zipties securing smooth hubcaps keep burning up?

[Geo Metropolis]

Here are some pics of the damage:
This morning on closer inspection I realized ties on both front wheels were also snapped. I think it's the super tiny ties. I also realized that my holes were able to facilitate the next size up zip tie (it must have been my vanity that wanted to go with green zip ties). I stepped them up to the bigger ties which are dramatically stronger and can make the run using only one tie per spoke (the green ones required stringing 3 together) Here are the results:
It looks like it's a bit off center, they normally don't, I think I overtightened the first one but I had to go before I was late to work so I left it.

[Frank Lee]

I think you need to get the edge of the disc seated into the lip on the edge of the rim otherwise the disc will get a lil off-center then centrifugal force takes over and strains everything.

Also I have a suspicion that the zip ties are being forced to bend sharply (more than 90 degrees, and with very small radius) around sharp holes in the rims. You might want to come up with a new strategy, or put a backing of some sort on there to make those bends gentle.

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I think you need to get the edge of the disc seated into the lip on the edge of the rim otherwise the disc will get a lil off-center then centrifugal force takes over and strains everything.

Also I have a suspicion that the zip ties are being forced to bend sharply (more than 90 degrees, and with very small radius) around sharp holes in the rims. You might want to come up with a new strategy, or put a backing of some sort on there to make those bends gentle.

That's what I was thinking, get it inside the edge of the wheel. I have made it a point to do that in all my designs because I don't want to risk having the cover cut into the tire.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

Geo Metropolis -

Originally Posted by Geo Metropolis

Here are some pics of the damage:
...
This morning on closer inspection I realized ties on both front wheels were also snapped. I think it's the super tiny ties. I also realized that my holes were able to facilitate the next size up zip tie (it must have been my vanity that wanted to go with green zip ties). I stepped them up to the bigger ties which are dramatically stronger and can make the run using only one tie per spoke (the green ones required stringing 3 together) Here are the results:
...
It looks like it's a bit off center, they normally don't, I think I overtightened the first one but I had to go before I was late to work so I left it.

I used 4 small ties. I was worried about them failing but I never had a problem. I also had to string them together.

CarloSW2

[Geo Metropolis]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I think you need to get the edge of the disc seated into the lip on the edge of the rim otherwise the disc will get a lil off-center then centrifugal force takes over and strains everything.

Also I have a suspicion that the zip ties are being forced to bend sharply (more than 90 degrees, and with very small radius) around sharp holes in the rims. You might want to come up with a new strategy, or put a backing of some sort on there to make those bends gentle.

The small radius may not have been a factor because the way I had them strung together allowed most of the turns to be made at the joint of 2 ties. Also With the big ones I put on today they definitely have to make the turns though. Backing's not a bad idea, I could probably put a layer or two of electrical tape on the part of the tie that goes behind the rim and back.

I think for now I'll just install the bigger ties and see what happens. Oh and cut another disc out to replace the burned up one of course

[Rokeby]

FWIW, has anybody else notied that at some times
this site appears in the ads at the top of this thread:

securecableties.com?

And these metal ones in aluminum, brass (old school!), or steel:

metalmarkermfg.com

Ask, and ye shall receive.

[euromodder]

You might want to use wider (stronger) and longer zipties, the black ones are more UV-resistant, and should last longer.

Using 2 or 3 short ones in series to get a longer ziptie isn't the best option.

At work, I see them failing by the dozens after a few years outside, and those are not cheap zipties.

[Vekke]

You should also install the zipties other way. So that last piece point straigth outwards when you cut it. You can get it much tighter this way and one sharp corner less .

Is that one which is at one a clock installed that way?

If you use too narrow zipties which you can brake with bear hand force then I think it is too weak.

When I did my first set, my hubcaps were so big that they almost hit the tires. So they were with bigger diameter than the rim. After one month I discovered that hubcap had grinded small holes to tires in those parts where the zipties were. So tire moved so much side to side that there were small pockets.

I would also put one of those tree zipties to point where you have that cutout for air valve. Thats where it will try to scoop air under the hubcap .

Also if you use three small zipties there is bigger chances that there is manufacturing error in one of those three. Use one big enough and there is only one which you need to check. I mean not all of them hold the way to should. Specially with those small ones.

[Rokeby]

FWIW, on a recent foray at Home Despot, I found these stainless steel cable
ties in with the plastic ones (~$4.50 for pkg of 10):



Plenty strong, but there may be electrolysis issues with alloy rims and pizza
pan wheel covers. I guess they could be covered with a piece of heat shrink
tubing, etc.

[Geo Metropolis]

those are nice, I've used them before to secure fiberglass cloth wrap around the exhaust on the boat. Actually I think I may have some leftover. They are definitely strong. It's been a good couple of months now without issue (earlier I was having issue every day or two) and it seems that simply upgrading to the next size up ziptie (the 1/4" width instead of the 1/8") did the trick. I'm gonna leave things as they are for now but I will remember to dig out the stainless ties for future projects, they seem extremely useful.