the safety wire is in tension, holding the spinner tight - right?

Different from previous methods posted which had the safety wire on the other side of the spinner, which when the safety wire went "loose" it was an indication the spinner was coming loose.

Just asking.

Cheers
Greg

Mr Jody · #11 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my427cobra

So if I understand Bob's posted instructions, the safety wire is in tension, holding the spinner tight - right?

Different from previous methods posted which had the safety wire on the other side of the spinner, which when the safety wire went "loose" it was an indication the spinner was coming loose.

Just asking.

Cheers
Greg

Yes. Think of it as if you tied the safety wire on the spinner, and then used the wire to pull the spinner around to tighten it. And then when tightened, you used the safety wire like a bungie cord to hold the spinner in place.

Turbonut48 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 03:03 PM

I saw one Cobra wth safety wires, but there was a small loop in the middle. I asked why and was told , if the knock off moves it pulls the loop closed.
I d never seen that before.

The Nut

Got the Bug · #13 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbonut48

I saw one Cobra wth safety wires, but there was a small loop in the middle. I asked why and was told , if the knock off moves it pulls the loop closed.
I d never seen that before.

The Nut

Interesting idea. No matter how you wire it, it's not going to hold the wheel on. You're either going to see slack or a broken safety wire if the spinner moves.

Mastiff107 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-31-2013, 05:18 PM

If I'm not mistaken safety wiring originally came from aircraft, where you definately do no want to see slack or breaking. I got into it and have drilled and wired every blower, heder and engine bolt on my '38 chevy an think I will start on the Cobra next. Really looks nice with time and practice.

Bob Lacey · #15 (**permalink**) 06-07-2013, 07:42 PM

Great to read all of the comments - Thanks.

A loop or a bow in the spinner wire is another option - any movement will show up. but please wire in the correct direction. (link below for those who missed it the last time).

Safety Wiring Procedure for Spinners : Vintage Wheels, Hot Rod and Muscle car

IMO building and maintaining a Cobra or any hand built car should be compared more to owning a race car rather than a modern production car -from a safety standpoint.
Use safety wire / thread locker on safety critical fasterners such as chassis / brakes / hubs / steering ,ensure all hardware is of the correct grade with sufficient thread engagement .Many cars are running huge horsepower with solid motor mounts,vibration will shake things loose!
It will not cost you any more ,just a bit of extra time .
After 30 odd years of Rally and Race car driving I've seen just about anything shake loose -somtimes causing retirement or worse on the last special stage of a 3 day rally!

The above is obvious to most - but not all !!

Bob and all at Vintage

vintagewheelsus.com

WardL · #16 (**permalink**) 06-08-2013, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Interesting idea. No matter how you wire it, it's not going to hold the wheel on. You're either going to see slack or a broken safety wire if the spinner moves.

I humbly disagree. The safety wire is used to prevent the spinner from coming off. Of course there could be a time when it does not stop the spinner from breaking lose, but 90+% of the time it really should prevent the spinner from coming off. If it did not, why would it be used or why wouldn't they get thicker wire or something?

Got the Bug · #17 (**permalink**) 06-08-2013, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WardL

I humbly disagree. The safety wire is used to prevent the spinner from coming off. Of course there could be a time when it does not stop the spinner from breaking lose, but 90+% of the time it really should prevent the spinner from coming off. If it did not, why would it be used or why wouldn't they get thicker wire or something?

It's always been my understanding that the safety wire is a method to monitor whether the spinner has moved vs. preventing the spinner from coming off.

Cobra Valley's Safety Wire Instructions

"Keep in mind that safety wire will not necessarily prevent spinners that want to loosen, from loosening, but rather consider it as a visual indicator of whether or not your spinners have moved upon periodical inspection, preferably every time before you take you car out for a drive."