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I've always left the rebuilding or making of wood felloe (before 1919) wheels to a professional wheelwright who has the experience and equipment to do it right. But wheels that take demountable rims (steel-felloe 1919-1927) are another story. Those are a do-it-yourself project I've always done at home using the Regan Press. Years ago John Regan came up with the following device which has served me well in assembling several wheels of the steel-felloe type. I'll start with John's diagrams of the press, then we'll get into the pictures showing some tips and pitfalls.        


     
               
       
       Starting this front wheel I thought washers on top and underneath would keep it straight.                                              This shows I was wrong about that.


               
     Wood probably would have worked just as well, but I made aluminum spacers to keep the hub straight. Then I cut a piece of cardbard to support the spokes during assembly.

          
      Next comes lubricatingthje hub with a candle where the spokes will slide into place. The spokes also get the candle treatment where they have to slide together.


               
      Note that I have replaced the foam mat with Masonite to help the felloe move.             I also put some 2 x 4 blocks under the felloe to let the hub go all the way down.


                
     
      Not much good at getting holes drilled straight, I made a drill guide. It works very well.                     After the bolts are in and the nuts are good and tight,  use a punch                                                                                                                                                                                        to peen the ends of the bolts so the nuts will stay on.

      Ordinary carriage bolts from the hardware store won't do. Get  bolts made for this purpose from one of the Model T parts dealers.


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