Grease those Wheels NOW

[KDBCOM]

With the snowy & Icy weather hopefully over now it is time to pay a little attention to those alloy wheels. My first B class had 10 spoke alloy wheels & within 6 months of purchase they had locked solid onto the hubs. I was unable to shift them & the fitter at a tyre depot had difficulty even with his massive wheel mallet.

This info applies to any alloys and may help you by being able to easily remove your wheels on the roadside in the case of a puncture.

The wheels should be removed and the areas shown in white on the accompanying photo (steel wheel shown) should be lightly covered with a thin layer of “Copperslip” grease. M/B usually use a HMP grease but I find the Copperslip a better option.

But Do It Now don’t wait till you get stuck at the side of the road

 

[coupe deville]

Mr Ian B Walker [ top bloke ] did mine when he did the brakes

 

[wemorgan]

Not wishing to stir things up, but there was quite an interesting thread on this a short while ago:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/wheels-tyres/82895-wheel-stuck-hub.html

 

[KDBCOM]

I used to post this topic, on the forum I used to belong to, twice a year spring & autumn if if helps just one member out it's worth it.

And now the salting has stopped & the better weather is coming it is the right time to do it.

 

[moonloops]

Thanks for the advice but I don't think I'll be bothering doing that

 

[Satch]

I have shifted a badly stuck wheel by looping some rope through the wheel spokes: soft nylon stuff is ideal.

Attached something weighty to the other end of the loop and swung it away from car so kinetic pull "shocked" wheel off but:

Car needs to be very firmly supported

Take care: do not overdo it or you will live to regret it!

Need another person to assist by catching wheel as it comes off to avoid damage

May want to put some soft cloth between rope and wheel

 

[hitenhirani]

With the snowy & Icy weather hopefully over now

BBC News - Spring postponed as snow forecast in parts of UK

 

[KDBCOM]

Thanks for the advice but I don't think I'll be bothering doing that

Lets hope you don't suffer from this trouble then.

I would recommend that members check at least one wheel to get some idea if they have a sticking wheel to hub problem.

 

[wemorgan]

^ did you read the thread in post #3?

food for thought.......

 

[KDBCOM]

Yes have now read all of that thread now, thanks Will , though nothing there has changed my view that wheels should be checked regularly that they can be removed & Copperslip or if you believe that is harmful (as some members appear to) some other form of grease should be used on the wheel facing. The thread did seem to waver quite a bit about wheel studs though which appears another contentious isssue.

 

[Mike Walker]

With the snowy & Icy weather hopefully over now it is time to pay a little attention to those alloy wheels. My first B class had 10 spoke alloy wheels & within 6 months of purchase they had locked solid onto the hubs. I was unable to shift them & the fitter at a tyre depot had difficulty even with his massive wheel mallet.

This info applies to any alloys and may help you by being able to easily remove your wheels on the roadside in the case of a puncture.

The wheels should be removed and the areas shown in white on the accompanying photo (steel wheel shown) should be lightly covered with a thin layer of “Copperslip” grease. M/B usually use a HMP grease but I find the Copperslip a better option.

But Do It Now don’t wait till you get stuck at the side of the road

But avoid putting any on your mauve carpet!