OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal

bill dedman · 07-01-2009, 04:24 PM

I finally got a new set of slicks for my "race car" and when they went to balance the wheels, they couldn't get the center caps off the wheels.

The center caps appear to simply press into the wheel, no little tabs with nuts or bolts to hold them on, so we asummed they just push in, from the inside. No amount of hammering (with a rubber mallet) from the outside would budge either one.

I think that center cap has to come off to fit the wheel onto the balancer.

What am I doing wrong, here? You can turn the caps with your hand, but they don't "unscrew."

Anybody have experience with this setup? The wheels are old Centerlines (solid center with rivets around the outside of the center disk.) Probably were built in the 1980s.

Any advice will be appreciated.

TIA,
Bill

Philip Saran · 07-01-2009, 04:43 PM

Bill, you need a bigger hammer!!

It is possible that they have rusted a groove in the hole in the
center of the wheel.

You may need to just apply heavy hammer pressure, but you
will probably distroy the cap in the process..

bill dedman · 07-01-2009, 04:55 PM

Thanks, Phil; I was afraid of that... They've been on there for 5 years... and, in all kinds of weather.

I MIGHT be able to aply force to a metal ring that goes around the outside of the plastic cap part.
I'll look into that...

I wouldn't really mind breaking rhem to get them out if I thought they were "replaceable," but they're so old, I figure they have been NS-1 (discontinued) for years...

340Cuda · 07-01-2009, 05:03 PM

Bill,

I don't know what is going on with your wheels but the ones I had like that were probably purchased in 1977 and had a spun aluminum center cap that would just fall out when you took the wheel off the car.

Good Luck,
Bill

bill dedman · 07-01-2009, 05:37 PM

Nope, this cap is solidly wedged into place to the extent that 10 blows with a fairly heavy rubber mallet failed to move it AT ALL on either wheel.

I've got some really good penetrating oil soaking from the backside; I'm going to try that. next.

These center caps are definitely oem for these wheels, and are definitelly plastic...

Thanks for the info!!!

Bill

Ken Haase · 07-01-2009, 06:09 PM

Hey Bill. I recently sold a pair of Centerline front skinnies that I bought new sometime before 1976. Those had plastic caps that snapped on from the outside. They would easily pop off with a gentle tap from the backside. On the flattened 'tip' there was a black sticker with a chrome outlined dragon lookin' thing. Kinda like a 'coat of arms' deal, if you get my drift. Stick that mallet handle in from the back and give it a bop. Good luck!

bill dedman · 07-01-2009, 06:46 PM

Ken,

Thanks for that information. Apparently, I have the same identcal cap setup that you had, because when I did as you suggested, it popped right out... of the front.

The "coat-of-arms" logo is there, too... just like you described!!!

Thanks loads for that good information.

Problem solved!!!

I owe you one, Ken...

Bill

Tom keedle · 07-01-2009, 08:24 PM

i'm surprised they didn't just fall off.
mine always did until i used some rtv on 'em.....

btw, telstar centercaps will slide in from the back and stay put if you're wanting to go that way...

07-01-2009, 04:24 PM	#1
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal I finally got a new set of slicks for my "race car" and when they went to balance the wheels, they couldn't get the center caps off the wheels. The center caps appear to simply press into the wheel, no little tabs with nuts or bolts to hold them on, so we asummed they just push in, from the inside. No amount of hammering (with a rubber mallet) from the outside would budge either one. I think that center cap has to come off to fit the wheel onto the balancer. What am I doing wrong, here? You can turn the caps with your hand, but they don't "unscrew." Anybody have experience with this setup? The wheels are old Centerlines (solid center with rivets around the outside of the center disk.) Probably were built in the 1980s. Any advice will be appreciated. TIA, Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 07-01-2009 at 04:51 PM.

07-01-2009, 04:43 PM	#2
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 719 Likes: 158 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Bill, you need a bigger hammer!! It is possible that they have rusted a groove in the hole in the center of the wheel. You may need to just apply heavy hammer pressure, but you will probably distroy the cap in the process.. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

07-01-2009, 04:55 PM	#3
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Thanks, Phil; I was afraid of that... They've been on there for 5 years... and, in all kinds of weather. I MIGHT be able to aply force to a metal ring that goes around the outside of the plastic cap part. I'll look into that... I wouldn't really mind breaking rhem to get them out if I thought they were "replaceable," but they're so old, I figure they have been NS-1 (discontinued) for years... __________________ Bill

07-01-2009, 05:03 PM	#4
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,567 Likes: 3,152 Liked 677 Times in 290 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Bill, I don't know what is going on with your wheels but the ones I had like that were probably purchased in 1977 and had a spun aluminum center cap that would just fall out when you took the wheel off the car. Good Luck, Bill

07-01-2009, 05:37 PM	#5
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Nope, this cap is solidly wedged into place to the extent that 10 blows with a fairly heavy rubber mallet failed to move it AT ALL on either wheel. I've got some really good penetrating oil soaking from the backside; I'm going to try that. next. These center caps are definitely oem for these wheels, and are definitelly plastic... Thanks for the info!!! Bill __________________ Bill

07-01-2009, 06:09 PM	#6
Ken Haase Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 233 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Hey Bill. I recently sold a pair of Centerline front skinnies that I bought new sometime before 1976. Those had plastic caps that snapped on from the outside. They would easily pop off with a gentle tap from the backside. On the flattened 'tip' there was a black sticker with a chrome outlined dragon lookin' thing. Kinda like a 'coat of arms' deal, if you get my drift. Stick that mallet handle in from the back and give it a bop. Good luck!

07-01-2009, 06:46 PM	#7
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal Ken, Thanks for that information. Apparently, I have the same identcal cap setup that you had, because when I did as you suggested, it popped right out... of the front. The "coat-of-arms" logo is there, too... just like you described!!! Thanks loads for that good information. Problem solved!!! I owe you one, Ken... Bill __________________ Bill

07-01-2009, 08:24 PM	#8
Tom keedle Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Berthoud, Coloraduh Posts: 695 Likes: 13 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: OLD Centerline wheel center cap removal i'm surprised they didn't just fall off. mine always did until i used some rtv on 'em..... btw, telstar centercaps will slide in from the back and stay put if you're wanting to go that way...