New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-11
Keep Your Rims
Clean, Avoid Tire
Changing Trouble
Demountables Won't Be
Demountable if They Are
Not Taken Care Of
By WILLIAM II. STEWART, Jr.


The demountable rim is demountable
in name only unless it is properly taken
care Of. IF mud and dirt are allowed
to collect in between the rim and the
wheel they will cause rust, which will
grip the rim so tightly that 1t may
( take hours to remove it instead OF
seconds. A few suggestions along this
line will be particularly valuable just
at this time, as this is the muddy sea
son and matters will get worse until
the spring rains are over.
Do not wait until puncture obliges
YOU TO remove the rim, but seize the
first opportunity TO remove 1T and
break up any adhesion which has al
ready formed. OF course, if you have
"A snare rim or two you Will go over
those first. Clean off any rust with
sandpaper or emery cloth. Kerosene
will soften rust, but it will also cause
il. If you use il at all remove 1t care
fully afterward. using gasolene. When
the rim is clean and dry il should be
painted with special rim paint, obtain
able at any auto supply store. This IS
unaffected by rust and will not flake OF.
1t will wear off, however, and so should
be renewed in places whenever the rim
is removed.
Aluminium paint may be used if you
prefer the finish of aluminium. IL IL
nothing but powdered aluminium held
together with banana oil. IL protects
the surface very eiTectually and, being
a powder, does not flake of. IL looks
very well at the sides, but is not thick
enough TO protect the part whore the
tire touches the rim or the rim rests
on the wheel. For this reason mkt
ure of graphite and shellac is TO be
preferred Mix enough graphite with
the shellac 20 give It good color,
thinning il a little with alcohol 70
make it flow readily. Apply this care
fully, letting it dry and giving 1t two
coats if thought necessary. Give II
plenty of time to dry, or II VIII stick
and pull away where anything touches
it.
Even where no demountable rim Is
used the rim should have this treat
ment so rs TO prevent the shoe from
sticking to il. While it may seem irk-
some. the tires should be removed and
the rims painted even before a puncture
calls for change. The welding proc
ess is going on all the time. each day
adding something TO its holding power,
so that some day when you are re-
ouired to change tires in a hurry you
will find the tire so tightly fastened
that you will lose many times the snort
time required to remove the tire orig
inally and paint the rim.
Another point Of immense Importance
is to put grease on the bolts and nuts.
II the threads are filed with grease
the water cannot work in and rust the
two together Some rims have bolts
going through the fellow Of the wheel.
This hole should be filled with grease
10 keep out water Another place
where grease is Of primary importance
is in the hub of a detachable wheel.
After removing il look carefully and
YOU will see where IL is bevclled to
make a tight TT on the axle. This
should have grease smeared over ~
every time it is removed. To provide
for this. fill the space between the ends
with grease and there Will always be
some within reach.
If you prefer grease to paint on the
rings or other parts which secure the
quick detachable tires II may be used,
but it is advisable to work good deal
Of graphite into it. This is especially
advised il the grease is to be used
where the tire can touch it. Have It
mostly graphite, with only enough
grease to hold it on. If these direc-
tions are followed you viii have rea-
son 20 be thankful if ever you have to
change tires in a hurry.