Pony Center Cap Removal

Those of you with pony rims, what tools are you using to remove the caps? I have seen the aftermath of using my flathead on both the cap and inner lip.

Hopefully someone has a suggestion (or trick) that easily obtainable at the parts store, so I can stop 'nickin' up my rims!!!

I use a flathead and pull the centercap far enough to get a finger in there and use my hands to pop them off. I don't pry on the rim, and I don't ever twist the flathead. On my set of ponys that are painted black, I lay a couple layers of masking taper over the areas of concern before even trying to remove them. I'd like to hear of better ideas too.

small flat head is what i used on my old ponys...

screw driver just enough to get my finger in there and then pull out

Yup i use a flat head to pry it up enough to get a finger under there. Then just pop it off. Some of them are easier than others for some reason.

Take the flat head screwdriver,put a piece of tape on the end to protect the painted surface of the wheel and go at it.

Something to protect the surface, with a flathead screwdriver like Vinnietbird alluded too.

Examples I used are cloth, paper towels, blah, blah, or anything laying around.

Take a flat head screw driver and wrap it in a towel. Works everytime.

yep then pull...never pry

I do this with a small pry bar, not prying though, only use the angled lip to pull with.

You must be able to get it into that tiny little slot

Such a simple trick, now I feel stupid. At least I was going to DIY refinish the wheels in the spring anyways, so all will not be lost.

Thanks for the help stangnet'ers

-10 (on my IQ!!)



yeah wtf guys? slow day today?

we are learning NEW ways to take off pony caps!?

geeze..

I like to customize. so i took a cheap flat head screw driver and bent the tip so it'll hook behind the centercap without knicking or scratching the rim or cap.. ( black ponies) i usually lay a towel down on the ground and pull them off. and if i drop em. they land in the towel

Use the wheel lug wrench and wrap the end in duct tape.

thin flathead with heat shrink shrunk on the shaft

popcicle stick...just thought of that lol

That a pretty good idea...guess what I am making at work tomorrow

ya some good ideas, i just painted mine a couple months ago with dupli color high performance wheel paint, 4 coats of grey, 4 coats of clear, but when i tried to pop the caps off the paint started to all crack just like a spider web, is there any way of stoping this, every time i want to take may cap off i have to repaint the center cap, geezz must be a better way.