Limitations of moon discs
 

If they were as cheap as pizza pans, I imagine that many of our members would use them. They are more aerodynamic than flat covers, right? Sturdy, actually attractive, and some people actually know what they are and why to use them.

However:
They are prohibitively expensive.
They do not have a good method of attachment.
Prone to scratching.
I forget what else I was thinking, but I will add to that list as we come up with more limitations.

I was thinking that if you took one moon cap, made a plug of it, and then cast an ABS disc, with a large hole in the middle, and a metal ring on the inside, and then insert pieces that match different lug patterns, and shaped washers that go between the lug nut and wheel, extending out to secure the cover. Then you screw in or otherwise attach a lug nut cover.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1413858676
What parts of that do not make sense? :)

All of it? :)

They are (prohibitively?) expensive. (how much for the raw alumum sheet?)
They do not have a good method of attachment. (Dzus fasteners)
Prone to scratching. (Jack the wheel up, spin it and sand them out with 200 grit sandpaper)

How about it's hard to move the valve stem to the inside of the wheel and fill the tire from there? Or accommodating wheel weights?

Chuck the sheet ABS in a lathe and use a roller on each side similar to clay on a potter's wheel. Casting won't get the best result.

I got a set of 4 at a swap meet for $5.

I'd like a set, but the only source I've found so far is eBay, and they're expensive and don't even ship to Europe. (I'd never make back the fuel savings if I spend $100 for a set, then an unknown amount for shipping)

So I guess pizza pans or flat plate disks it is, since I don't own a lathe.

I'm getting ready to find out their limitations, since mine arrived last night. I just need to re-furb them and I'll be installing them by the weekend.
My clutch switch, throttle smoothing circuit and regen switch also arrived, so they'll be hooked up this weekend also!

How are you planning to install the moons?

They have 3 small holes already in them (I bought actual moon discs, not pizza pans), and you attach them with small stainless screws after threading three holes into the rim

I'll post pics of the re-furb and installation this weekend in the DIY section

Cool story, bro. All that you need to do is all of this for each wheel: http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/...s/viewall.html

I have seen many different attachment methods for smooth wheel covers, but please show me someone on here that welded onto their wheels.

From what I have read, the screw holes wear out and people lose the moon discs. As I recall, Freebeard bought his so cheap because you could not use the original holes anymore.

Lol, mine are going straight on the rims!

I'll put a dab of silicone in each hole, it should keep the screws from backing out from the vibration

Won't the silicone glue the disk to the wheel? How about a neoprene or nylon washer glued to the backside of the disk, so it buffers the vibrations?

That's the idea, to get it to hold tight to the wheel. I'm afraid the nylon washers would let it loosen over time, but I could be wrong. I need the screws to stay put until I pop them off every other week or so to air up the tires, but not be so permanent that I get lazy and let the psi's suffer.

Anybody have these? And what attachment method do you use?

I was thinking that a compressible washer would act like a lock washer. But why not use a lock washer under the screw head, and a nylon washer between the disk and wheel that has a small enough hole so that the screw thread cuts into it? Then when you take the disk off the screws would remain in place.

I think the bigger problem is not the screws loosening; it's when the wheel flexes the screw cuts the hole bigger, until the whole thing falls off.

Yeah I might try that. I want them easily removable to access the air valve . . . . .
But then again, maybe I can just make an air valve extension to go to the inside of the rim instead. Then the only time I would ever need to remove the moons is if I rotated the tires or changed a flat. Hmmmmmmm, has anybody done this?

Yes, so much so that putting a hole in a Moon disk and letting the valve stem stick though makes hot rodders point and laugh. But they would drill out the rivets and reverse the rim on the center to increase the offset.

The inside of my rims are so inaccessible they might as well be on the dark side of the Moon.

1. Use low strength loctite instead of silicone.

2. Use allen or torx head screws to reduce the chance of theft or head stripping when removing

3. You can buy longer, dog leg valve stems.

4. If the holes wear out, drill new ones. (Has not happened to me.)

5. The hot rodders already laugh at us

D. Who cares.

If you want to split the difference between "ugly valve holes in the moon discs" and "taking the discs off is such a hassle", you could always use aluminium or metallised mylar tape over the holes (presuming the valves don't stick 'out' too far).

e.g. http://www.amazon.com/3M-Foil-Tape-3...5337158&sr=1-3
Amazon.com: Metallic Film Tape (Mylar) 1" x 36 yards Several Colors, Silver: Patio, Lawn & Garden