Wildguzzi.com

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: steven c on February 13, 2020, 03:37:49 PM

Title: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 13, 2020, 03:37:49 PM
 So I'm replacing the 20 year old tires on the Centauro and can't get the front wheel nut off with my C wrench as show in the video I found on YouTube. All it does is put a dent in the nuts slot. Do I have to break down and spend the bucks on the special socket?
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on February 13, 2020, 03:50:24 PM
I replaced the one on my Centauro with a "normal" hex nut. I still have a few left if you'd like one.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: dxhall on February 13, 2020, 04:06:04 PM
Remove old nut with pipe wrench.  Replace with standard lock nut. 
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 13, 2020, 04:45:07 PM
 That's what Tom B told me to do. Thanks Charlie I'll check with my Hardware store first. They have a goos assortment of metric SS.What was the reasoning behind specking this? Force you to go to the dealer?
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: pehayes on February 13, 2020, 05:36:12 PM
Or, you can leave the original nut and buy a hook wrench.  When I had a Centauro I bought this one at Lowe's but I'm not sure they sell it any longer.

https://www.ebay.com/p/691286386 (https://www.ebay.com/p/691286386)

IIRC, I had to do just a little bit of Dremel grind fine tuning.

BrassCraft BC T149

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 13, 2020, 06:38:23 PM
 That's kind of what I am using, I chipped off the edge of one of the flutes with it. It's on real tight.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on February 13, 2020, 07:25:30 PM
That's what Tom B told me to do. Thanks Charlie I'll check with my Hardware store first. They have a goos assortment of metric SS.What was the reasoning behind specking this? Force you to go to the dealer?

I think they still had a barrel full of them left over from WW2 Fiat fighter planes.  :evil: Gotta use them *somewhere* so put them on transmission input gears, Centauros, and 98 EVs.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 14, 2020, 07:40:05 AM
That sounds about right. I have to say taking off the back wheel was easy.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Craig in Alabama on February 15, 2020, 03:49:47 PM
I used a large socket (1 1/16 I think) and put four small pieces of coat hanger wire in the slots on the nut. The socket fit right over them and worked perfectly to get the nut off and back on.

Cheers!
Craig
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 15, 2020, 04:22:19 PM
 Great idea. I needed it off so used a pipe wrench to take it off and put back on after I got the new tire mounted. The pipe didn't mess up the finish that much the teeth just hooked into the slots nicely. My hardware store didn't have any 18mm fine thread nuts.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: dxhall on February 15, 2020, 05:28:58 PM
Whether the coat-hanger-and-socket method will produce a reliable torque figure when you put the wheel back on, of course, is another matter ...
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Roebling3 on February 15, 2020, 06:29:09 PM
All the auto supply shops in my area will loan less frequently used tools to anyone with a surety payment they will refund 100% upon return.  R3~ 
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: pehayes on February 15, 2020, 08:06:55 PM
I used a large socket (1 1/16 I think) and put four small pieces of coat hanger wire in the slots on the nut. The socket fit right over them and worked perfectly to get the nut off and back on.

Cheers!
Craig

Most of the recommended tools are too big to carry in a roadside emergency kit.  I found a big, brass nut.  I bored out the center on my lathe.  I installed four small screws and rebored.  This fits nicely in my tool kit and can be driven by an adjustable wrench or channel lock pliers.

(https://i.postimg.cc/2y1X2BZ8/MVC-193-L-zpsmx3fkxfp.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/tJ1pWJRF/MVC-192-L-zpsxvh8zgb0.jpg)

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Joliet Jim on February 16, 2020, 08:24:55 AM
I replaced the one on my Centauro with a "normal" hex nut. I still have a few left if you'd like one.

Somebody must have done that on mine before I bought it years ago. I've never had an issue.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: steven c on February 16, 2020, 09:38:05 AM
 Charlie the generous guy he is, is sending be a nut. Thanks Charlie.
Title: Re: Centaure front wheel nut
Post by: Tusayan on February 16, 2020, 10:11:27 AM
Somebody must have done that on mine before I bought it years ago. I've never had an issue.

As I recall, back in the day somebody (I’ve forgotten who) ordered a bunch of low profile stainless nuts and distributed them online.  My bikes and many others had the front axle nut changed as part of setting them up, within a few days of new. I also changed the brake disc retaining screws from button head to socket head cap screw, and replaced the mismachined rear discs with new replacements - a warranty item that didn’t get done on a lot of them.