Tires on split ring wheels

[Denis]

This is a bit off subject for this site but hoping some 'old timer' can help me out. Have a '68 Dodge W-300 Power Wagon which has 5. 5 x 16 split ring wheels. I'm in the process of mounting new tires, 7. 50-16 Power King's. Broke down the wheels, cleaned them up and painted them, no problem. I installed the tubes and flaps inside the tire them placed the assembly onto the wheel. Now I can't get the tube stem through the hole in the wheel. I can't get the tire spread apart far enough without pulling the tire of the bead on the opposite side. I have mounted many 9. 00 x 16 tires on military split ring wheels. These wheels have a tube stem slot but most split ring wheels have only a hole. Is a special tool needed; is there some trick?? Any ideas or suggestions appreciated. I like my '97 diesel but there's nothing like driving an old truck and I won't be able to until I get my front wheels back on.

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

From your post it doesn't sound like this is the first time you've messed with split rim wheels, so I'm not sure my post will be too helpful, but, I usually put the stem through the rim as I mount the tire. I do it with the tire standing on end, and I slide the rim partly through. I put the valve stem at the bottom, cock the rim sideways to get the stem started, then slide the top of the rim in. Once it's started I drop the tire/wheel flat on the ground and install the ring.

As you probably know, be very careful airing them up, as they can come apart explosively. Never put any body part in the path of the ring as the tire is being inflated.

Hope that helped.

Joe

 

[B.G. Smith]

Split ring

Pull the tire and tube back off. Try laying the tire over the rim with the valve stem pointing at the hole in rim and that side of tire on the floor. Put a piece of wood or something under the upper side of tire to keep it from slipping onto wheel while you thread the valve stem into slot/hole, after stem is in hole you need a valve core tool (a little tee shaped tool with internal and external threads to fit the valve stem) to screw onto the valve stem to keep it from getting away while you put the tire on wheel. If you don't have the tool, can usually gfind them at Hdw. store or auto parts like NAPA. And figure out some way to stay out of line with the split ring/wheel while airing up. bg

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Almost no one will mount tires on split rims any more because of the danger. In the "old days" many tire shop workers were badly injured and scarred. If I recall, it became mandatory to do the work with the tire and wheel in a "cage" to contain the split rim "bead" part in case it launched.



Unless you just have to have that authenticity, I recommend getting modern wheels.



hope this helps

 

[Snow man]

I am in 100% agreement with Joe D,it is not worth the risk,and like was mentioned no one will work on them anymore. I had to change over my 65 C30 dump truck,and my Jacobsen mower in order to get tire service with them.

 

[BGott]

Sometimes it helps to air up the tube a little to get the twist out and to help keep the stem in a position you can work with. The stem tool another poster mentioned helps, too. For safety, use your tow chain and wrap the chain ends through the holes in the wheels around the wheel, tire and ring and hook onto the chain to contain the ring if it lets go. Wrap the loops on opposite sides of the tire. You also want a clip on air chuck and want to stand way back from the tire while inflating, even if you contain the ring if it blows out you stand a chance of metal shards flying at high speeds. The poster who told you to upgrade to drop center wheels is right, if you take the truck out of town with the split wheels and have a flat, who are you going to get to fix it?

 

[Deezul1]

Ah, the good old days. NOT. I have done more of that kind tire work than I like to think about a long time ago. #1 you have to have a clip on chuck for safetys sake. When airing up these things place the ring side down to miniumize flying objects. We had a tool that screwed onto the valve stem with a little cable on it that you could use to pull the stem through the mounting hole after mounting. We had a semi tire blow the ring off and it was ring side down and it blew the tire and wheel straight up and through the over head door, boy was the boss ****** but then he broke down and bought a tire cage. BE CAREFUL and good luck.

 

[stephen bolger]

this comming from a tire guy... . all u need is a stem puller. its a little cap that therds on the stem and it has a chain attached. too esay... ... ... .

or just do it the easy way, go to a wreackers and pick up some 16x6, 8 on 6. 5 rims. i have got a lot of people to do this and they love it...



and all of this about splitrims being unsafe, Bull S*I#... . it is the people who don't know how to do them that make then unsafe

 

[Ron Bissett]

Split ring horse shoe , things of the past , they were the best we had then , Safe rims on the road . The split ring will come off on a blow out and have caused death to by standers or other motorist , When I was a kid in WWII in Brooklyn NY Bethlehem steel co trucks (John J Consale) owner operator ,had a garage across the street and at night serviced the truck and parked most along the street as they had more trucks than would fit in the shop, they worked for the US Navy One night a worker airing up a tire for a two ton with a split ring , and not using the cage to air up the tire as he was taught . was hit in the face with the ring and lost his life , I heard the blast and as it was summer time the large door was open and I saw result of the blast. The ring is a danger and if possible avoid using it ,If not use a cage and take care think of others too . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[stephen bolger]

Slit rim are not a thing of the past they are still used on heavy duty trucks. Like was said before they are safe if put together right.

 

[Todd G]

I changed many a tire on split-rims with my small fleet of Isuzu NPR's. The new ones are not splits. It was a little more convienient to change your own tires in the driveway. I put the ring-side down when airing them up and stood on the tire. Of course these were 16" tires, not 22" or 24. 5". It was a little scary but if carefull, it's somewhat safe... ... I'm glad I don't do it any more.

 

[illflem]

Don't know if split rings are the same as what they call suicide rims.

Do know that when one flew apart on my old IH tractor trailer after being worked on that it did $2000 worth of damage to the car parked next to it in the tire shop's parking lot...

 

[QRTRHRS]

I changed many a split back in the late sixties/early seventies including the two piece rings. I alway left the valve core out, aired it up and as I did tapped on the ring with a hammer to line it up. I worked my way around the rim tapping lightly even if it looked seated. Once inflated, I left all the air out, screwed in the core and inflated to pressure. I know the danger and I know people who were killed. I was taught by someone else, apparently correctly. The only problem was when this wise guy lit a firecracker and scared the heck out of me.



Split rims on pickups may be passe' but every time you look at a truck with Dayton style wheels you can see split rims in use.



Cages? I think more tires blow in a cage because the tire stands verticle and the ring is not seated as I mentioned.

 

[Lnwing]

wise guy lit a firecracker and scared the heck out of me.

Tubeless truck tire mounting can get your attention too if you use the "ether and match" method to seat the bead.

 

[CPG]

Just two words on this, "No way". I had been a heavy duty truck mechanic for 36 years. The big shop that I worked at always had their own tire men. One time the tire man did not use the cage as was the rule. The snap rim came out of the wheel when being inflated and went through the roof. Naturally this guy was sick to his stomach. In the sister shop in Salt Lake, a man was killed. This is just a couple of incidents with these old antique wheels. I do not know of any shop around here that does this anymore. This should speak for itself. There is an old saying, " is newer better?" On this topic yes.



Chuck Goode

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by stephen bolger

this comming from a tire guy... . all u need is a stem puller. its a little cap that therds on the stem and it has a chain attached. too esay... ... ... .

or just do it the easy way, go to a wreackers and pick up some 16x6, 8 on 6. 5 rims. i have got a lot of people to do this and they love it...



and all of this about splitrims being unsafe, Bull S*I#... . it is the people who don't know how to do them that make then unsafe

You tell em Lefty...

Say how did you lose your rt hand anyway?

 

[stephen bolger]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

You tell em Lefty...

Say how did you lose your rt hand anyway?

I HAVE BOTH HANDS LAST TIME I LOOKED... ... you HAVE THE WRONG GUY

 

[Wayno]

Originally posted by stephen bolger





and all of this about splitrims being unsafe, Bull S*I#... . it is the people who don't know how to do them that make then unsafe

I will have to agree with Stephen , I have fix many in the past years and I still have both of my hands . Heck I just did one on the Gradall at work the week before last and I still have all my fingers too .

 

[MCummings]

Being 20 yrs old, and not being prvledged enough to work with or, see, this outdated technology,, Is there anywhere on the 'net I could see a picture,, maybe even a how-to mount split rims?



Thanks,

Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[Deezul1]

Go to any tire shop that does big truck tires