OILING WAGGON WHEELS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4749, 2 May 1900, Page 4

OILING WAGGON WHEELS.

A correspondent of the " American Agriculturist" writes as follows.- — " Oiling waggon wheels to preserve the felloes and prevent the tires becoming loose 1 has been practised by many for a long time. It is better as a preventive than a cure for loose tires. Stop the swelling and shrinking of the felloes, the rusting of the under-side of the tire next the felloe by a coating of oil. Fill the tenons of the spokes also with the hot oil, and you have at least doubled the life of your wheel. If it is well done, a tire will never have to be reset. The mistake made is that people do not begin with their wheels in time. Treat the wheel while it is sound. Have it well dried out and give it time to absorb all the oil it will take. Use the best linseed oil, with about one-half pint liquid drier to the gallon. Devote at least one hour to the wheel. The oil should be kept up to nearly the boiling point, the slower the wheel is revolved the more oil will get under the tire where most is needed. Two revolutions of the wheel in an hour is about right. Revolving slowly heats the wood through. This drives out any moisture, the pores readily drink their fill of hot oil, and by the time the wheel has made its second revolution some of the last coating will remain upon the surface. A portion of this will gradually be absorbed into the wood, and the remainder will dry hard upon the surface. The oil should not boil, but must be quite hot — hot enough to expand the tire so that the oil will get under it freely. A light, finely-painted wheel should be immersed in the oil, say, about £in. above the tire, as it is between the tire and felloe that the oil is needed. For coarse jobs, or when the paint is considerably worn, immerse an inch above the depth of tho felloe. This will fill the joints around the shoulders of the spokes.