I'm known to have a bit of a Scottish temper that gets the best of me @ times
! After an acquistion of several 3181 Fire Dept. SUV's, & 3178 Fire Equipment Trailers from ebay job lots all missing the wheel center caps, I ran into this problem with the 20 new center caps I received from DS. It was after a fit of frustration, & tossing one of the new center caps in to our hallway @ which time one of our house cats, Oreo took pocession of it never to be found again,
THE CENTER CAP, you guys didn't think I,...........never mind
I had to find a way of correcting this problem! If you have had a situation with the wheel center cap part number 30225990 not staying attached to the wheels, I hope this procedure that I have developed helps to cure the problem for you.
Proof that Oreo is safe, & sound!
First you will need to have the following tools available to assist you in the procedure.
A hair dryer with a hot setting, a 6mm 1/4" drive automotive metric nut deep well socket like pictured above which is the most important tool, & it has to be exactly this size, an automotive terminal pick, a firm nonslip surface, & a source of cold water.
Step 1. Place the center cap on to a non flammable, non slip surface, & hold into position with a long access pick or equivalent as shown to prevent the center cap from blowing away during the heating process.
Step 2. Position the hair dryer in the hot setting directly above the center cap blowing down on it. Be careful depending on the heat that your hair dryer produces, not to let the plastic get too soft. With my wife's hair dryer, I put it approximately 8 inches above the center cap for 2.5 minutes.
Step 3. After approximately 2.5 minutes time depending on equipment differences, I discontinue the heating process, & remove the holding pick. Next I push the 6mm deep well automotive socket into the center of the retaining fingers of the center cap, & force it down as far as possible spreading them apart.
Step 4. Holding the socket in position submerse the 6mm socket, & center cap into the cold water source for 25 seconds until it has cooled down.
Step 5. Remove the socket, & press the center cap back in to the proper position. You will know if the procedure has worked by the resistance noted during the re installation process, & it should stay in position.
I hope this helps some members with this frustrating dilemma that I have encountered, & to prevent the need for gluing them
!
