Wire wheel spinners

[cass3958]

On Jaguarforum.com an S type owner called Jerry has a dilemma which has brought up some questions.
Basically he has a 64 3.4s American S type with wire wheels. The wires are held on by two different types of spinners.

The first is a stubby three eared spinner which is the same type found on the E type Jaguar also called the Continental spinner as it was fitted to many S types exported to European countries. I have this spinner on my car.

The second spinner Jerry has is a stubby two ear spinner which I have never seen before. It is marked up as a Jaguar spinner and according to Jerrys research there is mention of this spinner in the S Type parts manual as part numbers C14891 and C14892 and a tool for removing it as C14927. SNG has no part matching these numbers.

Below are photos of the three spinners.
Does anyone have any knowledge of these stubby two ear spinners being fitted to the S type?

[Glyn Ruck]

The 2 stubby eared spinner was never used by Jaguar for compacts (from Mk1 onwards) but rather other makes for racing. They were aftermarket for Jaguar as were three long eared spinners. (at least for compacts. I cant talk for earlier than 1955)

Germany was the first country to ban the two long eared spinners, insisting on the 3 short ear spinner and that the knock-on hubcaps that came with wire wheels should not have protruding spinners. Other European countries & Japan followed a few years later but all other countries like Australia & South Africa retained the home-market type with its twin long ‘ears’ until production ended. Lyons believed that the two long eared spinners looked better.

An adaptor was supplied with the 3 short eared spinners to ease loosening.

The Daimler Sovereign came with the 3 short eared spinner to make it globally acceptable in countries where Mercedes did not closely guard the Daimler brand. Which was very few markets. The Sovereign was really a UK car. They only produced just 355 of the 5,824 Sovereigns built had left-hand drive – a paltry 6 per cent.


Never over tighten spinners or you will suffer loose wheels & spline wear. Allow the spinners to self tighten.
The spinners should never be over tightened or you stretch the hub threads which spells trouble & new hubs. They should just be firmly screwed on and will self tighten in use. The hide side of a Thor hammer should easily loosen a spinner if you have a flat tyre out on the road.

Max tightening by hand is easily achieved with this wooden spinner saver tool on long eared spinners

Spinner saver.JPG (23.37 KiB) Viewed 625 times

[jerry_hoback]

Thank you for reposting this Cass. I went to the Jaguar forum because I was thinking the broader audience of E-Type and the Mark series cars might get a clear answer- Something like "that on was only used on this for these years."
Also, to help clarify the car itself, It is a 3.4S, right hand drive w/4 speed and overdrive. I do not as yet know the history of it beyond that it was last titled in Georgia, USA, and it was last plated in Alabama. It's vin is 1B1644DN.
I look forward to driving it, as a crazy 'Mer'c'n....

[Glyn Ruck]

My S Type Parts Manual 3 short lug European spinner. One of 4 spares manuals of differing vintage right up to the latest green softcover. I had a global job prior to retirement that kept me flying 230 days a year for decades & I have never seen an S Type with a 2 short lug spinner anywhere worldwide. Excuse typo in label

S Type Front Suspoension.JPG (183.84 KiB) Viewed 620 times

[jerry_hoback]

Hi Glyn, Your drawing appears to be the same as the one in my parts book. If you look at the drawing of the tool, it shows two notches cut in the face, presumably to fit over the nut. Obviously I have never seen this before either although I have noticed the continental ones. At this point I don't plan to use those but to get the different style since I would have to improvise a tool for them. I suppose I am persisting for the general edification. Thanks for your input.

[Glyn Ruck]

Understood. Much depends on how you view the drawing. But I accept that the 2 lobe was possibly unique for Germany only & not for very long. Not sure where yours came from. See other forum. Minor tiff with Coventry Foundation.

[cass3958]

Understood. Much depends on how you view the drawing. But I accept that the 2 lobe was possibly unique for Germany only & not for very long. Not sure where yours came from. See other forum. Minor tiff with Coventry Foundation.

You call that Minor. I am trying to stand up for you there. lol.

Coventry Foundation has the impression that unless it is written down it did not happen.
" I don't care if your car is fitted with three eared hub spinners from the factory, Jaguar never put it down on paper that they fitted them so they don't exist."

[Glyn Ruck]

Thanks for the support Rob. I think you have an extremely balanced approach.

CF always think they know it all. George Camp & the boys are a pain in the rectum.

I appreciate everything you do for me. You & Alan Wiedie are stars in my book.

CF needs to learn that what happens on the plant floor is sometimes at odds with their beloved bulletins.

They have probably never owned a passport. Stats show that 87% of Americans have never left the State they were born in.

[cass3958]

Shortly after 9/11 people were worried that tourism from the US would drop as it is such a huge population until some found out that only 6% of Americans actually hold a passport.
Always got your back Glyn.

[Glyn Ruck]

Yes absolutely. That would line up with a study we commissioned with Kline & Company.