All of this talk regarding the split rims and working on them reminded that
when the local service station back home in Texas worked on these in the
'50s they did not have cages but they did place the split ring side down
when they were inflating them. FWIW.
Jim V.
'58 GMC Suburban Carrier Pickup - V8 Automatic
At 09:49 PM 4/25/99 Sunday -0700, Kevin Lake wrote:
>Amen! I would much rather pay the $15 or $20 to have it done by a tire
>shop than pay the multiple hundreds or thousands in medical bills (not to
>mention the injury). I watched my Dad change one on his drilling rig when
>I was about 15. We were in rural Montana on a Saturday and it was a choice
>of changing it or walking. It didn't get seated the first time, and while
>watching from around the corner of the truck (both Dad and I) the rim
>popped and the lock ring was stopped by a big tree after it had neatly
>broken a 3" pine sapling.
>
>Kevin Lake
>56 GMC Suburban/napco
>
>----------
>> From: Melanie S. Dickey <mdickey@gorilla.net>
>> To: John Dorsey <jrdorsey@strato.net>; oletrucks@autox.team.net
>> Subject: Re: [oletrucks] 1958 Apache 36 Wheels
>> Date: Sunday, April 25, 1999 6:24 PM
>>
>>
>> John, etal.
>>
>> Center Locks / Split Rims / (so called) Safety Rims. They are all
>> dangerous
>> unless properly installed. I have done quite a few of them. In the
>absense
>> of
>> a cage we lowerd a car hoist down on top of the tire and put air in from
>a
>> remote control. We used the hoist as a couple of tons of safety. Even so
>it
>> is and was possible to end up with a dandy sky light. A heave ring
>propelled
>> by 40-60 or worse 80lbs of pressure is a dandy missle. I am a bit amused
>how
>> you handled the safety issue. You said "laid them flat in the center of
>the
>> back
>> parking lot, then aired them up while peeking around the corner of the
>> building."
>> I think this shows that you too have a healthy concern for the
>> possibilities. Did
>> you ever loose a ring and see how high it went? By the way John, that was
>a
>> really good description of some of the more common reasons for problems.
>>
>> My comments were and will always be to get people to have these rims
>> done the right way by people with the proper equipment and education. I
>> agree that many of these are in use and most of the problems are due to
>> improper seating of the ring. Wether it is rust or ignorance of how to
>seat
>> the
>> ring it is still a dangerous situation and I wouldn't want anyone to pay
>the
>> price.
>> Its too high. If you want to use them get experienced help.
>>
>> Hey these retainer rims in several forms are on so many BIG rigs that
>> there
>> must be something good about them and there is. How about changing a tire
>> on a BIG rig in the middle of nowhere with no help. Yep. It can be done
>and
>> I for one could do it if really necessary, though I wouldn't like it.
>With
>> almost
>> anyother wheel design you would never even get the bead broken.
>>
>> I see a place for these rims and if you are going for an authentic
>> restoration
>> you would need them on some models. If you are on a big rig you can and
>most
>> likely will use them. If you want to do them yourself get some help and
>> instruction.
>> If you don't know how to do them go to a tire store or truck stop that
>knows
>> what to do. ('Taint that expensive and its a LOT safer.)
>>
>> Lonnie
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: John Dorsey <jrdorsey@strato.net>
>> To: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
>> Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 1:51 AM
>> Subject: Re: [oletrucks] 1958 Apache 36 Wheels
>>
>>
>> >Ok guys hang on a second, we may be mixing apples and oranges.
>> >
>> >The 60 minutes show was primarly about Center Lock rims. They are the
>> >deadly type. In Florida (maybe all over) it's a $5000.00 fine for a tire
>> >shop to put a tire back on one of these rims.
>> >
>> >There are three basic types of multi-part wheels out there, and their
>> >safety records are quite different.
>> >
>> > Center locks come apart in the middle of the wheel and are
>> >dangerous no
>> >matter how well they are put together.
>> >
>> > Split rings have a single split outside ring that forms the
>> >outside rim
>> >lip . It has a split so that it can spread enough to snap over a tapered
>> >groove in the wheel.
>> >
>> > Lock rings have a solid ring that forms the outside rim lip, and
>> >a
>> >split ring that snaps into a groove on the wheel and the lip.
>> >
>> >Lock rings and split rings are only unsafe if the ring doesn't seat
>> >right in the groove. Dirt, rust, poor installation, or sheer bad luck
>> >can result in a poor seat. That's why tire stores use safety cages. They
>> >will assemble the wheel, leave the schrader valve out of the stem, clip
>> >an air chuck on it and air it up in the cage. Then the disconnect the
>> >air hose which lets the air back out and inspect the seating of the
>> >ring. If it's OK they air it back up in the cage, check it again under
>> >pressure, then send it out the door.
>> >
>> >I worked for years changing tires as I went through college, and changed
>> >many a multi-piece rim without incident. We didn't even have a cage, we
>> >laid them flat in the center of the back parking lot, then aired them up
>> >while peeking around the corner of the building.
>> >
>> >Keep in mind there are millions of split and lock rings out on the road
>> >today, and thousands get changed everyday, but with the demise of center
>> >locks and the use of safety cages I haven't heard of a serious injury
>> >from a lock rim in these parts for a long time.
>> >
>> >We did however have a couple of locals that mounted a 16.5" tire on a
>> >16" rim, rolled it down to a tire store and aired it up (without asking
>> >permission). One of them got a helicopter ride to Tampa General Hospital
>> >where they managed to re-attatch his arm, the other only lost a finger.
>> >Then they sued the store for leaving the air hose out where they could
>> >get to it!
>> >
>> >If you do decide to loose the wheels let me know, I need another one for
>> >my spare tire!
>> >
>> >John
>> >"49-50-54-57-79-95" Chevy 3800 panel, 8-lug lock rings
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >gaonarlt@uswest.net wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Tom,
>> >> My name is Robert from Arvada Colorado and I own a 58 1/2 ton. I
>agree
>> with
>> >> Melanie. About 6 years ago 60 Minutes ran a segment on split rims,
>real
>> >> dangerous. If your into loss of lim or even life, hang on to them. I
>> would
>> >> loose them in a heart beat, life's to short, that's what us Denverites
>> are
>> >> realizing.
>> >> Robert
>> >>
>> >> Melanie S. Dickey wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Tom,
>> >> > Either trade, loose, or trash the split rims. They are VERY
>dangerous
>> to
>> >> > work with. Any
>> >> > of the various rim styles which use removable retainer rings under
>> 40-60lbs
>> >> > of pressure
>> >> > are opportunities for unhappy events. If you insist on keeping them
>> then
>> >> > increase your
>> >> > health insurance by at least four times. (You know. Loss of limbs,
>> etc.)
>> >> > Then, take them
>> >> > ONLY to the big truck stops where you may find people experienced
>> enough,
>> >> > have the
>> >> > necessary safety equipement, AND willing to do them properly. Don't
>try
>> it
>> >> > yourself.
>> >> > Lonnie
>> >> > PS Did I mention I've worked with them and I don't like 'em?
>> >> >
>> >> > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > From: Tom Kurtz <tomk@purdue.edu>
>> >> > To: <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
>> >> > Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 12:10 PM
>> >> > Subject: [oletrucks] 1958 Apache 36 Wheels
>> >> >
>> >> > >I am new to the group here, and I just had a few questions. I have
>a
>> >> > >1958 Apache with 8 lug split rims. I am just curious to see what
>you
>> >> > >guys have done with them in the past... New rims? Original? If
>> >> > >original, where could I get my hands on some?
>> >> > >
>> >> > >Thanks in advance...
>> >> > >
>> >> > >TOM KURTZ
>> >> > >tomk@purdue.edu
>> >> > >http://shay.ecn.purdue.edu/~kurtzt
>> >> > >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and
>> 1959
>> >> > >
>> >> >
>> >> > oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and
>1959
>> >>
>> >> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and
>1959
>> >oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>> >
>>
>> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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