Hat Style Rims worth keeping?

jbullfrog63 · Sep 17, 2018

I have an early 8n with what appears to be original "hat style" rims. I've been refurbishing the tractor for the last few months and getting ready to look into getting new tires for the rear. Around the valve stems in the rear the metal seems to have bubbly looking rust I'm assuming from calcium chloride filling. How rare, or how important is it to salvage these hat style rims? I'm a pretty competent welder so I'm able to make any repairs but I'm just wondering how much work is it worth to keep them. How much value would it add to the tractor to retain them?

By the way this is mostly going to be a working tractor used for small garden plots and the occasional hay ride.

Also If I decide to replace the outer rims with the common ones available say on this site will they fit my current inner wheel centers or do I need those as well?

Dean · Sep 17, 2018

You will not know much about the condition of your hat rims until you remove the tires. It is likely that they are in far worse condition than you realize.

If mine, and I was a competent welder, I would remove the tires before deciding how much time I could invest in saving them.

Replacement 6 loop rims are not expensive and hat rims add little or no value to a worker.

Dean

Royse · Sep 17, 2018

Welcome to the forums!
As Dean said, the rims do not add much value for a worker.
However, to a collector, if they are in good shape, they're worth
more than the aftermarket rims. I've seen them sold for anywhere
from $100 to $300 each. New six loops are just over $100 each.
Your centers will work fine with either style rim.

Royse · Sep 17, 2018

P.S. If you decide to go with six loop rims, let us know your
general location. Someone here may want to save them.

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · Sep 18, 2018

Yes, even if insides are slightly cancerous, if you don't someone else would take them on as a restoration project. I keep a set of hat rims with my show tires for that purpose -shows. For work I have the 6-loop aftermarket style.

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Hat Style Rims worth keeping?

jbullfrog63

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Dean

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Royse

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Royse

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Tim PloughNman Daley RIP

Well-known Member

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