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Cobra and GT40 Spinner Removal Tool
Here are benefits and instructions on this 3 eared removal tool Kit. You will only need a breaker bar and a torque wrench.
The Cobra and GT40 tool come as an Aluminum CNC milled tool, smooth finished, wrapped in black leather to protect any metal to metal contact, a six point, CR-MO 46 mm impact socket, a wheel chock to keep the wheel from spinning on the floor, and a tool storage bag. The tool is engraved with UNDO right and left directional arrows.
The normal recommended way to remove a wheel is to use a lead hammer to loosen the spinner while the car is still on the floor. Jack the car up, remove the spinner and wheel, replace the wheel then figure tight the spinner, let the weight of the car back down and use a lead hammer to tighten. Jaguar guys say NO, you need to roll the car a short distance and re-tighten with a hammer for a well seated spinner to the wheel.
The benefits of the wheel chock is to simply jack the car up just so the tire just turns, place the chock on one side of the tire to loosen and move the chock to the other side of the tire to tighten, then let the jack down for a perfectly seated spinner to the wheel. It is that simple.
The tool has a 2 inch depth to handle those extra long hubs that protrude more than a normal threaded hub. The tool's height is taller and with the taller impact socket the tool can reach into the deepest wheels. Where a hammer will have a hard time getting a good swing to loosen those tight spinner.
Cobra and GT40 Spinner Removal Tool
Without using a Hammer
HAMMERS
vs
THREE EARED REMOVAL TOOLS
Are you tired of trying to remove over tightened or seized spinners with a Hammer?
Some have used up to 1,000 lb/ft of force to break the spinner free. When using a hammer, it places all of that high breaking force onto only one ear at a time, weakening the spinner’s ears strength, and has broken ears off trying to remove them. See the picture of one and also shows the long-threaded Hubs that fits into the tool..
This tool was tested to over 1,200 lb/ft of torque and applies equal force, spreading the force evenly to all three ears. The tool is designed to be able to use an air impact wrench, BUT only use a torque wrench to tighten.
The tool is made tall and with its tall impact socket, can reach into the deepest wheels. Using a hammer will be difficult to get a good swing in those deep-set wheels. The tool can also handle those long-threaded Hubs.
The only printed torque settings I’ve been able to find is in a Lotus Elan manual of 200 To 220lb/ft of torque. The Hub size of the Halibrand spinner and the Lotus size are close and may work on both spinners?
The biggest complaint I get, was removing seized or over tighten spinners. Some have used up to 1,000 pounds of force to remove. With a hammer, it places all that high force onto only one ear at a time, weakening the spinner's ears and breaking some off. My three eared tool applies equal gripping force to all three ears evenly and can reach into the deepest wheels.
Using a wheel chock to change a tire
The standard accepted removal method is to loosen the spinner with a hammer while the car is still on the floor. Jack the car up, remove the spinner and the wheel. Re-place the wheel and finger tight the spinner. Then let the jack back down to keep the wheel from spinning on the floor and tighten with a hammer.
With a wheel chock you simply jack the car up just enough, so the tire just turns. To high the wheel could roll over the chock. Place the chock on one side of the tire to loosen and move the chock to the other side of the tire to tighten. It is that simple!
Before you use this tool for the first time, try the following tips
If you have recently used your standard hammer swing and have use anti-seize on them, make a mark on both the wheel and the spinner. Loosen the spinner using this tool. Then re-tighten with a torque wrench to a setting of 200 to 220 to see how close the marks line up. If your wheels need a higher torque to line up to your standard hammer settings, it is OK to adjust. Over tightening can weaken the threads on the spinners.
If your spinners are over tightened or seized, make a mark the wheel and spinner. Use the three eared tools to break them free. Then re-tighten, using your hammer the way you normally would. Then re-mark the wheel and spinner again. Loosen the spinner with this tool, and now use a torque wrench to tighten to 200 to 220 to see how close the new markings line up. Again, you can adjust to a higher torque, if needed, on your normal hammer swing to line up the new markings.
Useful facts on SEIZED Cobra & GT40 Halibrand Spinners.
My standard Cobra tool Kit uses a 46mm high-end impact socket with a 1/2" drive. That easily works on the standard UNDO force up to about 300 to 450 fi/lbs of torque.
For over tightened or seized spinners can take an UNDO force of 500 t0 1,000 fi/lbs to break them free. A standard breaker bar using an internal 1/2" drive will twist off and fail.
I have used a Milwaukee battery impact wrench with a harden 1/2" drive that can use up to 1,400 ft/lbs of nut busting torque to remove seized spinners. For the guys who don't have one, I have included a 46mm impact socket with a 3/4" drive in the Cobra seized kits. I recommend using a stronger external head breaker bar type, the longer the better.
How to change a tire using a wheel chock
A shop owner who has always use a lead hammer, says three good whacks does it. After testing his 3 whacks method, he hit between 3 and 4 pounds of 210 lbs of torque each time.
The standard accepted tire removal method is to loosen the spinner with a lead hammer, while the car is still on the floor, then Jack the car up, remove the spinner and the wheel, then replace the wheel and finger tight the spinner and let the jack down to keep the wheel from spinning on the floor and tighten with a hammer.
With a wheel chock you simply jack the car up just enough, so the tire just turns. Place the wheel chock on one side of the tire to loosen and then move the chock to the other side of the tire to tighten.It is that simple.
