Jaguar Repair: remove and repair tire, center hub, heavy hammer

Question
QUESTION: I store a 69 XKE winter months in Minnesota.  I now have a flat tire on the right front. do You have any instructions on taking tire off.  I'm a senior citizen and my car has spoked tires with a center hub. I do have a factory knock off in the trunk, so I think I have the original equipment for the removal procedure.
Would I be safer in just having it towed to a tire dealer?

Thanks Don Biehn

ANSWER: Don, why not just take the wheel off and take it to a tire shop. Unless you own a wrecker company.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I tried taking the wheel off but I could not get the center hub off with the knock off supplied in the trunk. The wheel has been on so long dosen't want to thread off. I pounded on it for quite a while with the mallet that was part of the factory equipment, with no results. Is there another tool I can use in conjunction with the factory knock off or would something like penetrating oil sprayed into the threads help to lossen that front hub, so I can unscrew it and remove the tire?
I'm sure other jag owners must have had this same problem.
There has to be some sort of trick to getting that hub loose.


ANSWER: Don, are you sure you are trying to unscrew it in the correct direction because they unscrew in different directions on each side of the car. But if you read on the cap it tells you which way to unscrew it. They are brass so they can't rust. You do have to use a heavy lead or brass mallet.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Howard,I followed the directions on the hub, "RIGHT (OFF) SIDE" and direction for removal is clockwise on the right hand side. I've been very heavy handed with trying to get the hub off. Do you have any tricks I can use to help?
Thanks Don

Answer
There are no tricks that I know of as it is just a nut and many times required a large heavy hammer. If you had the earlier style with the two ears there is a tool sold by several of the Jag parts companies that gives you a 2 to 3 foot leverage but I have not seen such a tool for the type like you have with the adapter that has the three ears that requires a large heavy hammer. The hammer supplied in the trunk is sometimes not large enough, most mechanics have a much larger hammer. Also jack the wheel off the ground so the wheel puts no strain on the nut.
Howard