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Wheel cover installation problem

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Bruce

Wheel cover installation problem
« on: December 07, 2014, 12:55:04 am »
I had to remove one of the metal front wheel covers on our rig and then could not get it back on the wheel.  I've been using a rubber mallet to gently tap (and some not so gentle taps) on the cover at about two inches from the outer rim of the cover.  I can get the small metal retention spikes to hold the cover in place for about half of it, but as I continue taping around the cover the whole things pops out of place.  I've tried taping on the very outer rim, but that doesn't seem to help.
Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get the cover back on the wheel?
---Bruce
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Pax

Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2014, 09:53:40 am »
I had a bit of a struggle with this myself when I was installing tire pressure sensors.  It took a few attempts, but I found that I had the best success by trying to keep the wheel cover as parallel to the wheel as possible.  I put my hands at the ten o'clock and two o'clock positions and my knees at the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions and applied pressure a bit at a time without allowing any one position to get too far ahead of the others.  Once the wheel cover is halfway in it became much easier to use the heel of my palm to tap in each position.  If this hadn't worked I would have thoroughly cleaned the rim and wheel cover and applied some lubricant to the tabs on the wheel cover.  I'm guessing that if they are abnormally tight there might be a problem with the wheel, or the tabs need to be bent a slight amount.

   - Mike
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Bruce

Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2014, 05:22:02 pm »
Thank you Mike for the good suggestions.  Your approach sounds very sensible, and I will try that in a day or two.
Will let you know if it works for me.
A "Helpful" for you!   tymote
  --Bruce
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Bruce

Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2014, 03:17:53 pm »
The front wheel cover is installed!
I first cleaned the wheel, then applied a little silicone spray to the area where the cover attaches.
Next I inserted the bottom part the cover into the wheel a little and held it in place with my hand and knees.  I then began taping the cover with a rubber mallet on alternating sides a little at a time until the entire cover finally popped into place.
Not sure if that was the best way to do it, but it worked for me this time.
--Bruce
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racephoto

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2015, 12:58:33 am »
Has anyone replaced these things? I DESPISE mine.....it's impossible to get my compressor on the valve stem with them on and I am tired of screwing with them. I pulled them off to add air to the front tires and I really can't bring myself to put them back on. (Ok, also not like I probably COULD get them back on)  Any aftermarket options?
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skipper

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2015, 10:12:31 am »
It's easy.  Put your first hand at 12:00, your second hand at 6:00, your third hand at 3:00, your right knee at 9:00 then go get the mallet out of the garage, repeat the first steps, and tap it in using your 4th hand!  These are always a challenge to put on and the reason you see so many in the highway ditches across the US.
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Mark
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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 10:16:50 am »
John recently struggled to put air in the front tire so I read this post to him No, not while he was kneeling in the muddy gravel swearing at it, I'm not that dumb. I was hiding in the house for that part. But later, I read it to him and he got this look of horror on his face and said "I'm not taking those things off". I reminded him he wanted those tire air pressure sensors that Mike has so we'll have to take them off then (OK, maybe I'm dumb, I should have timed the comment better).

So to redeem myself I have a question for Mike: Is it easy to put air in the tires with the sensors on? (Thereby giving us one instance of aggravation getting the wheel covers back on in lieu of continued aggravation each time the tires need air.)
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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Pax

Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2015, 10:12:55 pm »
Yep, very easy if you get the pass-thru type.  No need to remove the wheelcover to check or fill air.  2o2

   - Mike
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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2015, 10:26:00 am »
Awesome - thank you Mike! I'll start shopping for air sensors.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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racephoto

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2015, 02:32:56 pm »
The silicone spray idea worked for me. I didn't think it would, but hit the wheel covers with some Liquid Wrench and they went back on with ease. I still can't easily get air in the tires with them on but at least I no longer fear pulling them off.
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Bob Mahon

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2015, 07:12:48 pm »
I've been using these for 10 years and have yet to have a failure. Just enough extension to allow easy filling and pressure checks.
http://www.myerstiresupply.com/shop/shopexd.asp?
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Carry on, regardless..................
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Bruce

Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2015, 11:45:04 pm »
Bob,
Can you give us the product info for this?
The link didn't show me the item.
--Bruce
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Bob Mahon

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2015, 09:51:30 am »
Google Alligator V2B Valve Caps
Available from a few places, this is an article.
This link might show correctly:
http://www.themotorhomeguide.com/review_alligator_tirevalve.html
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Carry on, regardless..................
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AMW

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Re: Wheel cover installation problem
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2015, 09:06:17 pm »
Are the wheel covers on my 2015 PC different than most? There is plenty of clearance for both my straight air tester and angled air compressor chuck.  I've also used the pass-thru gator caps on all my big vehicles for years and never had any problems with them.
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Ann W.
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